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Freshman Andrew Cogliano didn't
give up when he was held score-
less in the first three games of
the season. And with his sights
set on a national champion-
ship, Cogliano wants to stay
at Michigan for all four years.
By James V. Dowd
Daily Sports Writer
Photos by Rodrigo Gaya and Mike Huslebus
II
g
t
Jin Maize and Blue was tougher to decipher than
the reasoning behind a Dr. Seuss book. After the
freshman notched 102 points in 49 Ontario Pro-
vincial Junior Hockey League games last year, he couldn't
quite figure out why he couldn't put the puck in the
back of the net in Ann Arbor.
So before the Wolverines faced off with Mer-
rimack in their fourth game of the year, Cogli-
ano received a special delivery - the stick he
used in juniors, an Easton Synergy with a red
bottom. It wasn't a far cry from the Easton
Synergy with a blue bottom that he had
been using at Michigan up until that point.
But magically, the goals and points started
coming, starting with two that afternoon.
"I think it's just a psychological thing,"
Cogliano said. "Maybe just try a new
thing. A lot of hockey players do that when
things aren't going that well. I tried to switch
things up, and it worked out"
These days, it doesn't matter what stick is
in the Woodbridge, Ont., native's hand - he
has compiled a six-game scoring streak,
knocking in 7 goals and dishing out 8
assists for 15 points over that span.
"In the first few games, I was try-
ing too hard," Cogliano said. "But
then I settled down a bit and got
accustomed to what I did before.
When I did that, I started to find
my touch again."
A scorer's touch doesn't
come from a new stick or a
change in luck, it comes from
hard work and finely tuned
skills - both of which have
helped Cogliano become
one of Michigan's leading
scorers.
much better," Michigan captain Andrew Ebbett said. "When
you get a chance, you just have to get a quick shot. We have
three great goalies out here every day, so he's had a good chance
to work on it."
Seeing that the goaltenders had his number in both practice
and his three scoreless games, Cogliano set out to improve with
each opportunity he had to skate in practice.
"I'm working extra hard during and after practice on it,"
Cogliano said. "I push myself to score on every shot when I do
shoot. I'm just trying to improve it for the game."
In the Merrimack game, Cogliano's efforts finally paid off,
when he found the back of the net for the first time in a Michi-
gan uniform. The puck came to him in the right circle, and he
one-timed it past Warriors' goaltender Jim Healy before Healy
knew what had happened.
"I think I was both excited and relieved (to score that first
goal)," Cogliano said. "I just saw the puck hitting the net and it
was a relief to know that it went in. Hearing the place go crazy
and hearing the fans go crazy was a good feeling. You defi-
nitely keep that in your memory for the rest of your life."
When Cogliano was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers with
the 25th overall pick in this past summer's NHL Entry Draft,
they knew he had the speed to be a dangerous player. Now that
he has further developed his shot while playing against elite
college goaltenders, Cogliano has a new weapon in his arsenal.
If he had jumped into Major Junior hockey - which features a
completely different environment - he may never have devel-
oped such a blazing shot.
The big decision
Growing up in Ontario, every young, elite hockey player is
pushed to aim for the Canadian Major Junior hockey leagues
like the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey
League. Because the American college game doesn't receive
the same exposure on television and in the media, many play-
ers forgo the opportunity to play NCAA hockey and receive an
education. But for Cogliano, the college game was a better fit.
"A lot of people in Canada don't really know the college
game;" Ebbett, a Vernon, B.C. native, said. "You don't get a
lot of games televised up there. The Major Juniors are where
you've been told you should go since you were 12 or 13 years
old. It's a faster game, and it's better suited for smaller guys like
Cogliano and I - we can use our speed here."
For Cogliano, some of the selling points for Michigan were
the environment at Yost Ice Arena and in Ann Arbor. Even
when OHL teams began calling him before their annual draft,
he never wavered in his decision to join the Wolverines.
"Ever since I came down to see Michigan play, it was the
atmosphere and the school that caught my attention," Cogliano
said. "Right from the beginning, when I was 15 years old, I
wanted to come to Michigan. I played juniors for two years and
then came down here. I kept my word and didn't really think
about the OHL too much."
Another advantage of coming to Michigan was the educa-
tion that Cogliano knew he would receive.
"I'm taking sports management classes, and I'm
hoping to major in that," Cogliano said. "School
is going pretty well right now, and I'm look-
ing to stay in school for four years.
Education is a big part of my life.
Hopefully, I can finish my
degree and finally major
gliano has in sports manage-
ment."
Points
hitting the ice every day.
"I've been thinking about what else I would do," Cogliano
said. "I look at a lot of students and they come here and just go
to school. It's weird to think about that since hockey has been
such a big part of my life. I really don't know what I'd be doing
without hockey. I think I'd take the same courses since sports
interest me, but I definitely enjoy being an athlete and playing
hockey."
With dreams of a national championship, earning a degree
and eventually suiting up in the NHL, Cogliano certainly has
his hands full with opportunities for growth during the next
four years. And he never doubted Ann Arbor was the right
place to work toward his goals.
Even ifthe enthusiasm
pionship, Cogliano's play
his first months, giving h
Edmonton down the road
"(The Oilers') game is
fit in well," Cogliano saic
better. Hopefully I can be
for four years. That's why
that and that's what I'm ko
The Edmonton organ
playing for Michigan, Cc
"I haven't really talked
"They will come down an
in contact that much. The
Michigan."
Because the college ga
this year's NHL rule chan
he gains from playing al
top level.
"I was really excited te
because it definitely ope
Cogliano said. "You cans
are part of the play."
Fantastic freshmen
How Cogliano compares to recent freshmen:
Shooting star
When Cogliano arrived
at Michigan, one of his
most noticeable flaws
was his shot. In
practice, Cogliano
would fly around
teammates, find
the open space
and create the
shot. But the
goalten-
Year
Player
G
A
1998-99 Mike Comrie 17 22
2002-03 Jeff Tambellini 25 13
2003-04 T.J. Hensick 11 30
2004-05 Chad Kolarik 15 16
2005-OS
Andrew Cogliano
*projected
28
32
P Already a veteran
Knowing that he has
Michigan, Cogliano pla
analyzing his faults like a
freshman. Now that he he
best six game scoring st
intensity - an asset esse
"I just need to play
k "Sometimes during gain
to keep up that intensity
After improving his sl
to establish a track recc
improvement. Ebbett sai
less pressure on himself
the season.
"He's just not worryir
p Ebbett said. "He's focuse
39 the races to the puck. He
he gets the chance he put
38 Ebbett also credits Cc
41 prevents him from gettir
"(Cogliano) is just at
31 "You could say that we'i
60 relaxed. We give him a]
a relaxed guy."
Aside from the lessor
veteran-esque analysis o
at upcoming opponents.
gliano how to counter an oppc
's con- makes sure that he know
yam. Heading into next wee
gliano Cogliano has already 1
locker about playing on the roa
r guys "The first night (a 4-2
t they for me and the rest of th
initely play a road game like th
my eyes to see the leagu
ao pro- second night we calmed
e top. to play."
ubbing Cogliano also noticed
of fun Olympic-sized ice sheet
cal college rink. He plan
)hnson -just as he did in Fairb
erines, "I really enjoy playir
for the speed," Cogliano said. "]
possible. I know Northe:
re they I'm looking forward to t
at con- With his hot hand and
tt said. prised if
ut how
)lay in
Breaking Out
After suffering through a tough first three games, Cog
become one of Michigan's biggest scoring threats:
Game Goals Assists
The right decision?
Hoping to leave with an NCAA Championship, Co
has his sights set high for his time in Ann Arbor. And he
vinced that this year's team has a shot to achieve that dre
"Our league is particularly better this year," Cod
said. "So we will be prepared and the guys in the1
room know we can win. You can see it in the olde
like Ebbett and (senior Brandon) Kaleniecki - tha
want to win a national championship. They are def
leading us in the right direction."
Ebbett said he believes the freshmen such as Coglian
vide the energy necessary to propel the Wolverines to th
"The enthusiasm that the young guys have is just n
off on the older guys," Ebbett said. "We're having a lot
right now."
Because players like Cogliano and freshman Jack Jc
committed several years before joining the Wolv
Ebbett believes they have developed a passion
program that translates onto the ice.
"The love that they've had even befo
arrive at Michigan has been a gre
tribution to the team," Ebbe
"Cogliano told me abo
he watched us p
the Frozen
Quinniplac 0 0 0
Quinniplac 0 0 0
Boston College 0 0 0
Merrimack 2 2 4
Michigan State 1 1 2
Alaska-Fairbanks 1 1 2
Alaska-Fairbanks 0 1 1
Notre Dame 2 2 4
Notre Dame 1 1 2
Total l7 goals (T4st)
*Bold indicates home game
8a~I~s 4t 1 o~t 2