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CCHA CONTENDERS
Notre Dame
Early on, the Fighting Irish were
a popular pick to contend for the
CCHA crown and the national title.
But a rocky first two weeks, albeit
against tough competition, has left
Notre Dame at.500.
Last year's Irish team was sig-
nificantly improved from 2009-10
when it finished 13-17-8. In 2010,
Notre Dame led the CCHA for much
of the season before relinquishing
the conference lead during the final
weekend to Michigan.
Having lost just five players to
graduation, experience shouldn't
be an issue. Goaltending wasn't
expected to be an issue either, but
the tandem of junior Mike Johnson
and sophomore Steven Summer-
hays hasn't exactly been impen-
etrable thus far. Summerhays is
allowing4.61 goals pergame.
With a new arena coming to
South Bend, seventh-year coach
Jeff Jackson will attemptsto maneu-
ver through a trying schedule and
live up to the preseason hype sur-
rounding the program.
FIRST LOOK: Michigan at Notre
Dame, Jan. 20-21.
Miami (Ohio)
Known simply as "The Dynasty"
to some, don't expect the 2011 ver-
sion of the RedHawks to deviate
from what has become a norm of
success. Head coach Enrico Blasi
returns for his 13th season at the
helm of his alma mater.
Miami hopes to alleviate linger-
ing memories from a devastating
end to an otherwise spectacular
last season. The RedHawks were
sent packing in the first round of
the NCAA Tournament against
New Hampshire, a heavy underdog.
Meanwhile, forward Andy Miele
became the program's first Hobey
Baker Award winner. A sharp
recruiting class coming to Oxford is
led by forward Tyler Biggs, arguably
the nation's most prized incoming
talent. Biggs is no misnomer for the
freshman, whose size will present
problems into the postseason for
opposing teams. Combined with
forward Reilly Smith, who has an
uncanny knack for finding the net,
this will be one of Blasi's highest-
scoringteams in recent memory.
FIRST LOOK: Michigan at Miami,
Nov.11-12.
Alaska Fairbanks
The CCHA's version of the far
West is coming off a disappoint-
ing 2010, marred by a 4-10-3 away
record. And while travel fatigue is
to be expected for the Nanooks, it's
something they need to get used
to - the 49th state isn't getting any
closer to the CCHA's Midwestern
teams. On the contrary, the Carl-
son Center is a notoriously difficult
place to play in, as opponents some-
times have trouble adjusting.
Alaska has a gem of a netminder
in senior Scott Greenham. He's
off to an impressive start to 2011,
allowing 1.67 goals per game. His
timely saves were critical in key-
ing a 4-1 Nanook win over No. 14
Nebraska-Omaha last weekend.
Anchoring Alaska in the middle
is Nik Yaremchuk, a fan favorite
in Fairbanks who always seems to
have the puck in opportune spots on
the ice. If the Nanooks want a shot
at the CCHA title - and it would be
an outside shot at best - they must
win its home contests and steal ones
from contest foes on the road.
FIRST LOOK: Michigan at Alas-
ka, Dec. 2-3.
Western Michigan
The coaching position in
Kalamazoo has been a whirlwind
of late, but it seems the Broncos
may have found a diamond in the
rough in Andy Murray. Murray
was brought in this summer to
replace Jeff Blashill, who jumped
ship after one year at Western
to join the Detroit Red Wings'
coaching staff. The Broncos lost
their top scorer in Max Campbell,
but the next nine are back. Sopho-
more forward Shane Berschbach
is off to a hot start, scoring three
times in his first two games.
Between the pipes, Murray has
yet to give the starting nod to any
of his three goaltenders. In the
latest recruiting class, Western
has two netminders who seem
capable of earning playing time
this season.
With their first NCAA Tourna-
ment appearance in 15 years last
season, the Broncos will have to
adjust to their new coach quickly
if another at-large bid is in the
cards for Western.
FIRST LOOK: Michigan vs.
Western Michigan, Nov. 4-5.
Ferris State
If there's ever a season for the
Bulldogs to play with the big boys in
the CCHA, it's this one.
Center Travis Ouellette, last
year's leading scorer, will need to
play an even bigger role for the pro-
gram's first NCAA Tournament
appearance since 2003 - and sec-
ond ever - to be more than a pipe
dream.
Speaking of pipes, between them
will be C.J. Motte and Taylor Nel-
son. While it would seem tenured
head coach Bob Daniels will need to
select one eventually, the by-com-
mittee system has been good to the
Bulldogs, as they have started the
2011-12 season with a perfect 4-0
record.
Ferris State is almost as young as
Michigan, with seven freshmen on
its roster to the Wolverines' eight
freshmen.
Although a conference title still
feels like a stretch, 2011 represents
the Bulldogs' opportunity to take
their licks, but dish some of their
own out too.
FIRST LOOK: Michigan vs. Ferris
State, Oct. 27-28.
;
i'
From Page 7B
tion. Shawn is now the grizzled veteran in the net, trying to
deliver the fairy tale for Michigan.
You would think that the most important position on the
current top-ranked team in the country would be filled by a
highly touted player, or at least someone who was recruited
heavily. Some sort of a plan for the position, at the very least.
You'd be wrong.
The special thing about Shawn's journey is that no one
predicted it. Not Berenson, not Rich and Robin, not Matt.
Even Shawn didn't imagine things working out this way.
You can only dream so big.
This happening at a storied program with some of the best
recruiting in the nation is inexplicable. How does a player
who stumbles onto the team land himself atop Michigan's
all-time goals against average an, save percentage?
"As a coach, it just shows you - we don't know every-
thing," Berenson said. "You don't know everything about
your players, you don't know what's inside akid and you don't
know what the possibilities are."
Shawn is one of the players who lights the old coach's eyes
up. Berenson could seemingly go on for hours on end about
him.
Shawn went to El Salvador this summer, building a school
for children for more than a week. He played soccer with the
kids, not hockey, and didn't even bring a puck.
He didn't go for the publicity or for Michigan; he went
8B Faceoff, October 21, 2011
because that's what a kid who is not changed
one bit by success does. He isn't concerned
about going to the NHL, and he understands
Michigan might be his career highlight.
He's never felt entitled. So he lets back-
up goaltender Adam Janecyk get minutes
because he knows how it feels to never get in
a game.
He credits everybody but himself for shut-
outs, no matter how many saves he had.
And perhaps most importantly, he under-
stands how unbelievable his journey has
been.-
When you watch Shawn's ESPN documen-
tary in 10 years, just remember his passion.
He cares about Michigan hockey, even if --
Michigan hockey originally didn't care about
him.
"You just need to prepare yourself to get to
a threshold, that if you are given the opportu-
nity then you can succeed," Shawn said. "You
just have to wait for a break." FILE PHOTO/Daily
When Berenson sat down with Shawn Shawn Hunwick led Michigan onto the ice at The Big Chill at the Big House.
at the beginning of his Michigan career, he
said that the door for playing time wasn't closed, but it was Shawn Hunwick arrived at Michigan with zero fanfare.
cracked just an inch. A few diehards on the message boards thought he was a
Five years later, Shawn has busted that door down. wasted roster spot, but besides that, nobody cared.
"Thank God Shawn is small so he can fit through that He might just leave as the most memorable goalie in
crack," Robin said. "He snuck through." Michigan history.
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