6A — Thursday, November 5, 2015
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

‘M’ regroups; Defense coming together

Four of six 

freshmen making 
transition from 
USHL to college

By MINH DOAN

Daily Sports Editor

With four top defensemen 

returning 
from 
last 
season 

— juniors Michael Downing 
and 
Nolan 

De Jong and 
sophomores 
Zach 
Werenski 
and 
Cutler 

Martin — plus the addition 
of a highly touted freshman 
class, 
there 
was 
no 
doubt 

that Michigan hockey team’s 

defensive corps would be much 
improved in 2015-16.

Downing, though, is convinced 

the unit could be better than just 
good. It could be great.

“We talk about it all the time,” 

Downing said. “This is a good 
year for the defense, probably 
one of the best defensive classes 
since Jon Merrill, Travis Lynch, 
Luke Moffatt and Mac Bennett 
were all here.”

But after giving up 20 goals in 

six games to start the season, the 
defense is off to a slow start.

The blueliners, though, aren’t 

the only ones shouldering blame.

“It’s team defense,” Downing 

said. “It’s not just (the defense). 
There’s certain plays that we need 
to fix. Maybe (a forward) needs 
to come back, or (a goaltender) 

needs to make a save.”

And with a tough trip to 

Boston University looming in 
two weeks, the Wolverines will 
need to shore up their defense 
if they want to 
leave the East 
Coast with two 
wins.

BYE 

WEEK: 
With 12 days 
between 
games, 
Michigan has 
a 
chance 
to 

regroup 
this 

week and work 
on specific areas to help shore up 
its game.

The 
defensemen 
want 
to 

improve puck movement and 

schemes in the defensive zone.

“The coaches told us we need 

to work on some things after 
practice,” Downing said. “For 
me, a lot of the stuff that I want 

to 
work 
on, 

especially with 
(Werenski), is 
in the D-zone. 
We’re going to 
be out there 
against teams’ 
top lines, and 
last game, we 
went 
minus-

3, 
which 
is 

unacceptable 
for both of us.”

As for the forwards, Michigan 

coach Red Berenson wanted 
to see an improvement in the 
faceoff circle. Berenson said 

he wanted to see the centers 
practice 150 faceoffs during the 
bye week.

“It’s kind of a thing to stress 

to all of the centers, to tell 
everyone to collectively work 
on our faceoffs,” said freshman 
forward Cooper Marody. “It’s 
very important to our game, and 
we want to be better.”

USHL VS. MICHIGAN: For 

many players, college hockey 
is a tough transition. Many 
players choose to play in the 
United States Hockey League 
beforehand, and many think 
college 
hockey 
is 
the 
next 

natural stepping stone toward 
the professional leagues.

Of the six freshmen, four 

players — Marody, forward Kyle 
Connor, 
defenseman 
Joseph 

Cecconi and goaltender Chad 
Catt — played in the USHL, and 
there is a clear distinction in 
play.

“Players think at a higher 

level,” Marody said. “But on the 
other hand, guys are bigger and 
faster. It’s the same kind of game 
as you move up in levels. It just 
gets a little big stronger, a little 
bit quicker. So you just have 
to adapt to the speed and the 
strength.”

But that doesn’t mean playing 

college hockey lacks perks.

“When you get the opportunity 

to play (college hockey), it’s 
definitely a lot different flying 
on planes than being on a bus 
to get to places,” Marody said. 
“We have it pretty good here 
compared to the USHL.”

ICE HOCKEY

“We have it 
pretty good 

here compared 
to the USHL.”
NOTEBOOK

