Tuesday, October 25, 2016 // FACEOFF 2016
8B 

Forwards

Motte, Compher and Connor 

didn’t just pace Michigan on 
offense last year. They became one 
of the most prolific lines in college 
hockey.

All three players are gone now, 

leaving a young team to try to 
replace them.

One member of that young 

team is freshman forward Will 
Lockwood. 
Lockwood’s 
father 

was a part of Michigan coach 
Red Berenson’s first four year-
class and scored a total of 69 goals 
throughout his career — and so 
far, it looks like his son is living up 
to the family legacy.

Lockwood — a former member 

of the United States National 
Team 
Development 
Program 

with current teammate Luke 
Martin — has already notched 
three goals and three assists this 
season and has been a consistent 
name on the first line. Off the 
stat sheet, he’s known for being 
speedy on the ice and it looks as if 
he is acclimating well to the pace 
of college hockey.

Coming 
off 
of 
a 
season 

captaining 
the 
Bloomington 

Thunder of the United States 
Hockey League, forward Jake 
Slaker had a record of 21 goals and 
21 assists in 57 games. So far this 
year, he’s matched Lockwood’s 
total of three assists and three 
goals and has been a consistent 
name on the first line.

And then there’s senior captain 

Alex Kile, and though he’s only 
scored a single goal so far this 
season, he has been a constant 
presence on the ice. And his 
experience from the previous 
season, when he scored 16 goals 

and recorded 18 assists, puts him 
in good position for the team to 
lean on.

Freshman James Sanchez has 

recorded two goals in a single 
game in the shutout against 
Union and looks to be solid as 
well, generally sitting on the 
second or third line with two 
senior forwards, Evan Allen and 
Max Shuart. Shuart has scored 
a single goal this season, but has 
capitalized on opportunities for 
assists.

Sophomore Brendan Warren 

and juniors Dexter Dancs and 
Tony Calderone have also made 
offensive contributions so far this 
season.

Defensemen

Michigan 
also 
suffered 

significant losses on defense, 
with 
Michael 
Downing 
and 

Zach Werenski turning pro. But 

a few new defensive recruits in 
addition to the returning class 
offer an optimistic look for the 
Wolverines.

Nolan De Jong is highlighting 

the returning class, and has 
taken on a captain position for 
the season. De Jong led the 
defense last season, playing in 
every game and leading all Big 
Ten defensemen. As one of the 
captains of the team this year, he’s 
been a significant factor in the 
success of the younger team.

Junior defenseman Sam Piazza 

is one of the top returners this 
season as well. In the past five 
games, he has scored three goals 
and tallied two assists, a clear 
indicator he is attempting to fill 
the void left behind from last 
year’s top scorers.

Juniors Cutler Martin and Niko 

Porikos have also each scored 
a goal, and sophomore Joseph 
Cecconi tallied an assist.

Christian 
Meike, 
Griffin 

Luce and Luke Martin are all 
newcomers for the defense.

With strong returners leading 

the defense, the freshmen have a 
good opportunity to learn what 
they need to in order to help 
fill the shoes of Werenski and 
Downing.

***

Overall, Michigan has a lot of 

potential to work with. Despite 
the abundance of fresh faces, 
many of the freshmen have 
earned their place on the roster. 
The team has some kinks it needs 
to work out after getting outshot 
in each of its first five games. 
But with a few more weeks 
before conference play begins, 
the Wolverines have a little bit 
of time to find the chemistry 
they need to capitalize on their 
individual talents.

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Freshman forward Will Lockwood has been tasked with picking up some of the scoring load on Michigan’s first line after forwards Tyler Motte, JT Compher and Kyle Connor each went to the NHL after last season.

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