Wolverines bracing to 
host U.S. Development 
program in exhibition

From Jacob Trouba to Tyler 

Motte 
to 
Zach 
Werenski, 

there has been no shortage of 
talented players that Michigan 
coach 
Red 
Berenson 
has 

recruited from the USA Hockey 
National Team Development 
Program. It’s a relationship 
that has been beneficial for 
both sides, especially recently. 
This year’s Wolverine squad 
features eight former NTDP 
players, including five of the 
freshmen — forwards Will 
Lockwood, James Sanchez and 
Nick Pastujov and defensemen 
Luke Martin and Griffin Luce 
all played for the NTDP’s 
Under-18 team last year.

The two teams will meet 

Friday night at 
Yost Ice Arena 
in an exhibition 
game, a yearly 
tradition 
that 

has taken place 
for more than a 
decade. 

The 
NTDP 

moved to Ann 
Arbor in 1996, 
signing a lease 
to practice at 
the nearby Ice Cube. Players 
attend local high schools and 
live with billet families if they 
weren’t from the area.

But according to Berenson, 

the proximity between both 
programs 
hasn’t 
provided 

much of a recruiting advantage 
over the years. He has recruited 
players he would’ve gone after 
even if they weren’t part of the 
NTDP — recruits who were 
either from Michigan or the 
surrounding area, or some who 
already had ties to the program 
(like Sanchez, who grew up 
rooting for the team). Most of 
the time, Michigan has already 
received verbal commitments 
from NTDP players before they 
even join the program.

“We’ve recruited kids from 

that program, but when you look 
at the rules that we’re under as 
coaches, we can’t see them play 
any more than the coaches from 
Wisconsin 
or 

North 
Dakota 

can,” 
Berenson 

said. “We can 
only go to so 
many 
games 

each year. You’d 
think we have a 
big 
advantage, 

but 
we 
found 

out early in the 
process we don’t.

“For a lot of 

kids, it’s changed their lives, 
(and) it’s given them a great 
opportunity. We’re just one of 
the many schools that benefit 
from the program.”

Added Pastujov: “I don’t 

think it made a huge difference 
(in my commitment), but I think 
it helped just being close. We 
got to go to a lot of the games 
(and) talk to the coaches.”

If anything, being so close to 

the NTDP allowed Michigan to 
continue building relationships 
with players already verbally 
committed. Recruits can take 
as many unofficial visits as 
they want, getting a taste of 
Ann Arbor at football or hockey 
games, while Wolverine coaches 
are able to keep in close contact.

This year’s NTDP under-

18 team features four players 
in the 2017-18 class who have 
committed 
to 
Michigan: 

goaltender 
Dylan 
St. 
Cyr, 

defenseman 
Quinn 
Hughes 

and forwards Josh Norris and 
Michael Pastujov — the younger 
brother of Nick. Norris and 
Pastujov signed their letters 
of intent earlier this week, 
officially joining the program, 
while Michigan still waits upon 
signatures from St. Cyr and 
Hughes.

Berenson had high praise 

for the two early signees, who 

are both expected to be taken 
within the first few rounds of 
the 2017 NHL Draft.

“I like (Norris),” Berenson 

said. 
“He’s 
a 
good-sized 

centerman. Good skater, good 
worker, good two-way player. 
I think he’ll come in and be a 
solid player right from the get-
go.

“Michael 
(Pastujov) 
is 
a 

little bit like Nick (Pastujov) 
in that he’s had some shoulder 
problems. Right now, he’s on 
the injured list, so we’re not 
going to see him tomorrow. But 
I think he’s going to bring skill 
to our team, and he’s a player 
that should be able to provide 
offense and become a real good 
Division I player.”

Added Nick Pastujov: “I really 

like (Michael’s) game. I think 

he’s 
definitely 

a smart player. 
He’s got a lot of 
skill, and he can 
definitely finish. 
So I think he 
brings a lot to 
the table, and 
I’m excited to 
play with him 
next year.”

Michigan’s 

continued 

recruiting 
presence 
within 

the NTDP signals that the ties 
between each program remain 
strong, even if the NTDP moved 
from Ann Arbor to Plymouth 
about a year ago. 

The 
NTDP 
has 
beaten 

Michigan in the past, and even 
though the Wolverines win 
most years, the competition 
is still intense between both 
sides — perhaps an effect of 
younger players trying to prove 
themselves to future teammates 
or opponents.

“The atmosphere (last year) 

was definitely cool,” Pastujov 
said. “We stuck with (Michigan) 
for two solid periods. The 
crowd was really into it ... It was 
a really physical and fast game. 
Third period (Michigan) kinda 
pulled away, and they ended up 
winning, but it was still a really 
fun game the whole time.

“It’s the first time you run 

into your future 
(teammates), 
and it’s kinda 
like 
a 
first 

impression 
— 
your 
first 

impression 
of 

them and their 
first impression 
of you on the 
ice as a player. 
It’s your first 
chance to prove 

a little bit about yourself.”

After 
splitting 
a 
series 

against No. 5 Boston University 
last weekend, Michigan has just 
three games left — including 
the exhibition — before the 
start of Big Ten play. And while 
tomorrow’s result won’t count 
in the record books, Berenson 
is 
hoping 
to 
see 
marked 

improvement from his squad.

“We have to play this game 

like we’re playing a Division 
I program,” Berenson said. 
“We have to take a step from 
(playing) 
Boston 
University 

and put it on the ice against this 
team. And the (NTDP) will do 
the same thing. They’ve played 
a lot of good programs. We’re 
just another game on their 
schedule, except we’re more of 
a home game. I think it’s a little 
special for them. All the billet 
families will come to the game 
and cheer for them, so there’ll 
be a mixed crowd here.

“I 
think 
we’ve 
got 
to 

capitalize on our chances when 
we get chances in the offensive 
zone, and I think we’ve got to 
be stingier defensively. It’s not 
just our goalies, but it’s our 
defensemen and our forward 
in our zone. We can’t give up 
unearned goals because of poor 
defensive zone play. We’ve got 
to be better without the puck.”

Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Friday, November 18, 2016 — 7A

ICE HOCKEY

ORION SANG

Daily Sports Writer

Michigan to continue tradition, play 
against future team members Friday

“For a lot 
of kids, it’s 

changed their 

lives.”

“It’s the first 
time you run 

into your future 
(teammates).”

Wolverines’ Finn one race from history

Eighteen years have passed 

since Michigan last had an 
NCAA 
champion 
in 
cross 

country. Katie McGregor ran 
her way to victory in 1998, and 
on Saturday, Erin Finn will 
attempt to match her historic 
feat.

A two-time high school state 

champion, the West Bloomfield 
native was already a star runner 
before setting foot on campus.

Three years have passed 

since she first donned the the 
block ‘M’, but in that short time, 
Finn has ensured that her name 
will be long remembered in Ann 
Arbor. 

As a freshman, Finn propelled 

Michigan to 4th place in the 
2013 
NCAA 
Championship, 

a feat that earned her All-
American honors.

She followed that up in 

subsequent years by becoming 
the 
first 
Wolverine 
since 

McGregor 
to 
win 
back-to-

back Big Ten championships, 
winning 
three 
overall. 
She 

also is a three-time Big Ten 
Athlete of the Year, the fastest 
Michigander to ever run a 
10,000-meter race, and in 2015, 
she was once again named an 
All-American.

“She’s accomplished a lot,” 

said 
Michigan 
coach 
Mike 

McGuire. “But she’s just getting 
started on her career.”

Saturday, 
at 
the 
NCAA 

Championships 
in 
Terre 

Haute, Ind., Finn will have the 
opportunity to add another 
milestone to this impressive 
list. It will be her last cross 
country race as a Wolverine.

McGregor 
has 
followed 

Finn’s career, and now, she 
could watch the senior match 
her as an NCAA champion.

“I’m really confident in the 

talent she has,” McGregor said. 
“It definitely is going to be huge 

to have her go out there and win 
the National Championship.”

McGuire 
also 
coached 

McGregor 
to 

her NCAA win 
in 
1998, 
and 

he 
noted 
the 

similarities 
between 
his 

former 
star 

runner and his 
current one.

“Both 
are 

ferocious 
competitors,” 
McGuire 
said. 

“(They are) two athletes that 
have a burning desire to prepare 
and a burning desire to show 
their preparation on race day.”

Despite 
her 
countless 

successes, Finn’s road to victory 

has not been without its bumps. 
Ahead of the 2016 Olympics 
in Rio de Janeiro, Finn was 

selected 
to 

participate 
in 
the 
United 

States’ Olympic 
trials 
for 
the 

10,000-meter 
category. 
Prior 

to fulfilling this 
dream, 
a 
foot 

injury kept her 
from competing 
in 
the 
trials, 

dashing 
her 

hopes of joining the American 
team in Brazil. 

During last year’s NCAA 

championships, Finn lost her 
socks and shoes while running, 
yet still managed to finish an 

impressive 19th in the race.

“She just does really well 

against adversity,” McGregor 
said. “No matter how high the 
obstacle.”

While this weekend’s race 

could place pressure on Finn, 
McGregor says that it’s equally 
important for Finn to maintain 
the routines and tactics that 
have brought success so far.

“Go there being prepared 

and confident,” McGregor said. 
“It’s more about keeping your 
emotions in check, because 
your body is ready to do it.”

Added McGuire: “She has a 

passion to prepare, she loves 
everything about the sport. … 
She loves to prepare to compete. 
And she loves to do it on a daily 
basis.”

AMANDA ALLEN/Daily

Senior runner Erin Finn is expected to contend for the NCAA individual cross-country championship Saturday.

“I’m really 
confident 

in the talent 

she has.”

CHRISTIAN NEUBACHER

For the Daily

High-scoring Wolverines to take on Howard

The 
Michigan 
women’s 

basketball team has reached 
a triple-digit score 14 times in 
its history, and four of those 
occasions have come under 
Michigan coach Kim Barnes 
Arico. 
Most 
recently, 
the 

Wolverines dominated Oakland, 
101-63, last Friday. 

After winning both games of 

the season-opening weekend in 
Crisler Center, Michigan has a 
chance to continue that streak 
on Friday and Monday against 
Howard and Western Michigan, 
respectively. If it does, Barnes 
Arico will push her way into the 
number-three slot of the school’s 
all-time wins list. She currently 
holds a .612 winning percentage. 

As of Tuesday, the Wolverines 

are ranked first in the nation for 
scoring offense. 

“Everyone that has come 

in has really contributed and 
done a great job,” said Michigan 
coach Kim Barnes Arico said to 

Michigan Insider. “Right now 
we’re in a rotation of nine or 
10 deep that are really able to 
contribute.” 

Michigan 
has 
promising 

statistics to bolster its claim to 
victory, including coming off 
just the second time in program 
history that six players scored in 
double digits. 

Leading the charge against 

the Bison and Broncos will 
be 
junior 
guard 
Katelynn 

Flaherty, freshman guard Kysre 
Gondrezick 
and 
sophomore 

center Hallie Thome. Sophomore 
guard Nicole Munger and junior 
guard Jillian Dunston will most 
likely make a splash on the court, 
too. 

“This is the most depth we’ve 

had since I’ve been here,” Barnes 
Arico said. “It’s a pretty exciting 
time because if someone gets in 
foul trouble, if someone gets hurt, 
if someone’s not feeling well, if 
someone’s having an off game, 
we’ve had someone we’ve been 
able to sub in and not lose much. 

“It’s still early in the season, 

and the competition will change, 
but we really were able to play 
the entire team the other night 
and not lose a beat.” 

Another milestone to look 

out for — potentially — will be 
senior guard Siera Thompson 
shooting her way to become the 
career leader in three-pointers 
at Michigan. She will need just 
five 3’s away to surpass Carmen 
Reynolds, who holds 205. 

Flaherty 
is 
jockeying 
to 

achieve that milestone, too, 
already ranking fourth all-time 
with 188 in just her third year of 
collegiate play. 

But whoever gets there first 

will still have to play Howard 
and Western Michigan. 

The 
Wolverines 
will 
be 

playing 
the 
Bison 
for 
the 

first time in program history. 
Howard lost its first two games 
of the season and boasts just 
two players who are scoring in 
double digits, guard Te’Shya 
Heslip and forward Erin Blaine. 

Don’t count the Bison out, 

though — Heslip is tied for first 

in her conference for scoring 
with 24 points per game and 
leads in assists per game with an 
average of 6.5. 

Next up are the Broncos, who 

defeated Davidson in their home 
opener, 76-63. A player to look 
out for will be forward Breanna 
Mobley, who was named both 
the MAC West Player of the 
Week and the College Sports 
Madness MAC Player of the 
Week. 

Notably, Western Michigan 

leads the all-time series against 
Michigan 15-13 — though the 
Wolverines have won three 
straight. 

Looking 
ahead, 
the 

Wolverines are gearing up for 
a 
seven-game 
away 
stretch 

that will take them all around 
the nation. But first, they are 
looking to give a meaningful 
“see ya later” to Crisler Center. 

“We have a real tough stretch 

coming up,” Barnes Arico said. 
“We’re just trying to focus on 
one game at a time. We’re trying 
get better as a team today.” 

CLAIRE MEINGAST/Daily

Freshman guard Kysre Gondrezick has gotten off to a hot start for the Michigan women’s basketball team, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.

SYLVANNA GROSS

Daily Sports Writer

