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