Friday, October 20, 2017 // FACEOFF 2017
6B
Roster breakdown: Competition open
between pipes, youth could boost ‘M’
Coming
off
major
disappointment and a losing
record for the first time since
2012-13, the Michigan hockey
team seeks to rebound in a
huge way this season, with
expectations of an immense
turnaround
for
the
storied
program.
The
Wolverines
return an impressive 21 players
looking to step up in leadership
roles on and off the ice, and
welcome
six
highly-touted
newcomers determined to make
an immediate impact.
With a new head coach and
fresh offensive and defensive
systems, there will be trial and
error as the season continues
to unravel. But over the first
two
games,
Michigan
has
already started to show signs of
renewed and reenergized play,
putting more shots on goal and
tightening its defense.
The Daily takes an in-depth
look at the Wolverine roster by
position,
deciphering
which
goaltender
will
be
named
starter,
which
veterans
are
primed to perform to potential
and which freshmen could claim
instant stardom.
Goaltenders
Michigan coach Mel Pearson
has stated he isn’t one to rely on a
goaltender rotation throughout
a season.
Nonetheless, until a definitive
starter
emerges,
sophomores
Jack LaFontaine and Hayden
Lavigne will continue to mind
the net by committee, competing
for the eventual starting role.
At the onset, Pearson said they
will split playing the first eight
games, after which he plans to
confidently announce a go-to
goalie for the remainder of the
season.
Either LaFontaine or Lavigne
— the two goalies on the
team with considerable game
experience — will have large
skates to fill. They replace last
year’s third head of the three-
man goaltender rotation and
team leader Zach Nagelvoort,
who
graduated
last
spring.
Nagelvoort ended with a 33-26-
6 career record, a .917 save
percentage — the second highest
in Michigan history — and a 2.56
goals against average, the sixth-
lowest in program history.
Last season, both LaFontaine
and
Lavigne
saw
almost
identical
action,
but
posted
vastly different records while
playing intermittently between
Nagelvoort. LaFontaine entered
11 games and went 1-7-1 with
a 3.34 goals against average,
while Lavigne finished 6-6-1
and allowed 2.92 goals per game
in 13 games.
But the tides may have turned
this year. With the starting job
still up for grabs, LaFontaine
may hold the early edge. He
led the Wolverines against St.
Lawrence, allowing only one
goal on 24 shots in a 3-1 victory.
The following night, Lavigne
didn’t have the same fortune,
giving up three goals on 19 shots
in a 3-0 loss to Clarkson.
While a clear frontrunner
for the starting position has yet
to materialize, once Pearson’s
eight-game benchmark elapses,
he will determine which goalie
has risen to the occasion and
can supplant Nagelvoort this
season.
Forwards
After
a
season
in
which
Michigan held the nation’s third-
worst Corsi-percentage — which
measures shot differentials and
puck possession — there are
many promising aspects at the
forward position to improve
those numbers.
The sophomore class returns
four forwards, headlined by Will
Lockwood and Jake Slaker. Last
year’s team MVP, Lockwood
will be at full health following
an offseason shoulder surgery.
Despite missing five games last
season, the speedy skater racked
up eight goals and 12 assists for
20 points, all second-highest
marks on the team. Slaker was
the backbone of the Michigan
offense, playing in all 35 games
as a freshman and posting a
team-high 21 points.
While
returning
a
solid
corps of sophomores spread
throughout line configurations,
a major loss is Alex Kile. The
former team captain provided
point production during his four
years, totaling 78 points on 39
goals and 39 assists.
Tony Calderone will try to
replace Kile in the veteran role
and was named team captain
Thursday. The senior forward
started
this
season
strong,
netting two goals and one assist
in the 10-1 rout over Western
Ontario in an exhibition game
and one goal on seven shots in
the first two regular season
contests. After recording 20 and
18 points as a sophomore and
junior, respectively, Calderone
BENJAMIN KATZ
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan coach Mel Pearson says that the starting goaltender will be named after eight games
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Sophomore goaltender Hayden Lavigne conceded three goals after facing 24 shots against St. Lawrence, leading to the Wolverines’ first loss of the season.