With the first round of the NCAA Tournament underway this week, the Michigan hockey team waited around for two weeks before knowing it would be watching from Ann Arbor this year. Though the Wolverines couldn’t produce the end result they yearned for, their eyes are now looking ahead to next season.
But to focus on the year ahead, Michigan is first taking a step back. The Wolverines are using their extra postseason time to reflect on the lessons they learned to find their path back to the playoffs next season.
“It was really, really, tough,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said Tuesday of waiting to know if it made the tournament. “It was a lot of reflecting, and (I’m) a huge believer in the people we have at Michigan. … Looking in the mirror and be better to help get these guys to be the best version of themselves.”
When looking in the mirror at the Wolverines’ record, a pattern quickly emerges out of their win column — overtime games.
Whether Michigan was pushing for a third-period comeback or losing the lead late in the game, it learned to excel in the overtime period regardless. The Wolverines went 6-2-2 in overtime games and flourished in the 3-on-3 environment. Michigan relished those extra periods utilizing its forwards’ speed and the extra ice space. And routinely, when one more goal was needed, freshman forward Michael Hage put away the puck with ease.
However, with many of the Wolverines games decided in the extra five minutes, it left their Pairwise standings out of their control at the end of the season. Each win in regulation earns one point while an overtime win only counts for two-thirds of a point in the Pairwise. Michigan showed its consistency in the overtime games, but when those wins counted less in Pairwise, it was wounded even more.
“That would be the story of the season,” Naurato said. “It’s different moments, never knowing when it could affect the next moment, and taking advantage of that.”
And when the Wolverines’ run in the Big Ten Tournament ended abruptly to Penn State, there weren’t any games left to play — and no more points to be earned. While other playoff-caliber teams had a handful of regulation wins to help boost their playoff standings, Michigan had to sit back as its season’s fate fell into other teams’ hands.
The Wolverines understand now more than ever that each game matters and controlling games throughout the season allows them to dictate their playoff hopes later on.
For next season, Naurato wants to hold Michigan’s fates in his hands, which starts with roster management. As when every season ends, the seniors and graduates move onto their next endeavors, whether that be senior defenseman Ethan Edwards heading to the NHL or senior forward Mark Estapa moving on to play in Quebec. Each opening leaves new slots for Naurato to fill.
“We’re just trying to build the best roster we can,” Naurato said. “Whether that’s in the portal or freshmen, guys from Canada or guys from Michigan, culture is everything. … It’s getting these new guys accumulated as quickly as possible to what it means to be a Michigan man and play Michigan hockey.”
A slew of freshmen will be joining the Wolverines next season, adding personnel to the goaltending room and extra strength to the defense. With each new face, Naurato will have to find them a place to play to Michigan’s identity — something he believes the Wolverines got away from this season.
As the postseason commences, Michigan is looking at its season through the rearview mirror. And though this season fell short of Michigan’s exceptions, Narurato’s focus is returning the Wolverines to where he expects them to be.
The post Michigan bringing lessons from this season to the future appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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