Through 10 games, the message has sunk in for the No. 8 Michigan hockey team (4-2 CCHA, 7-3 overall), and it is perhaps the most salient it has been in the past two seasons.

You have to win the faceoffs.

Entering tonight's game against Western Michigan (0-3-3, 1-6-3) at Yost Ice Arena, the Wolverines' biggest improvement from last season has been in the circles. They are winning 51 percent of their faceoffs, up from 48 percent a year ago.

Because of lineup shuffling last season and a freshmen class that included six forwards, Michigan struggled to win draws. It was one of the few weaknesses on an otherwise successful team.

"We had so many new guys last year and so many things going on that faceoffs were sort of put to the backburner a little bit," assistant coach Mel Pearson said.

It was a hole that Michigan coach Red Berenson struggled to fill and became one of his biggest pet peeves.

On Wednesday, Berenson pointed to a 1993 NCAA Tournament against Maine. A Wolverine forward lost a faceoff in the defensive zone and left the opposing center, who scored a goal. Maine went on to win the game in overtime. It's a telling example of the importance of paying attention to detail.

This season, sophomore forward Louie Caporusso has been the Wolverines' leader with a stellar 61 percent clip, and he has clearly displayed a more conscious effort to succeed on the draw.

"I'm just bearing down and realizing that every team cares a lot about faceoffs," Caporusso said. "No team is going to take any faceoff lightly, no matter where they are in the standings."

Said fellow sophomore forward Carl Hagelin: "The worst feeling ever is to lose the puck after a draw and start chasing."

Hagelin and Caporusso have displayed the sense of urgency needed to win faceoffs against quick-handed opposing centers throughout their time under Berenson's tutelage. Both won the majority of their draws last season. And despite a subpar performance last weekend in Alaska, Hagelin has still won half his faceoffs this season.

"Some of it's technique, obviously," Pearson said. "Some of it's smarts and having some bite and getting your nose dirty ... Some of it's natural. Some guys have good instincts and are good faceoff guys just coming in."

Freshman David Wohlberg is a prime example of the latter. Spending about half the season centering the fourth line, Wohlberg has won nearly 60 percent of his 78 faceoffs. Now that he has moved to wing on the second line, his quick hands will become quite an asset if the referees remain quick to the whistle.

New rules this season stipulate that an icing team cannot change lines after the whistle blows the play dead. Teams that commit penalties are now taking ensuing faceoffs in their defensive zones. Pearson said the coaching staff has put greater emphasis during practices on draws because of the rule changes. He and Caporusso attribute the early season success to the increased repetition.

Berenson took it one step further Wednesday, indicating that an attitude adjustment has played a role in the Wolverines' marked improvement.

"I think a lot of these guys, before they got here, thought faceoffs were just faceoffs," Berenson said. "Now they're realizing, 'that faceoff cost us a goal,' or 'that faceoff scored us a goal.' "

And while the Wolverines had a poor weekend in Alaska, winning just 43 percent of their draws, the coaching staff's preaching appears to be getting through.

"Coach has been talking with us for two years about how important faceoffs are," Hagelin said. "I think everyone goes with a mindset that they've got to win every faceoff."