Goaltender Al Montoya and national championship hopes will be in
Ann Arbor for at least another season.

Montoya, Michigan’s team MVP this past season, called head
coach Red Berenson Friday night to tell him that he will return to
the Wolverines for his junior year. The New York Rangers drafted
Montoya sixth overall and wanted him to play next year for their
minor league team in Hartford.

“He seemed relieved and happy about his decision,”
Berenson said. “I think we’re all relieved, too. It
would have been difficult to replace a player like Al.”

With Montoya back in the fold, Michigan expects to contend for a
national title. In his first two seasons Montoya has compiled a
56-22-5 record, 2.28 goals-against average and .914 save
percentage. The Wolverines lost just one regular from last
year’s team and will begin the season with 11 seniors.

“Al is a key player on this team,” Berenson said.
“We know we’ll have a big senior class to lead the
team, but his return gives our team more of a completeness to
it.”

Had Montoya chosen to leave, the Wolverines would have had to
rely on one of their unproven backups, Noah Ruden and Mike Mayhew,
or bring in a new goalie.

Berenson also believes that Montoya will benefit from the high
expectations and pressure put on him and the team.

“I think it was a good decision for him,” Berenson
said. “He can now come back here and have a breakout year. He
still has a lot to prove himself at the college hockey level.

“It was a good decision to come back to a place where he
knows the challenges that lie ahead and has good support around
him.”

Before and after the June 26 draft, Montoya admitted that he
would talk to the team that drafted him and do what was best for
him in his quest to reach the NHL.

“Al is concerned about his development,” Berenson
said. “That’s the reason he went through this entire
process.

“He’ll have a chance to play pro hockey in the
future. But to leave this team and school at this time for pro
hockey may have been too much.”

Michigan has seen seven players leave with eligibility remaining
in the last five years. Sometimes the early defections were
expected, but other times Michigan coaches were caught completely
off-guard. But Montoya kept in touch with Michigan coaches
throughout the process. He also spoke with former Michigan
goaltenders Steve Shields and Marty Turco. Both were four-year
starters and went on to play in the NHL.

Now that Montoya knows he will be in Ann Arbor next year, he can
relax for the next month before the fall term.

“The timing of his decision is good for him,”
Berenson said. “He can now focus the rest of the summer on
what he’s going to do at Michigan next year rather than where
he’s going to play next year.”