Four experienced defensemen returned to the Michigan hockey team this fall, and with six freshman forwards on the Wolverines" top four offensive lines, the defense was expected to carry the team through the early stretch of the season.

Allowing three goals in each of its first five games, Michigan (1-1-1 CCHA, 2-2-1 overall) is still looking for its defense to show up and play to its full potential.

"The veterans have to take the freshmen under their wings," said Michigan"s associate head coach Mel Pearson. "The young guys are making some mistakes right now but we know that"s going to happen. We have to play better team defense. It"s not just the defenseman (goalie Josh Blackburn) has to play a little better than he has, too."

To try and find the best combinations on the blueline, the sixth-ranked Wolverines are planning on making some changes in their defensive combinations, pairing senior Jay Vancik with sophomore Mike Komisarek, and freshman Eric Werner with sophomore Andy Burnes.

During the first month of the season, Werner and Vancik were paired together, forming one of Michigan"s most consistent defensive combinations. A 5-foot-10 freshman and a 6-foot-2 senior may seem like an odd combination, but Werner and Vancik had been two of the bright spots in the midst of a disappointing start to the season.

"They"ve been a really solid pair," Pearson said. "They complement each other well. You"d like to have three pairs like that. Jay is very strong, physical and experienced, then you have a guy like Eric who can handle the puck and make nice plays."

In last weekend"s action against Western Michigan, Vancik"s performance was one of the main reasons Michigan was able to earn a split in the series. His tough, intense attitude was exemplified over the weekend, especially in Friday night"s loss in Kalamazoo.

"Jay Vancik was outstanding this whole weekend," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "You talk about a warrior on defense. He was the strongest player on the weekend. I thought he played tremendously."

With the Wolverines down 2-1 at the end of the second period, the Broncos held a man-advantage by virtue of a boarding penalty on Michigan junior John Shouneyia. Michigan needed a spark, and Vancik was forthcoming.

Western Michigan"s Mike Bishai, who assisted on all three of the Broncos" goals Friday night, had control of the puck on the powerplay until Vancik rode him down to the ice. On Vancik"s hit, the puck squirted right out onto the stick of Michigan junior Mike Cammalleri who was awarded a crucial breakaway opportunity on Bronco goalie Mike Mantua.

Cammalleri was unable to convert on the breakaway, but without Vancik"s strong defense on Bishai, the opportunity would not have presented itself in the first place.

"My role as a defensive defenseman is to play a physical game," Vancik said. "It translates into offense sometimes when you make a big hit."

Vancik"s style is much different than that of his former partner, Werner. While Vancik likes to hang back and provide security for Blackburn, Werner is often found sneaking into the play in the opposing team"s zone, trying to provide an offensive spark.

"He brings a dimension to our team that we don"t have," Pearson said. "He"s offensive minded. He likes to get up into the offensive rush, and you need that from your defense."

"He"s been doing a good job so far of picking his opportunities to get up in the offensive play," Vancik said. "We"re just trying to work with each other out there. When he"s going, I"m staying back, and if I"m going, he"s staying back."

Werner, one of the Wolverines" four freshman defensemen, is the smallest in stature on the ice, but that doesn"t measure his tenacity and desire.

"He"s a warrior," Berenson said. "He battles. He has good offensive instincts. (Friday night) he was a man in the corners, playing against players who probably outweigh him by 40 or 50 pounds. He gives our team a lot for a freshman defenseman on the small side."

Junior defenseman Mike Roemensky, one of Michigan"s four experienced blueliners, injured his fibula in Saturday"s 5-3 victory over Western Michigan. The Wolverines will need more quality shifts from Vancik and Werner in order to make up for the loss.

"(Roemensky) is a great defenseman," Vancik said. " He"s a solid player back there. He makes good plays with the puck and he"s solid defensively. As a whole, everyone"s just going to have to pick up the slack and raise our game."