With sophomore standout Jack Johnson suspended for Friday night's hockey game at Michigan State, Michigan coach Red Berenson is displaying a growing trust in seniors Tim Cook and Morgan Ward.

To fill the defensive void left by Johnson's absence, Berenson will shift Cook back to his former spot on the blue line and insert Ward as a fourth-line forward. Ward will likely skate with sophomores Danny Fardig and Brandon Naurato.

The move back to the blue line is a natural one for Cook, who had never played a single game as a forward at any level before this season.

At the beginning of this season, the Wolverines welcomed freshmen defensemen Steven Kampfer and Chris Summers into the lineup. With Cook seeming to be the odd defenseman out, Berenson experimented with the senior at forward where he has been pleased with Cook's hustle.

"(Cook) gives us something that the average player can't," Berenson said. "He's a team player, he's enthusiastic. He'll do whatever it takes to help the team. He's growing with that position, too - he never played forward before. But you can see he knows how to play the game."

As unnatural as it was for the lifelong defenseman to move up front, Cook has adjusted well. He loves playing forward and does whatever he can for the team. Playing forward has also helped Cook learn lessons about how defensemen can contribute to the offense more efficiently.

"It helps me to see where to get the puck to (the forwards when I play defense)," Cook said. "We need to give it to them in a place where they can do something with it. (I now see) how hard it is to take it off the boards and do something."

Like Cook, Ward is excited to get into the lineup. After playing just three games last season, Ward will equal that total this year with his appearance on Friday. In the two games he played this season, Ward notched an assist against Alabama-Huntsville and played significant minutes in a victory over Miami (Ohio). The assist was Ward's first point at Michigan.

Although Cook has seen more time in the final forward spot recently, Ward believes he can provide a physical presence when he plays. Ward also thinks he can provide valuable competition for his teammates week in and week out.

"Any time you get into the game, you want to shine," Ward said. "A lot of competition (for lineup spots) will make the team better."

Part of Ward's task will be to jumpstart the fourth-line offense. Michigan's third- and fourth-line forwards haven't scored a goal this season.

If the Wolverines expect to compete with Michigan State this weekend and Nebraska-Omaha the following week, they will need contributions from those forwards. The Spartans and Mavericks are averaging 4.50 and 4.83 goals per game, while allowing just 3.00 and 2.50, respectively.

When Johnson returns on Saturday night, Cook will likely move back into his forward position, leaving Ward out of the lineup. But Ward's opportunity to play will prove invaluable come December, when several players, including Johnson, will likely be lost for the Great Lakes Invitational while Michigan plays at the World Junior Championships in Sweden.