After the Michigan hockey team was swept by Northern Michigan at Yost Ice Arena on Oct. 27, dropping its record to 1-3-1 in the CCHA, many people were blaming youth and inexperience for the Wolverines" poor start to the year.

Six weeks later, after their second straight weekend sweep, the Wolverines don"t have much higher to climb, and the 12-member freshman class has been instrumental in that resurgence.

Michigan has vaulted from the depths of the CCHA to sole possession of second place just three points behind Michigan State.

"After the Northern series, there were some issues with the team obviously," associate head coach Mel Pearson said. "Part of it was we were playing on the road, but we weren"t winning our home games. There were some concerns, so to be in second place at this time is a compliment to this team."

The Wolverines have had no choice but to throw their freshmen into the fire this season after nine seniors graduated and two underclassmen (Andy Hilbert and Jeff Jillson) jumped to the pros. But now the freshmen have become an integral part of the Maize and Blue.

It took some time for most of the freshmen to adjust to the fast pace of college hockey, but Berenson expected these growing pains to occur.

"Every young player that comes to Michigan goes through some type of transitional period," Berenson said. "Some players really don"t get it together until the second half, and some don"t get it together until the second year."

The freshman class has met the challenges that have arisen thus far, and will have a tremendous impact on how far the Wolverines go in the postseason.

All-American boys

Michigan knew that its three prize recruits from the U.S. Under-18 National Team Dwight Helminen (6 goals, 3 assists and 9 points), Eric Nystrom (7-6-13) and Jason Ryznar (6-4-10) would be the most prepared to contribute this season. So far, they haven"t disappointed.

"It"s more of a college environment over there with Team USA," Pearson said. "They"re on the ice five days a week like we are, they"ve got a tremendous strength and conditioning program, so it"s almost like a college program. That gives them a big advantage coming to a place like Michigan to come in and play."

Nystrom, whom Berenson tabbed as the hardest worker of the class, has been paired primarily with Mike Cammalleri and Jed Ortmeyer on the first line. His work as a "grinder" has also been crucial to the powerplay"s rejuvenation over the past three weeks. His biggest goal of the season was his overtime game-winner in the finale of the Nebraska-Omaha series. Nystrom caught fire again Saturday at Miami, as he led the Wolverines to a 5-2 victory with two goals and two assists on the evening.

Helminen, who was just named to the 2002 U.S. National Junior Team, has manned the third-line center spot since the first minute of the year"s first practice. His tireless skating, speed and physical style have been major parts of the Wolverines" recent success on the penalty kill.

Ryznar made a splash quickly with one goal and one assist in the "Cold War" against Michigan State, his first collegiate game. He now works on the second line with John Shouneyia and fellow freshman Milan Gajic. Ryznar, much like Nystrom, is strong and physical along the boards and has contributed on the second powerplay unit.

Where"s the net?

Michael Woodford and David Moss join Helminen on the third line, forming the Wolverines" lone all-freshman combination of forwards. While Helminen has established himself as a legitimate threat, Moss and Woodford haven"t found their scoring touch thus far.

But it"s not because they haven"t had the chances.

"They"ve had their scoring chances, they"ve had good chances to score," Berenson said. "Ironically, they had more chances up in Alaska than they did in all the other games. They just showed they weren"t ready to put the puck in the net."

Moss (1-3-4) and Woodford (0-5-5) have not had the luxury of playing with Cammalleri, Ortmeyer, or Shouneyia, which could be a factor in their lack of production.

"They haven"t had that upperclassman stability to help them night in and night out," Pearson said.

But the coaches certainly have not lost faith in their young third-liners, and expect that more opportunities will open up for them during the second half of the season.

"Woodford is making a lot of nice subtle plays," Pearson said. "He"s giving us some speed. I think he"ll have a big second half. He"s just getting used to the college game. I see the strengths of David as his smarts and his hands. I think he"s learned a lot about the game, and I expect him to be better, too."

Most improved Wolverine

A dominant performer in his British Columbian junior league last season, Milan Gajic was not meeting the coaches" expectations in the beginning of the season.