Freshmen Chris Brown, Kevin Lynch and A.J. Treais have already experienced firsthand the on-ice atmosphere of a Michigan preseason opener.

On Oct. 4 of last year, all three Wolverine forwards lined up against their future teammates as members of the U.S. Under-18 National Development Team, the same squad No. 5 Michigan opens against this year. Michigan won the game 4-1 and Brown assisted on the NTDP's lone goal.

So when the puck drops on the Wolverines' season tomorrow, the trio of freshmen will know what to expect — even if they skate to the home bench instead of the visitors' bench this time.

"It's going to be high intensity," Brown said. "It's a nerve-racking thing, but at the same time it's fun."

Coming off a shocking first-round NCAA Tournament exit last March — a shutout loss to Air Force that featured 43 Wolverine shots — Michigan must start the year with a better ability to find the back of the net. Junior forward Louie Caporusso, a 2009 Hobey Baker finalist and a preseason All-Conference first team player, will be a main offensive force on the first line.

Senior captain Chris Summers leads one of the strongest Wolverine defenses in years, and junior goalie Bryan Hogan will be a mainstay in net as the undisputed starter. Summers and Hogan are an honorable mention and second team All-Conference preseason team members, respectively.

Though Saturday's game won't count towards Michigan's record and the NTDP is remarkably younger, Michigan coach Red Berenson isn't overlooking them.

"I hope it doesn't happen this year, but there's going to come a time when they come in here and beat us," Berenson said. "They're that good."

Berenson anticipates his team to show some rust throughout the weekend, but he also wants to see a capacity to carry out the simple plays. The Wolverines play Windsor in another preseason game on Sunday before their CCHA season begins in Anchorage against Alaska on Oct. 9.

"I don't expect us to be as good as we'll get, but I want us to get off on a good foot," Berenson said. "I'm hoping to see some execution in terms of passing the puck and coming out of our own zone against a real good forecheck."

Michigan will again play against some of its own recruits when it plays the NTDP. Based on the NTDP website, six of the players have verbally committed to Michigan for the 2010-11 season, none more highly touted than netminder Jack Campbell.

Since none of the players have officially committed yet, no Michigan coach or player is permitted to talk about the recruits. But Lynch did shed some light on the nerves these possible commits might be feeling at the beginning of the game against their future team.

"You're trying to impress the (Michigan) coaches a little bit," Lynch said. "And you've got a packed house, so it's always a little intimidating."