Stories by Zach Helfand
Controlling red-hot RedHawk Smith will be key for Michigan hockey
- Adam Glanzman/Daily
BY ZACH HELFAND
The most feared man in the CCHA stood under the banners at Yost Ice Arena on Thursday. He wore a gray No. 18 sweater and swatted pucks into the net with all the effort of a man swatting at flies.
Notebook: Rare off-day gives Wolverines much-needed rest
- Alden Reiss/Daily
BY ZACH HELFAND
For one of the only times this season, Shawn Hunwick woke up Monday morning to an empty athletic schedule. So what did the fifth-year senior goalie do with his free afternoon?
Guptill: Notre Dame's tactics 'dirty' in road split
- Matt Cashore/Notre Dame Athletic Department
BY ZACH HELFAND
Minutes before freshman forward Alex Guptill would classify the No. 7 Notre Dame hockey team’s play on Saturday as “dirty,” Michigan coach Red Berenson had to stop himself from saying the same. The Fighting Irish’s apparent game plan — the harassment of fifth-year senior goalie Shawn Hunwick — left the coach nearly speechless.
In just 30 seconds, Michigan swaps roles with Buckeyes
- Erin Kirkland/Daily
BY ZACH HELFAND
CLEVELAND — David Wohlberg heard a voice. The senior forward, who had just collected the puck along the boards, couldn’t see the voice, but he slid the puck in its direction. It worked. The voice, belonging to sophomore forward Derek DeBlois, took Wohlberg’s pass and one-timed it past Ohio State goalie Cal Heeter.
Notebook: Modern amenities but old-school hockey in Frozen Diamond Faceoff
BY ZACH HELFAND
CLEVELAND — The industrial space heaters in the Cleveland Indians’ dugout radiated warmth onto Michigan coach Red Berenson as he talked to the media after the Michigan hockey team’s first skate on the outdoor ice at Progressive Field on Saturday.
For shootout woes, some think thinking is to blame, but that may be over-thinking the problem
- Paul Sherman/Daily
BY ZACH HELFAND
Forty-one years and 17 days ago, the St. Louis Blues found themselves in a battle against the Minnesota North Stars in an important game. The contest came down to a late-game penalty shot. The shooter: a St. Louis forward named Red Berenson. The goalie: Cesare Maniago, Berenson’s former teammate with the New York Rangers. Thinking ensued.
Zach Helfand: Clouds remain, but Merrill breaks through
- Paul Sherman/Daily
BY ZACH HELFAND
Jon Merrill strode into the Michigan hockey team’s pregame meal on Friday, and as senior forward David Wohlberg explained, “he was all smiles.” The meal was Merrill’s first pregame meal all season. Finally, after a three-month suspension, Jonny could eat.
Notebook: Berenson proclaims Hunwick is back after strong performances against Michigan State
- Alden Reiss/Daily
BY ZACH HELFAND
EAST LANSING — That guy in between the pipes the last four weeks for the Michigan hockey team? That wasn’t Shawn Hunwick. Sure, he looked like the fifth-year senior. He wore the same equipment.
Zach Helfand: Dogsledding and hockey in Alaska
- Adam Schnitzer/Daily
BY ZACH HELFAND
FAIRBANKS — Winning … you remember what that is, right? It’s the thing that happens when one team scores more goals than the other.
All smiles as Michigan finally snaps winless streak
BY ZACH HELFAND
FAIRBANKS — On Saturday, the Wolverines had something to smile about, as they ended their longest winless drought in a decade. Finally.
