Dest brings more than just a game-winner

By Michael Nisson
Daily Sports Writer  On  January 27th, 2004

It’s official: Michigan freshman defenseman Jason Dest has
gone on the offensive, and he has done it in style.

Dest, a Fraser native, made his presence felt with a
game-winning goal against Western Michigan on Friday. Following the
goal, which was the first of his collegiate career, Dest threw his
arms straight up into the air in celebration and sported an
ear-to-ear grin on his face.

“That was a huge goal,” Michigan coach Red Berenson
said following Friday’s 4-1 victory. “If that’s
the only goal he gets all year, it could be the one that gets us
where we need to be.”

Many people might look at Dest’s goal and use it to make
the argument that the freshman has finally started making an impact
on the team.

But this type of perspective is wrong when evaluating a
defender.

“Defensemen can have a great game, and no one can even
notice them out there,” Dest said. “A defenseman can
never touch the puck … and truth is, he played a hell of a
game.”

Such is the case with Michigan captain Andy Burnes. The senior
has been the most consistent defender for the Wolverines in the
past two seasons, but has scored just 21 points, including three
goals, over his four-year career.

Burnes noted a defenseman’s game should not be judged by
individual statistics, but rather by the score when the clock reads
zero.

“The scoreboard is the biggest indication of how
you’re playing,” Burnes said. “If you’re
shutting the other team’s top line down and doing all the
little things — like getting the puck out and playing safe
and giving your goaltender a chance every night — it shows up
on a scoreboard.”

The plus/minus statistic is one thing on a score sheet that is
helpful when evaluating a defenseman.

Positive values indicate that the team has scored more goals
than it has given up when a certain player has been on the ice, and
negative values indicate the opposite.

So far this season, Dest’s plus-minus is the highest on
the team at plus-six. Burnes attributes Dest’s performance to
one particular change that the freshman has made.

“I think the biggest improvement he’s made is his
confidence with the puck,” Burnes said. “You see him go
back there, pick up the puck in the corner, and he starts wheeling
with it. He’s got his head up, and he’s not afraid to
carry it. He gives himself a lot of options.”

Junior Eric Werner, Dest’s linemate, notes that the
chemistry between the two of them has helped make them effective on
the ice.

“(At first) we had some ups and downs, but the last couple
of games we’ve been playing real good together,” Werner
said. “We’re improving every game.”

Berenson’s opinion is probably the best indicator of how
Dest has been doing, because he ultimately decides who gets to
play, and how much they play.

Berenson reiterated Burnes’ comments about how Dest had
improved from when he first donned the maize and blue in
September.

“He’s a hard-working, focused player,”
Berenson said. “He’s been more consistent, particularly
since the (winter) break.

“When he walks into the rink, he’s not thinking
about whether or not he’s playing. He’s thinking about
how much the team needs him to play well.”

Printed from www.michigandaily.com on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:15:16 -0500