The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/262939
B oth senior Luke Moffatt and ju- nior Zach Hyman were capable goal scorers during their junior ca- reers, with Moffatt netting 34 mark- ers in two seasons with the U.S. Na- tional Development Program and Hyman registering 42 goals in 2011 en route to recognition as the Cana- dian Junior A National Player of the Year. The two were ex- pected to be first- or second-line forwards for Michigan, capable of leading the team in scoring. However, their path to stardom did not go as planned. Moffatt scored 19 goals in his first 114 games over three sea- sons, a marker every six contests. Hyman averaged a goal once every 13 games during his first two seasons, scoring just six times in 79 contests. Both players settled into roles on the third or fourth line, and seemed des- tined to stay there. However, the two players have res- urrected their careers, finally emerg- ing as the offensive talents they were long supposed to be. Moffatt ranked third on the team with eight goals and was fourth with 16 points through Feb. 15, scoring once every three games. "I've told Luke, it's about time," head coach Red Berenson said. "I think he should be a player that is capable of leading our team in scor- ing, and he's never lived up to that. He has skill. He can shoot the puck and score goals as well as anyone. He's had trouble being consistent. "He's playing hard and well. He's on a power play. He went all last year on the power play and had one goal. And you see the kind of player he is, and even last year he was a junior, but he didn't put it together, or have the confidence or the will to do it. But right now, he's a se- nior, playing with con- fidence, urgency, and it's paying off." Hyman is also enjoy- ing a career year, re- cording personal bests with five goals and 10 points. "He came in with really good of- fensive credentials, and then he had to learn to play in his own zone," Be- renson said. "Defensively, he hadn't really been coached in that area. But he's got that, and now he's better de- fensively … and I'm hoping now that the offense will start coming back. "We've seen some glimpses of it. He's skating as well as he's ever skated. He wants the puck. He has a MICHIGAN HOCKEY Forwards Zach Hyman And Luke Moffat Are Heating Up Moffat, a senior, ranked third on the team in goals (eight) and fourth in points (16) through 26 contests. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL