The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY doesn't let them score. We want our kids to push the puck and create of- fense, but most of our best players we're only getting for two or three years, and they haven't had their best season yet." SEVERAL WOLVERINES PICK UP ALL-BIG TEN NOTICE Michigan center J.T. Compher was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in voting announced March 17. Meanwhile, Compher joined senior defenseman Mac Bennett on the all-conference second team, while junior forward Alex Guptill and sophomore forward Andrew Copp were awarded honorable mention distinction. Additionally, Compher and de- fenseman Michael Downing were named to the All-Freshman Team. Compher is the inaugural winner of the Big Ten award, but he joins a long line of Wolverines to receive rookie hardware, most recently Gup- till, the 2012 CCHA Rookie of the Year. Compher is now the 13th Mich- igan skater/goalie to be recognized as a league's best first-year performer and the 11th forward (the other 12, from 1982-2012, came when U-M was a member of the CCHA). In 2013-14, Compher ranked first in the Big Ten in points among fresh- men with 31, while leading the Maize and Blue in both points and assists (20), and ranking fifth among U-M skaters with 11 goals. He finished the regular season with a plus/minus of plus-14. "We knew he'd be an impact fresh- man," head coach Red Berenson said. "His confidence and work ethic are second to none." Michigan's captain, Bennett con- tributed two goals and 12 assists in 30 games played anchoring the blue line for the Maize and Blue. He ranked 10th in the Big Ten and second on his team with 55 blocked shots while also ranking second on the team (and first among defense- men) with a plus/minus of plus-12. Copp led the Wolverines in goals with a career-high 15 markers this season, and he added 14 assists for 29 points. Guptill closed his regular Junior forward Alex Guptill earned honor- able mention All-Big Ten distinction after posting 12 goals and 13 helpers, marking the third straight year he has scored in dou- ble digits. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL