The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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This season, especially over the past six weeks, Hyman has done just that. "What Michigan has missed the last two or three years is that go-to player you could put on the ice and he'd be dangerous his entire shift to score a goal or at least threaten offensively," Trainor said. "And whether he's thinking about that consciously or not, he seems to be that guy that when this team needs inspiration, it's going to be Zach. "For me, it was motivational to see someone play that hard. It was contagious, and I think this team is starting to figure out how to win games, and Zach has been instru- mental to that." Michigan will play about 40 games this season, and Hyman knows he won't come close to equaling the 102 points he tallied in his final season of junior hockey, but he's playing at a far higher level these days than he did when named his home country's top performer. "I'm playing more complete than I did when I was in juniors," he said. "The year I was named CJHL Player of the Year, I felt like I could score at will, but right now, in college, things are going well for me because of how well I'm playing in all three zones." Hyman probably wasn't a legiti- mate NHL prospect a year ago at this time. But 12 months later, he is, thanks to a patient approach and a willingness to heed his coaches' and father 's advice. "Some hockey players don't think they need to stay in college for four years, but you look at Zach Hyman and see the player he is now, and here we are halfway through his se- nior year, and he's becoming a dom- inant player," Berenson said. "And that's the way it should be. "That's the way it has been for us for my first 15 years here, and then guys started to leave after three years, and then some guys after two years, and we've even lost kids after just one year. But when Zach leaves here, he will be ready for the next level. "He's playing the game the right way. He's always tried to do that, but he brought some style and habits with him that weren't going to work here. He's had to do it the hard way. He's had a lot of expectations and has probably had to answer a lot of people wondering why he wasn't scoring more earlier in his career — but he is doing it now, and good for him." ❑ Hobey Baker Award Favorites Michigan senior forward Zach Hyman is currently one of the favorites to be named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award — bestowed upon the top player in college hockey. U-M has two Hobey winners in its history, center Brendan Morrison in 1997 and center Kevin Porter in 2008. Here is a look at Hyman's résumé and the five players most likely to chal- lenge him for the award according to USCHO.com.