The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/480355
MICHIGAN HOCKEY Ranking U-M's Best Rookie Duos Under Red Berenson Michigan center Dylan Larkin and defenseman Zach Werenski became the 12th pair of Wolverine freshmen to be named to a conference's All-Rookie Team in the same season, and the duo might just be the best of the U-M tandems. "I told you guys early in the fall that I thought we had two impact freshmen in Dylan and Zach, and that's what we got," head coach Red Berenson said. "They had to live up to a lot of expectations and I think they've handled it really well, both of them." Here are the top five rookie duos during Berenson's 31-year coaching career. 1. Jason Botterill and Brendan Morrison, 1994: The two became the first (and remain the only) pair of rookies to record 20 goals in the same season in program history, with Botterill putting 21 on the board and Morrison 20. Considered the greatest player in Michigan's storied history, Morrison ranked fourth on the team with 48 points — a tally that ranks sixth all time among fresh- man forwards — contributing 28 of the school-record 182 assists he would finish his career with. Though only a rookie, Morrison skated like an athlete three or four years older and wiser, while Botterill emerged a dominant power forward, utilizing his 6-4, 220-pound frame. He finished sixth on the team with 40 points, but was third with his 21 goals. 2. Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski, 2015: Larkin finished the college hockey regular season ranked sixth nationally and second in the Big Ten in points per game (1.34), while leading all Big Ten rookies in goals (14), assists (29) and points (43). Werenski, meanwhile, ranked eighth nationally and second in the Big Ten in points per game by a defenseman (0.75). His nine goals led all conference defenders regardless of class while his 15 assists and 24 total points led rookie blue liners in the Big Ten. More than just their statistical prowess, however, both Larkin and Werenski as emerged critical players for the Maize and Blue. It's fair to say Larkin was U-M's second best player (behind senior Zach Hyman) and its top center, and Werenski was Michigan's top of- fensive defenseman and potentially its top overall defender. 3. Andrew Cogliano and Jack Johnson, 2006: A pair of first-round draft picks before they stepped foot on campus, the expectations were high for the center LARKIN