Re: Michigan Hockey 2010 - Delivery or Take Out?
There's a tremendous amount to be proud of with this team. They were down and out 5 weeks ago. For whatever reason, a reason that no longer matters, they just weren't able to put the pieces together as a team from November through February. It was more frustrating to the players and coaching staff than it was to any of us as spectators.
Then that fleeting moment happened. The one where Hogan went down, and a collective gasp and "Oh no" was let out by many. What was largely a disappointing season had taken another turn for the worse. Our starting goaltender was hurt, and in an instant, thoughts of this being the end of the road were seemingly solidified.
But then. Then the team didn't panic. Then they played defense like their lives depended on it. Then they focused on defense first, and would have to rely on offense created from that defense. Then the puck went in the net.
Emerging from that game, one which could have gone oh so wrong, Shawn Hunwick had a shutout, the team was victorious, and a feel good moment was at hand. Everyone expected the opposite a mere hour and a half before. Everyone but the team, that is.
In that moment, the one where Hogan was down in pain, a new team was born. One which knew that they could no longer play the same style they had previously. One which, in a moment, knew their responsibilities individually carried much more weight. One which had to perform those responsibilities as a collective unit. They had done it before. They knew they could. They just couldn't find the consistency that the best teams have.
Confidence wasn't bread that night. That's something that stemmed from the effort. The consistent team effort. But that's where it started. Seeing their practice goalie, the "target", succeed. The one who always showed up and never complained. The one who was just happy to be part of the team. He had his chance, and they couldn't let him down.
The team won. They stumbled a little in Hunwick's first start. The one where we all said, "okay, this is the reality, not the exception". But then they won again. Then Hunwick had his second shutout, and we left Yost for the year with some more feel good moments. It felt good to end the home season on a win. A playoff series win, and the shutout to boot.
A daunting task ahead at Munn? Surely. Were there expectations to win? Well, I think the most optimistic were hoping for one win, to avoid a series sweep. And we all would have been okay with that. Maybe not happy, as we hadn't been happy with much that happened all season. But one win would have been nice, just to know that we can in fact win at Munn more than the recent record states, and with the season on the line.
Who would've thought that we were in for such a treat? A 5-1 victory on Friday night?! Really?! Not only was it a 5-1 victory, but it was a resounding statement that this team would not go lightly. Michigan would fight until it could not fight any more. Backed by a solid group of dedicated fans who turned Munn Ice Arena into Yost West, they got it done.
Admittedly, I purchased tickets earlier in the week for Saturday night, hoping beyond all hope that it would be a chance to see one last win, but more than likely I would be going to support them in their last outing for the season. I didn't want to witness a season ending loss, but I wanted to be there regardless. In my mind, our best chance to win would have been Friday, but would have ultimately been followed up with a Spartan performance that tabled our chances for Saturday evening. After all, we were going to their barn where we hadn't much success recently, and they were the number 2 team.
Yet again, Michigan found a way to deliver. They showed patience. They could have panicked after three quick goals against, but instead they regrouped and came back determined. Ultimately, that patience and determination garnered Michigan's first back-to-back victories in East Lansing since 1975, and it's first in the same weekend. The best word to describe it: amazing. We're fans. We're not part of the team. But there were plenty of us in attendance who were in no hurry to leave that night. What we had witnessed was phenomenal, and we wanted to soak up every moment.
Michigan had proven itself. Those two wins were the exclamation that this was a team. This is a team. Whatever had happened prior to March no longer mattered. They were a force to be reckoned with, and watch out if you thought otherwise.
Of course, I still had no hope that we would prevail in Detroit. Maybe hope is the wrong word? I had no expectation. After all, we typically expect great things. I had hope, where previously there was little, but I was perfectly content to have these victories at Munn be the last dance. We were now staring down the best team in the CCHA, and arguably the best team in the country.
Miami had beaten us twice at Yost. The sweep that lead to the November tailspin. We were a different team then. But the fact remained that this was a huge task, and one which few had expectations of a win. Few? Maybe none. Well, except those in the locker room. The fire to emerge and play for a championship was burning. But could the recently solid play continue? Consistency was elusive all year, so would the other shoe finally drop on this run?
In short, no. Michigan again played one of it's best games of the year. Solid defensively, gave Miami no space, and the offense was still on fire. This collective team effort was still firing on all cylinders, and Miami was shot down in flames. Hell, Cody Reichard got chased for the first time all year. Little Shawn Hunwick had a performance that even the best Division I goaltenders could be a little envious of.
Northern would prove to be a very formidable foe, but not one that could quash the momentum of a team playing for it's life. Hunwick again played with sheer confidence, and kept his team in a game that it could have otherwise lost. And for that, he was awarded the CCHA tournament's Most Valuable Player award. Shawn Hunwick? Michigan? Yep. Who would've thought?
And so it was... Michigan hangs another banner from the rafters of Yost. The streak now stands at 20 years and counting. The team that stifled some of the enjoyment a lot of us fans seem entitled to, myself included, rose above what had become of their season, and wrote a new chapter. CCHA playoff champions, from a seventh place regular season finish. Another feat that had not happened before.
Fort Wayne bound, there was now plenty of reason to believe in the unlikely. A return to the Frozen Four. Everyone knew Bemidji would be no slouch, and Miami was eager for revenge. Not only revenge on us, but to avenge their championship loss to BU last year.
Bemidji was no cakewalk, as no team in this time of year (hello RIT). But they weren't sneaking up on anyone, and Red's week of preparation was seemingly dedicated to that game. Penalties were questionable at times, but again the team found a way to play through it. The penalty kill was awesome, and yet again, the timely scoring that was missing for most of the year had found its way. The team got the job done on both sides of the ice.
So the rematch was on. Miami determined to make a repeat appearance in the Frozen Four, and Michigan still determined to ensure their season ended on the highest of notes as well. This was a game where Miami had obviously taken a renewed interest as compared to nine days earlier. They limited Michigan's chances to mainly perimeter shots, and would not let them skate unchecked through the neutral zone. Regardless, Michigan persevered yet again. The determination and grit found it's way, and the season ultimately came down to one shot. The result would have been nice had it gone the other way, which it could have, however there's no reason to hang heads. One bounce just happened to go the wrong way. There's zero shame in playing the game that they did and coming out on the unfortunate end. They played their hearts out, and were nearly rewarded yet again.
In retrospect, looking back at my first post in this thread, I questioned whether this team could deliver on it's goals. Did they have the mental toughness to play with a fortitude that winning teams usually do? Could they overcome the November losses that had seemingly left them questioning themselves as individuals and as a group? The answer is a resounding yes. They gave us more than we ever could have wished for. In doing so, they had loads of fun, and really showed us what greatness is made of. Not just in their play, but in their personality. To a man, every last one of them should be proud of what they have accomplished. I know I am.
What will I remember about this team? Not the losses. Not the ill-timed penalties. Not the lack of consistency. I'll remember this team for who they truly turned out to be: a great bunch of players, and most importantly, a great group of characters. The seniors will be sorely missed, but I look forward to what promises to be an outstanding season next year.
It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine.
