Michigan hockey coach Brandon Naurato was understandably emotional after his team knocked off Michigan State, 5-2, to lead them to the Frozen Four for a third straight year (the second under his tutelage). Just weeks ago, the Wolverines weren’t even sure they’d make the field of 16, having had their ups and downs and struggling to find consistency.
But we always knew this team had the talent — it was just a matter of putting it together and clicking. Naurato pushed the right buttons, made some tweaks, and got his guys playing their best hockey at the right time. His players mobbed him in the locker room, during which he gladly took the Gatorade bath and celebrated with them.
He might be more big brother (39 years old) than father figure like Red Berenson was for the program for several years, but make no mistake — he’s earned their respect. Just as clear — sending the Spartans home to get to ranks of the elite again made it even sweeter.
“I think it was really revenge, right?” grad Marshall Warren said. “They beat us four in a row. So for us, the mentality was, ‘just go and hunt them,’ and make their lives hard.
“Just so proud of the guys that we got the job done, because we owed them a lot.”
They fell to the Spartans in the Big Ten finale despite arguably outplaying them a week earlier, getting some bad luck and a few questionable calls against them. For some teams, it might have been devastating, but not this one … not this program.
Michigan has more Frozen Four appearances than anyone with 28, and we had the sense going in this team was destined. Like Michigan basketball in 1989 vs. Illinois and 1992 against Ohio State, these Wolverines lost some battles during the regular season against a Big Ten rival but won the war.
Big Ten titles are nice, but ask either of those teams — or this year’s MSU hockey squad — if they’d trade that to play in the Frozen Four for a chance at the national title. The answer, obviously, would be a resounding ‘yes.’
These are special, and despite U-M’s dominance in getting there over the years, not easy to come by.
“I’m just so proud of this group,” senior Jacob Truscott said. “We have such a special group. We’ve been through so much. Even the guys that transferred in — this is why you come to Michigan.
“This is why we’re a winning [program]. This is expected, but the guys really earned it this year.”
They did it without outstanding defenseman Seamus Casey, who was injured early and didn’t return. The other stars stepped up, including Dylan Duke (two third period goals) and Gavin Brindley (1). Duke’s incredible rush to the net and finish, along with Frank Nazar’s between the legs pass to Brindley for a goal 12 seconds later, were difference-making plays by the guys who have to come up big this time of year … and did.
“That’s what it takes to win games at this time of the year,” Duke said. “It’s playoff hockey. It comes down to third periods, and we stuck with it all night, played our hearts out, and found a way to win another game.”
Two more and they’ll have their first NCAA title since 1998. They’ll have to get by two more elite opponents, including No. 1 overall seed Boston College April 11, but they seem due, just like they did against the Spartans.
If they play like they have recently and get goaltending from Jake Barczewski like they did Sunday night, they’ll have a fighting chance.
“These guys are bought in,” Naruato said. “They’re so close. They’re brothers. That’s what being a Michigan Man’s all about. Couldn’t be more proud of them.”
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