Michigan Daily: Article by Nicole Auerbach on Michigan Hockey

Fresh faces grace the ice for Wolverines

By Nicole Auerbach
Daily Sports Writer

Puck after puck flew full force at the boards surrounding the rink at Yost Ice Arena.

Standing a few feet outside the glass, Michigan freshman defenseman Brandon Burlon couldn’t even hear himself think.

“You guys are killing me,” he yelled out to his teammates, cheeks flushed.

Moments later, while he was answering questions in one of his first interviews as a member of the Michigan hockey team, a teammate jokingly slammed Burlon into the wall.

“It’s been really great getting to know the guys individually,” Burlon said. “It’s not like they separate you from the group or leave you out. They always try to include you and make you feel welcome.”

Sometimes, that means the veterans shoot pucks at rookies or playfully push them around.

For the five newest Wolverines, the transition to collegiate competition has been challenging, yet expected.

“It’s definitely different, because everyone’s bigger and stronger now,” freshman forward Robbie Czarnik said. “Everyone’s faster. It’s different from playing on teams where everyone was the same age and relatively the same weight. It’s an adjustment, but it’s not that big of a deal.”

To read the rest of the article please visit: http://www.michigandaily.com/content/2008-09-30/hockey-midweek