All business at last practice
One Day - Countdown to Denver
The team busses were parked outside Yost Ice Arena Monday, ready to take the Wolverines straight to the airport after practice.
And while talking to the media after their afternoon skate, their minds seemed to already be in Denver.
Maybe that's why Kevin Porter didn't realize Monday was his last practice at Yost Ice Arena.
"You know what, I didn't even think about it," Porter said, half-surprised, half-laughing. "Not until you said anything."
Porter's last practice as a Wolverine went largely unnoticed because all year, the team has refused to look back. All season, Michigan has accepted its Cinderella story but refused to dwell on it.
It started in the first game, the win against then-No. 2 Boston College, when a team picked to be one of the best fell to a team with 12 freshmen.
It started as soon as Louie Caporusso, playing in his first game as a Wolverine, scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift Michigan over the Eagles.
It started with a 3-1 record and a No. 3 ranking heading into the home opener.
"I don't think any of these kids will be outstanding," Michigan coach Red Berenson said about the freshmen at CCHA Media Day in October. "But if they're not noticeable, then they're playing well."
Sixty-four freshman goals and 117 first-year assists later, it's obvious why looking back seems a little silly.
So instead of seeing where this season at Yost began, let's see how it ended.
It was Monday afternoon, two hours before the team boarded a chartered plane to Denver. At the end of practice, Porter stayed on the ice, shooting at third-string goalie Shawn Hunwick. He and three freshmen were the only ones left.
Porter sometimes plays best-of-seven shootouts with Hunwick after practice. But on this last day on his home ice, Porter scored just once. He stayed out a little longer and tried to be a little better, but still finished 2-for-12.
"I guess he kind of beat me today," Porter said.
And while talking to the media after their afternoon skate, their minds seemed to already be in Denver.
Maybe that's why Kevin Porter didn't realize Monday was his last practice at Yost Ice Arena.
"You know what, I didn't even think about it," Porter said, half-surprised, half-laughing. "Not until you said anything."
Porter's last practice as a Wolverine went largely unnoticed because all year, the team has refused to look back. All season, Michigan has accepted its Cinderella story but refused to dwell on it.
It started in the first game, the win against then-No. 2 Boston College, when a team picked to be one of the best fell to a team with 12 freshmen.
It started as soon as Louie Caporusso, playing in his first game as a Wolverine, scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift Michigan over the Eagles.
It started with a 3-1 record and a No. 3 ranking heading into the home opener.
"I don't think any of these kids will be outstanding," Michigan coach Red Berenson said about the freshmen at CCHA Media Day in October. "But if they're not noticeable, then they're playing well."
Sixty-four freshman goals and 117 first-year assists later, it's obvious why looking back seems a little silly.
So instead of seeing where this season at Yost began, let's see how it ended.
It was Monday afternoon, two hours before the team boarded a chartered plane to Denver. At the end of practice, Porter stayed on the ice, shooting at third-string goalie Shawn Hunwick. He and three freshmen were the only ones left.
Porter sometimes plays best-of-seven shootouts with Hunwick after practice. But on this last day on his home ice, Porter scored just once. He stayed out a little longer and tried to be a little better, but still finished 2-for-12.
"I guess he kind of beat me today," Porter said.