Hensicks play unaffected by WJC disappointment

Michigan head coach Red Berenson has no problem allowing his players to participate in the World Junior Championships as a member of Team USA or Team Canada. In the last three years alone, 11 Wolverines have represented their respective country.

However, Berenson wants his players to have a positive experience. There is no guarantee they will, and when they don't, such as Matt Hunwick last year and T.J. Hensick, this season, Berenson is the one who has to deal with the ramifications.

A year ago when Hunwick returned to Ann Arbor, Berenson wasn't sure what he was going to get. The then-freshman defender was clearly put down by the lack of playing time he received with Team USA. And even a gold medal around his neck was not enough to satisfy him. But instead of sulking for the rest of the year, Hunwick set out to prove he belonged among the NCAA's best young players in the game.

He did just that. In the first 18 games of his career, Hunwick recorded just four assists. Though he was focusing on his defensive play, Hunwick was known as a offensive threat and was expected to bring more to the rink every night. Motivated, Hunwick's game, both offensively and defensively, improved dramatically in the second half of the season following the World Juniors.

In his first weekend back from the World Junior tournament, Hunwick tallied a career-high two assists in 3-2 victory over Ohio State. A night later, he bested himself with three assists in a 7-1 win. He scored his first goal against Miami, and finished the season with five assists in his final 14 games and 10 assists overall in the second half of the season.

Hensick, regarded as one of Team USA's top players before the tournament began, played surprisingly less than one would have thought he would. By the end of the Championships, Hensick was a third- and fourth-line center. In seven games, he scored just two goals and added an assist. Needless to say, he was anxious to return to Michigan.

"T.J. from day one, as soon as he got back, he came straight into my office and was so happy to get back; so ready to play," Berenson said. "He didn't criticize anyone [at Team USA]. He said it was a good experience and he's glad that he went, but he was really glad to get back. He had the energy on the ice on Friday and Saturday."

In wins over Western Michigan last weekend, Hensick totaled four points, scoring two goals in Friday's 6-4 victory and adding two assists in Saturday's 6-5 victory. With points in both games, Hensick has now stretched his career-best point streak to six games.

In the four games prior to leaving for the World Juniors, Hensick scored a goal in each game – five total – and added three assists. According to Berenson, Hensick has reached the level of a dominating player.

"He's one of our most, if not our most dangerous player with the puck because a lot of players can make players, but not a lot of players can score and make plays," said Berenson. "That's the one thing with T.J. -- when he gets the puck he is a threat to score and he is a threat to make a play.

"If you're just picking up the man and you're giving him a shot, he can score. If you're not picking up the man, he can be a threat to score and still make the play. He has a good balance going in his game.

"I like the fact that he is a threat to score. T.J. is at that point now where he is a threat to score every time he touches the puck but don't be surprised if he makes a good play to someone as well."

Hensick is just happy he can once again play an important role on a team that needs him to.

"I had a good time [at World Juniors], but I'm glad to be back," Hensick said. "We're trying to win a national championship, and I think I can help us do that."