Kornacki: Racine, Student of Tretiak, Stonewalls Badgers
2/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Feb. 27, 2015
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior goalie Steve Racine, who has an eye on finance and investment banking after securing an internship in New York City this summer, was someone the Michigan ice hockey team could bank on Friday night (Feb. 27).
Racine registered his first college shutout in a 3-0 win over Wisconsin. Russian goaltending legend Vladislav Tretiak, who coached him at summer camps, would've been proud. And so would Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane, who worked against Racine in early morning summer games at rinks in their native Buffalo.
Brushes with greatness have had a way of stroking Racine, who had a great night against the Badgers by stopping all 22 shots.
None was bigger than the save he made on Badgers center Cameron Hughes on a breakaway at the 13:10 mark of the first period. The game was scoreless at that point, and Racine kept Wisconsin from scoring first and setting the tone.
"That was huge," said Wolverine head coach Red Berenson. "We made a bad play in the neutral zone, and then we had one of our defensemen changing. He thought our forward was going to get the puck in deep, and he didn't. And it was a breakaway, but Racine had to make a difference, and he made a difference.
"That could've been a turning point in the game."
Racine said, "The puck was ahead of (Hughes), and he was skating up to it. And I knew we had a defenseman coming, so he didn't really have time to deke. I knew he was probably going to shoot it as soon as he got it. So I just tried to set my feet and be big, and it hit me in the arm."
He finally got that elusive shutout in his 47th career start.
"Good for him," said Berenson. "That's what happens when you stay focused for 60 minutes. And I think he's been on the verge of shutouts. He should've had one last week. And it bothers me when we don't get a shutout when we could because it's a team thing. It's not just the goalie.
"I thought the team gave up a couple of really good scoring chances -- one late in the third when he had to be the difference. The guy's all alone in front. But good for him and good for our team."
That shot Berenson was referring to came in the third period on a point-blank shot by right wing Jedd Soleway, a Phoenix Coyotes draft pick.
"It was delayed icing," said Racine, "and sometimes those can be tough for defensemen with a guy right on you. And I think one of our guys got tangled up with their guy, and the puck squirted out. They made a pass to the guy in the slot. It was a tough play for our defense to recover from, but I don't think (Soleway) got a great shot on it, and he hit me in the chest."
A score there would've cut the lead to one goal, but Racine kept Wisconsin from gaining any momentum.
"We played a pretty good defensive game," said Michigan right wing JT Compher, "but we had some breakdowns where he had to bail us out. We had two breakaways (allowed) off line changes, but he kept us in the game and made some big saves, gave us some confidence."
Racine said he wasn't thinking "too much" about the shutout in the waning minutes of the game. "I'm just happy to get the win this time of the year," he said, alluding to the fact that the Wolverines have five regular-season games remaining and are fighting for an NCAA Tournament berth.
Racine turned the corner this season by leading Michigan to 2-1 wins over both Michigan Tech and Michigan State in the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament, Dec. 28-29.
"To bounce back from a game like the first one against Michigan Tech (on Nov. 1) when I got pulled halfway through the game for giving up five goals," said Racine, "that meant a lot to me."
He's shared goaltending duties with sophomore Zach Nagelvoort, but Racine has made four consecutive starts and is 8-3 with a 2.97 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.
That "focus" Berenson referred to Racine needing for whole games will be important in determining if he remains the hot hand.
"A big thing we've been talking about for me is my preparation for games," said Racine. "I need to be focused for 60 minutes, but the whole year for me has been the 'Tale of Two Goalies.' One night, I'll let in one goal on 45 shots. And the next game, I'll let in three goals on nine shots in the first period.
"So, it's just making sure I'm prepared and ready to go every game. We're college students, and so there are a lot of distractions away from the rink. So, it's about eliminating those and not getting caught up on who we're playing and what other guys are doing."
Racine would like to play professionally and has some experience against NHL players.
"Living in Buffalo, I was fortunate that a lot of the NHL guys stayed over in the summer," said Racine. "Most of the Sabres and (Buffalo native) Patrick Kane and a couple others were there. But (former Sabres goalie) Ryan Miller never stayed, and so they needed a goalie. I volunteered, and at 7 a.m. I was out there with them.
"What I remember most is just the experience of being in the locker room and seeing how they carried themselves and how professional they are skating at seven every morning in the summer. It was impressive to see."
It was hardly his first brush with greatness, though.
Racine, whose parents moved to the U.S. from their native Russia 11 years before he was born, attended the Toronto hockey camp of Tretiak, a three-time gold medal winner.
"My dad was a big hockey fan in Russia but never played because hockey cost money," said Racine. "But it was something he always wanted me to do. He knows the game well, and so he's a very good critic of mine.
"He was a big-time fan of Tretiak's, and I went to Tretiak's camp many summers. It was cool. I got pretty close with him, and he's obviously a pretty good role model for any goalie. It was a great experience."
Racine can't speak Russian, though.
"It's a shame," he said, "my parents never taught me. When they came to the U.S., they wanted to raise us as American as possible and didn't want us to be immigrants."
But there is one word in Russian that he knows, and it applies to his performance against Wisconsin on Friday night. Number of goals allowed: nyet.
• Racine Gets First Career Shutout; Michigan Blanks Wisconsin
