Freshman establishes presence

JEFF HURVITZ/Daily

Michigan's Mike Komisarek and Miami winger Pat Leahy got to know each other pretty well throughout the weekend series. By Jon Schwartz

Daily Sports Writer

For the average freshman, the routine is pretty much the same in the first few months of school.

They get adjusted to classes, learn to appreciate freedom and experiment with various substances.

They rarely pick fights with seniors.

By that last bit of logic, Mike Komisarek is not the average freshman - rather, already a centerpiece of the Michigan hockey team's defense.

At a mere 18 years of age, Komisarek has a childish smile that exudes happiness and awe of the fact that he is playing for a school such as Michigan.

At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, he has a presence that strikes fear in the eyes of the most seasoned veterans in the CCHA.

So when Miami's Chris Knupp had Komisarek against the bench in a choke hold after he slashed Knupp's teammate, Danny Stewart, in Saturday night's 6-2 Michigan win over the RedHawks, it became clear that eight games into his college hockey career, Mike Komisarek is already making his mark on the CCHA.

"You get a little more confidence each weekend," Komisarek said. "I guess you get a little more comfortable out there with experience, but still, every time I go out there I have butterflies."

Michigan goalie Josh Blackburn might have had the same butterflies when he learned at the beginning of the season that two of the defensemen that protect him during games would be freshmen - Komisarek and Andy Burnes.

He has quickly realized that age aside, he will be well defended this season.

"I have 100 percent confidence in him," Blackburn said of Komisarek. "He's playing like a veteran. I really trust both of those guys out there in front of me. It's like they're not even freshmen. They're doing a great job and I think it would be hard to tell that they are freshmen."

Just ask Miami senior Pat Leahy whether Komisarek plays like a rookie. The two were jarring most of the weekend series and often exchanging words, few of which were of the kind variety.

But even after only one month, that type of play can already be considered Komisarek's trademark.

"You've got to love that," he said. "Being a big defenseman, you've got to love all the physical play. It was fun playing.

"You've got a few bruises to show, but you've got to love it. This is why you play the game."

But what is going to aggravate his opponents is the fact that throughout the game, Komisarek's ear-to-ear boyish grin never leaves his face, even as he's laying a cross-check on another player. While the more senior Leahy was fuming during an altercation against the boards after the whistle, Komisarek's reaction would have made fans think that he and Leahy had been exchanging jokes.

On Friday night, Komisarek added another feat to his repertoire, becoming the first Michigan freshman this season to tally a goal. He added an empty-netter on Saturday.

His power play goal on Friday, a slapshot from the point, was a big one as it broke a 1-1 tie. Michigan eventually won 3-2. When it went in, Komisarek started jumping up and down on the ice and was mobbed by his teammates.

"It was amazing," the beaming freshman said. "We've been doing that all week and I must have missed the net 15 times, hit the net once maybe out of all week in practice and I just got that one shot and luckily, it went in. I was the happiest kid in the rink."

Since the day Komisarek signed with Michigan, he has been compared to junior defenseman Jeff Jillson, another giant on the ice with offensive talents. So far, Jillson has been impressed with what he's seen.

"He's made great strides," Jillson said. "He tries to have his presence felt out there. It's good for our team and it opens up a lot of space for the other guys.

"He came in here as a well-known player and a really good defenseman and he's starting to adjust to the college game now and getting his feet wet.

"He can only improve from here."