Erik Gustafsson led the nation in scoring among
freshman defensemen with 27 points last season. |
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Key Statistics: Although
he didn't score a single goal last season, Gustafsson
was a fairly significant cog in Northern Michigan's
offense, notching 27 assists and finishing fourth in
the team's scoring race and led the CCHA in scoring
by a rookie defenseman. The sophomore-to-be also led
the Wildcats with a plus-16 rating, and compiled a mere
six minor penalties while playing in all 44 of Northern
Michigan games.
What He Does: Gustafsson
is an excellent skater and plays a very intelligent
game, helping to make up for his lack of size. At just
5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Gustafsson's stature might
not strike fear in opponents, but his ability to move
in the defensive zone and outskate opponents makes him
an extremely reliable partner and provides him with
the ability to jump in and contribute offensively without
giving up opportunities coming the other way. The sophomore
also eats up almost 30 minutes of ice time per game
with partner T.J. Miller and will play as many minutes
as coach Walt Kyle can give him.
The Bigger Picture: Because
he's suck a slick passer and he stays out of the penalty
box, Gustafsson will play an important role in both
of Northern Michigan's special teams units. With strong
scoring threats Mark Olver, Matt Butcher and Nick Sirota
returning for this season in Marquette, the blueliner
has the opportunity to regularly find his name in the
scorebook as a playmaker, and will likely contribute
a few goals of his own this time around.
Northern Michigan coach Walt Kyle
on Gustafsson: "(Erik) had a great year.
He's an elite defenseman but for a large part of the
year no one knew anything about him, although he got
some recognition at the end of the year. He played against
our opponents' top line every night and was able to
score 27 points when he didn't get on our first power
play unit until after Christmas."
—
James V. Dowd |
