Oct. 22, 2009
Carl Hagelin was infamous for being the only non-North American on U-M's roster when he arrived in Ann Arbor in the fall of 2007. Now a junior, the Swedish left wing is better known for his blazing speed and steadily improving point production.
Hagelin hails from Sodertalje, Sweden, which is located 40 minutes outside of Stockholm. His hometown is comparable in size to Ann Arbor, but lacks the school spirit so prevalent here. Adjusting to a new environment in addition to a smaller ice surface provided Hagelin with obstacles he had to overcome in his freshman year.
"It's not as much room with the puck as home, that was kind of hard in the beginning," Hagelin explained. "You had a [defender] on you all the time, but it's also very developing for you."
He kept the attention of Michigan fans by recording 11 goals and as many assists during his rookie campaign. In the following season, ticket holders in the Yost student section would proudly hold up Swedish flags at Yost Ice Arena in honor of their favored forward. The European import rewarded their adoration with 13 markers and 17 helpers alongside a plus-19 rating in his sophomore year.
"It's always nice when people appreciate what you're doing out there on the ice," Hagelin said.
With four tallies and one assist in Michigan's two exhibition contests in addition to a goal and a helper that counted at Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 10, the Swede is poised for a breakout season in his junior year. Everyone knows Hagelin can score, but he will look to improve his efficiency around the net this season.
"At the end-of-the-year meeting with Coach Berenson, I think the most important thing I learned is that I can be more of an offensive threat and more efficient around the net," Hagelin said. "I had a lot of chances last year that I didn't capitalize on. Hopefully this year is going to be a good year."
The left winger hopes to score in a greater variety of ways, rather than just a hard shot from the faceoff circle or slot. Hagelin has already heeded the advice of his coaches, scoring his first goal of the season on a scramble in front of the UAA net after a shot was blocked.
"There are a lot of different ways you can score," Hagelin noted. "It's not usually the hardest shot that's going to go in. It's more rebounds and tip-ins. But it all comes down to working hard and I've got to continue doing that."
Hagelin, who is arguably the fastest skater on the roster, uses his speed to create offensive chances while still allowing him to dash back to help out the defense. He hasn't always been the fastest kid on the ice as he was a late bloomer growing up.
"When I was younger, I was just a tiny kid and really had to work hard to keep up with not the older guys, but the bigger guys who were the same age as me," Hagelin said. "I think it was when I turned 16 or 17 that I grew a couple of inches. All of a sudden I started to become a faster skater, more efficient probably, and just a stronger person."
His speed has been particularly advantageous on the penalty kill, which ranked sixth in the nation last year with an 88.1-percent success rate and second all-time (since 1970-71) at Michigan. In league play, the Wolverines' penalty kill was second overall with a 91.8-percent efficiency rating. Hagelin and Matt Rust played a key role on the PK with the Swede leading the team with two shorthanded markers last year.
"Being aggressive disrupts the other team's power play," he explained. "If you go up and be aggressive, they might not be back [on defense] with all their players and they're going to make mistakes whether they're nervous or whatever. [Speed] helps out."
Hagelin will be asked to improve upon the career highs he set last season as the Wolverines lost 35 percent of their offensive totals due to players graduating or leaving for professional hockey. The Swede and Louie Caporusso, Hagelin's roommate and the team's leading goal scorer last year, look to take a leadership role on the offense.
"I remember he was the first freshman that I met back in 2007," Hagelin said of Caporusso. "We just clicked right away and became great friends back then. After Christmas that season, we roomed together and now we have an apartment together."
Hagelin and Caporusso may not play on the same line for the most part, but Caporusso explains what makes him such a great linemate.
"He's pretty much one of the fastest players in the world," Caporusso said of Hagelin. "He's a hard worker. He'll get me the puck a lot. He does the same thing with Rust and he'd be great with Rusty. Any line that you put him on he'll be a great player. It's just a privilege to have him on your line if you can get him."
Hagelin's prowess on both ends of the ice will certainly help the Wolverines as they embark on the 2009-10 season with the hopes of winning a national championship in Detroit next spring.
