Michigan hopes to turn goalie into hero at regional

There’s a unique set of pressures and obligations that come with athletes returning to play in their hometown.

Dozens of people are coming to specifically see them play, many of them for the first time in years, or ever. Friends and family are all trying to steal quality time.

As O’Fallon, Missouri native and Michigan hockey goaltender Jake Barczewski gets set to play “10 minutes away” from his hometown during this week’s NCAA Tournament Maryland Heights Regional near St. Louis, there’s even more external pressure than usual — and it’s got nothing to do with hockey. His word is on the line.

“We love him. He’s an unbelievable guy. He doesn’t stop hyping up St. Louis,” sophomore defenseman Luca Fantilli said. “We’re excited to see what it’s about.”

Following consecutive trips to the Frozen Four, No. 3 seed Michigan embarks on its quest for a third by squaring off with No. 2 seed North Dakota, at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri at 8:30 p.m. today. With a win, Michigan will set a date with an in-state rival for the right to go to the Frozen Four. No. 1 seed Michigan State faces No. 4 seed Western Michigan on the other side of the regional bracket.

Barczewski, a grad transfer, will find nothing new about the experience of playing in the tournament — except, perhaps, the quality of the team in front of him. He reached the NCAA Tournament last year in his fourth and final season with Canisius, which was throttled in the opening round, 9-2, by eventual runner-up Minnesota.