Michigan hockey team looks to its leaders, such as Chris Summers

Chris Summers realizes that responsibility comes with the Michigan hockey sweater bearing the captain's "C."

The senior defenseman is expected to take charge when coach Red Berenson isn't around or when something needs to be said to address anything from work ethic on the ice to study habits in the classroom.

He's not about to do it alone, though.

"You have to look for leadership in other places," Summers said. "Not one man is going to hold the team together."

After the Wolverines (5-7) snapped a 5-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over Bowling Green Saturday night, Michigan enters a critical stretch of its schedule starting with this weekend's College Hockey Showcase at Yost Ice Arena. Michigan hosts Minnesota and Wisconsin before CCHA series against Ohio State and Notre Dame lead up to the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit.

If Berenson's unranked team is to right the ship, it will be the leaders - starting with Summers and assistant captains Carl Hagelin and Luke Glendening - who have take charge.

"Guys are getting frustrated, and I am too," Summers said this week. "Sometimes, the emotions get the best of you, but you need to do the best you can to stick together as a team. That's what's going to win you hockey games."

It's during adversity when Berenson believes a player's true leadership potential comes through. He believes that's why Glendening, a third-line right winger, was chosen by Michigan's players as an assistant captain and why if Michigan is to improve as the season goes on, it will be because not only Summers' role as captain but because of the overall strength of his leadership.

"(Players) know (Summers) is the captain," Berenson said. "But he can't put his finger in every hole in the dike."

After last Friday's 4-2 loss to Bowling Green, Berenson said he asked his players to consider what more they could do.

But for Summers and Michigan's veterans leadership group, Berenson's charge sunk in as evidenced by Saturday night's win that not only salvaged the weekend, but perhaps began the Wolverines headed on a different course.

Now, the priority becomes one of maintenance for the long season ahead.

"You could see guys really wondering what's going on," senior defenseman Steve Kampfer said. "It starts with (the veterans), but it's (about) the whole team buying into the system and working hard."

Jeff Arnold covers Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at jeffarnold@annarbor.com or 734-623-2554. Follow him at Twitter @jeffreyparnold.