To most of the hockey world, Shawn Hunwick is the brother of Avalanche defenseman Matt Hunwick. Not around Ann Arbor, Mich.
“I’m the brother of Shawn Hunwick around there,” Matt said Wednesday.
Brother Shawn is one of the best stories in hockey at the moment. A 5-foot-7, 163-pound senior goalie who walked on at Michigan and had never been the No. 1 netminder for the Maize and Blue until a month ago has taken the Wolverines to the Frozen Four of the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m real proud of what he’s done, obviously. Not too many probably expected that, but he’s a guy with strong determination,” Hunwick said. “He was a guy who was just going to play (Division) III, but he ended up working his way on at Michigan as the third goalie, and he’s worked hard to put himself in the position he’s in now.”
Another player in the Avalanche dressing room — forward Kevin Porter — has almost as much pride in Shawn Hunwick’s accomplishments. Porter played at Michigan on a team with Shawn (2007-08), and his younger brother, Chris, is best friends with Shawn. Porter won the Hobey Baker Award his senior season at Michigan as college hockey’s best player.
“It’s really great to see. Hopefully, they can bring home a national championship,” Porter said. “(His) first year was my senior year, and he’s a great guy.”
Michigan looked to Hunwick after starting goalie Bryan Hogan went down with an injury on Feb. 25, and he didn’t disappoint, going 14-6-1 as a starter.
He led Michigan to the Frozen Four with a 2-1 victory over Colorado College last week.
Though a senior, he has another year of eligibility left and is likely to play another year at Michigan, which is looking for its first NCAA title since 1998.
“I don’t know what his hockey future holds. We talk a lot, but really not all that much about hockey,” said Matt Hunwick, who never played with his brother at Michigan, leaving after the 2006-07 season. “I think he’s just taking it one day at a time and enjoying the ride right now.”
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
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