Kornacki: Racine, Shields Relationship Thicker Than Ice
3/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
March 24, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- There was a moment between the euphoric team celebration and the posing at center ice with the Big Ten Tournament trophy when Michigan ice hockey goalie Steve Racine separated himself from the crowd.
Racine, the senior goaltender picked for the all-tournament team after allowing 2.5 goals per game and posting a slick .933 save percentage, skated over to the Michigan bench where volunteer goalie coach Steve Shields was standing and shook hands with him.
It was a special moment for both after Saturday night's (March 19) win over Minnesota earned the No. 2-seeded Wolverines the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. They open play Friday evening (March 25) against No. 3 seed Notre Dame in Cincinnati, Ohio.
When the gesture by Racine was mentioned, Shields said, "That's why you do it, right? I do this because I want to have a relationship, and I want the guy to feel like I'm a guy who's got his back. So, he came over to me, and we've worked closely for the last six months. I've got to have a relationship with him, and know how the guy feels.
"When you have those kinds of moments, it makes you feel like it paid off, and I liked that. Maybe I got to him, and that makes it worth it."
It was the only payment that mattered to Shields, who was the first Wolverine goalie to reach 100 wins (1990-94) and a 10-season NHL veteran who played primarily for the Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks.
Racine said, "I saw him over there and we'd just won and obviously everyone was emotional. He's done so much for us this year, and went to bat for me so many times. So, I just had to go over there and thank him for everything he's done.
"He's involved here and everything is on his own time. He's here every day, and he's the hardest-working guy out there. He's put so much into me that it was the least I could've done."
They've developed a special bond.
"It's a partnership," said Shields. "I want Steve to feel like if he doesn't work hard, he's disappointing me because he has, and they all have. But it doesn't happen just because you walk in the door. You have to put the time in. I want him to leave here saying, 'I know what I'm doing now.' And we're friends, too."
-- Steve Shields
Racine added, "We have an amazing relationship. He's better than anyone I've been with before and understands what I need to do to play well. It's almost like he's in my head a little bit; he knows how I think. He knows what gets me going, and all the little tricks to get me to play my best every night.
"All the success I have is nothing without him, and all the success he has depends on me, too. So, it goes both ways, and it will be a relationship I cherish for the rest of my life."
Shields also coaches backup goalie Zach Nagelvoort and Chad Catt. He'd previously worked with college goalies for two seasons at Michigan Tech with head coach Mel Pearson, who recruited him to the Wolverines as an assistant to Red Berenson. Shields became a goaltending consultant for the Florida Panthers in the summer of 2013, and he was contacted after last season about returning to Michigan when then-goalie coach Josh Blackburn left to pursue a graduate degree.
"Brian Wiseman and I went to school together and we're best friends," Shields said of the Wolverines assistant coach. "I was here in the summer and I live in (Newport Beach) California and consult and deal with some other players. About this time last year, we had a conversation.
"Having a chance to coach with Red and with Wise was just something that to me was important. Michigan's one of the few things that I really care about. So, for me it was an easy decision, and it's been a lot of fun so far and I like it."
He's enjoyed spending time with the Wisemans, too.
"I end up cooking half the time over at his place with his family," Shields said with a smile. "But it's been really good. I've really enjoyed it and I like coming to the rink early in the morning and I like working out when nobody's here. I like being around, and I want the players to have the experience I had at Michigan. Everything I do revolves around that.
"I just want to move up and have a say. Let's be honest, the goalies are the guys who win or lose your games. We just want to have an effect on them, and so we'll see where it goes. I could move on and be a volunteer coach at a lot of places, but this is where I want to be."
Racine has seen slight statistical improvements this season, going from a 2.94 goals-against average as a junior to 2.89 and from a .908 save percentage to .913. Most importantly, his record went from 11-6 to 19-5-3.
"I think you're seeing this year that my consistency has been a lot better than it was in the past," said Racine. "Years before, I would have great moments, and then moments I wanted back. This year, it's been pretty steady throughout, which is great. And 100 percent of that goes to (Shields). He's holding me accountable for everything I do.
"The biggest thing we've talked about is practicing hard every single day. When I practice well, it translates to the games."
He's also working on a weakness.
"Definitely an area I can improve on is my puck-handling," said Racine. "It's something I can work on and be diligent on. I'll need to continue to work on that, hopefully going to the next level."
Racine wants a chance with an NHL organization to play minor league hockey and advance. But the political science major, who has an invitation to return to J.P. Morgan's Cash Equities Sales Trading Intern Program on Wall Street again this summer, is prepared as well for life after hockey.
His focus right now is helping Michigan beat the Fighting Irish. The winner of that game will play Saturday (March 26) against the winner of North Dakota-Northeastern for the right to advance to the Frozen Four beginning April 7 in Tampa, Florida.
Racine is 7-1 this season against ranked Big Ten opponents, and the only loss was 3-2 in overtime at Minnesota.
"His record shows that he does tend to play big in the big games," said Shields.
Those 17 saves Racine made in the third period of the championship game victory over Minnesota were huge.
"He made some big saves," said Shields, "and there was a lot on the line there. I didn't realize until we got in (to the locker room) how important that was to everybody, and so I was really happy for him."
Racine said, "I've always been like that; I always get up for the big games. I enjoy playing when the spotlight's on, and playing in big venues when the team depends on you most. It seems to be when I've played my best, and nothing's bigger than this upcoming weekend."
Shields said the most improvement Racine's shown this season is in "how he's shown up for work every day" and gives Michigan a chance to win.
"He tracks the puck into his glove as well as anybody ... anybody," said Shields. "There are times when guys come down and his hands are there. But he waits and waits, and that's unnerving for a goalie. It's hard and it's one of the toughest things. He's got a chance to be good if he can put that together with making sure that other parts of his game continue to improve.
"But in terms of God-given skill, he's got it. Now, with the non-God-given skill, that's where he's got to earn it. But so far he's done that for me. There are things that he needs to get better at. When he goes for the puck, he's got to go, and he's got to clean up stuff around the net in order to make sure he doesn't get as many pucks knocked in from around the crease.
"But the important thing is, he can make the big save."
Michigan has the highest-scoring team in major college hockey, and Shields likened Racine's challenge to that of Grant Fuhr playing goalie for Wayne Gretzky's high-scoring NHL championship teams with the Edmonton Oilers.
"He knew the score was going to be 6-5," Shields said. "Grant Fuhr just knew he was going to make the last save. Steve can play and not have to think about keeping our team in the game. That, I think, helps him. But he definitely has to get better at the different things we work on. It begins with work ethic. If he works hard, he plays hard."
Racine noted that Shields has helped him develop a more professional approach in addition to being in his corner at all times. Their special moment after winning a championship acknowledged the bond they've developed on a shared mission.
It's what completely connecting is all about.
