Michigan Ice Hockey Newcomer Spotlight: Defensemen
9/12/2018 12:22:00 PM | Ice Hockey, Features
In the weeks leading up to the 2018-19 season, MGoBlue.com will introduce the University of Michigan ice hockey team's 10-man freshman class and help fans get to know a little more about them. The second installment in the series highlights the defensemen, Jack Summers, Nick Blankenburg, and Jake Gingell.
Summers comes to Michigan after spending last season with the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he tallied one goal and 11 assists in 58 games played. Summers played for Wolverine assistant coach Bill Muckalt when Muckalt was the head coach of the Storm in the 2016-17 season. A Livonia, Michigan, native, Summers spent his childhood at Yost Ice Arena rooting for the Maize and Blue.
Q: Why did you pick Michigan?
A: I chose Michigan because of the unique opportunity to play for my hometown team and to achieve my academic goals at the highest level.
Q: When did you start playing hockey, and what got you hooked?
A: I started when I was 4 years old, and what got me hooked was the simple joy of being on the ice with my friends doing what I love the most.
Q: Who is your favorite current or former Michigan athlete?
A: Zach Werenski
Q: What is one thing that is interesting about yourself that is not hockey-related?
A: I love to golf and hang out at the beach.
Q: What are your goals for this year and what are you looking forward to most?
A: To get a good amount of playing time, and excel in the classroom. I want to strive to do my best in hockey as well as in school. I have a goal to become an Academic All-American.
I am looking forward to becoming a part of the tradition of Michigan hockey. There are so many great players that have played here in the past, and to be a part of this history is amazing. I am looking forward to playing at Yost. The atmosphere and environment are the best, and it's going to be amazing to play in it.
Q: What is your first memory of Yost as a child?
A: I remember that I came with a friend for a game, around the age of 10.. The energy in the arena was crazy and always dreamed of someday playing here.
Q: Do you have any pregame routines?
I usually tape my stick and stretch the same way. I always eat a good amount of food way in advance, but nothing too serious.
The Washington, Michigan, native spent the 2017-18 season with the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), where he netted 16 goals and 26 assists in 57 games. Blankenburg helped lead the Oilers to a the AJHL finals where they lost to the Spruce Grove Saints.
Q: Why did you pick Michigan?
A: I chose Michigan because of the rich history and success of the hockey program and because the University's academics will set me up for a successful future.
Q: When did you start playing hockey, and what got you hooked?
A: I started playing hockey when I was 4 years old, and I need to give credit to my dad and older brother, Alex, for getting be hooked.
Q: Who is your favorite current or former Michigan athlete?
A: Tom Brady
Q: What is one thing that is interesting about yourself that is not related to hockey?
A: I golf and I also lived in Calgary, Alberta last year.
Q: What are your goals for this year and what are you looking forward to most?
A: I want to make a positive contribution to the team and program however I can. Whether that is on or off of the ice. I also want to do well in the classroom.
Q: Who has been the most influential in your hockey career thus far?
A: My parents and brother. Everyone has ups and downs, and they have helped me through every moment. They got me to where I am today and I know they will be my support system throughout my four years at Michigan.
Q: Who was your favorite NHL player growing up, and if you could compare yourself to any NHL player, who would it be?
A: My favorite NHL player growing up was Marty St. Louis, but I compare my game to Michigan native Torey Krug the most.
Q: Do you have any pregame routines that you do before every game?
A: I always think about what I have to do to be successful, and I listen to music a lot, mostly house music, specifically.
Gingell joins the Wolverines after spending his 2017-18 season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He tallied three goals and six assists in 50 games as an alternate captain as well as carrying a team leading plus-9 rating.
Q: Why did you pick Michigan?
A: Ever since I was a little kid, I've always dreamed of playing hockey at the University of Michigan. The education here, as well as the hockey, made the decision a no-brainer for me. I feel the new coaching staff will put the hockey program in a position to win a National Championship, as they did this past season, and I want to be a part of that. Being born and raised in Michigan, I take it very personal wearing the Michigan logo with pride. Go Blue!
Q: What are two things that are interesting about yourself that is not related to hockey?
A: I am an avid Fortnite player, and an above-average golfer.
Q: When did you start playing hockey, and what got you hooked?
A: I started when I was 4 years old, and I got hooked after growing up watching the best defenseman of modern day, Nicklas Lidstrom, play for the Detroit Red Wings.
Q: Do you have any relatives that have attended, or are currently attending Michigan?
A: My cousin, Jason Gingell, was a kicker on the football team and my cousins, Melanie and Monica, were students. My uncles Greg, Paul and Don all went to Michigan as well.
Q: What is your nickname and is there a story behind it?
A: My nickname is "Ging." It is a shortening of my last name, and my coaches and teammates have called me that all my life.
Q: What are your goals for this year and what are you looking forward to most?
A: I want to make this team better in any possible way that I can, as well as make a positive impact on the team. I also want to get a degree from the University of Michigan. Being a Michigan kid growing up, and now playing for this program, it hits close to my heart because I am from here. Even as a fan here, you get a ton of adrenaline seeing the guys come out on the ice. So being a player and walking out, hearing the fans and experiencing the atmosphere -- it is going to be unimaginable.
Q: Who has been the most influential in your hockey career thus far?
A: My parents and my coach growing up, Andy Copp, father of former Wolverine captain Andrew Copp. Coach Copp coached me for eight years at Compuware and he has a ton to do with my success. I was also fortunate to be able to watch the '94 Compuware team with former Wolverines who are now in the NHL, (Andrew) Copp and Jacob Trouba growing up, which had a huge impact on me.
Q: What is your first memory of Yost?
A: My first memory of Yost was playing here as a little kid. I always thought to myself, "Wow, this would be really cool to play here in college." It is pretty crazy that now, here I am. It is going to be special when I walk down those stairs for the first time.
Individual game tickets for the 2018-19 ice hockey season will go on sale Thursday (Sept. 13) at 8:30 a.m. Season tickets for the 2018-19 schedule are still available, starting as low as $340 per seat.Benefits include: price discount, concession discount, priority access to postseason ticketing, priority points and a 2018 season ticket holder gift. » Learn more
