After losing five forwards from the squad that made it to the Frozen Four the previous season, including Adam
Fantilli, the winner of the Hobey Baker award, Michigan’s hockey team had gaps to fill.
Only Josh Eernisse, a sophomore transfer from St. Thomas, is taller than 6-foot-1, but he has brought much-needed
size and physicality to the group.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound power forward for the 14th-ranked Wolverines (14-11-3) has also made some critical
offensive goals and been a vital member of the penalty kill unit.
Head coach Brandon Naurato described Eernisse, who has seven goals and four assists in 28 games, as a “linebacker
on skates.” He is incredibly powerful and swift. He could really damage people, which is why I believe he holds up on
guys so much. He’s a big lad now. incredibly strong. It’s ironic that among the few sports Eernisse didn’t play while
growing up in Minnesota was football. However, Eernisse’s qualities as a linebacker also make him a pain to play
against on the ice. Eernisse isn’t afraid to drive the net or be the first forward in on the forecheck thanks to his
stature and quickness. Physical costs may apply, but Eernisse is always up for the challenge.
Particularly heading into the second night or the second or third period of the first night (of a two-game series), it’s
difficult to be a defenseman on the opposing side when he’s always finishing his checks, Naurato said. “At that point,
you start making mistakes and gaining opportunities.”
During the early part of the season, Naurato often had to switch up his lines due to many injuries sustained by
Michigan’s forwards. Even though the club lost its top three scorers from the previous campaign, Rutger McGroarty,
Frank Nazar, and Gavin Brindley led a talented bunch that was still ranked in the top 35. This season, Eernisse has
played with a variety of linemates and has moved up and down the lineup.
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Regarding his game, Eernisse remarked, “I think it goes both ways and complements it really well.” “I think playing
with some of the better players really helps me refine and grow as an offensive player. In return, I can push them in
practice by being a little bit more difficult to play against, holding players accountable for finishing hits, playing
more physically, and other things like that. I believe that my approach really works well with it to give a squad that
already has a lot of extremely great players and attacking threats a little bit more hard skill. On the St. Thomas squad
that finished 11-23-2 last year, Eernisse was second in scoring with 14 goals and nine assists. However, he joined the
portal after the season in the hopes of joining a more competitive club and receiving a top-notch education.
The Wolverines have earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for three years running, and they have advanced as the
top seed to the national semifinals the last two years. He was friendly with the Wolverines’ coaches right away
because he had previously played with Brindley and Michigan junior forward Mark Estapa with the Tri-City Storm in
the US Hockey League.
With six games left in the regular season, Michigan is currently on the verge of qualifying for the tournament, so
Eernisse thinks he made the proper choice.
He stated, “I wanted to find somewhere where the practice schedule would be extremely strong and that I could be
pushed every single day.” “I was looking for that intense competition where I could push myself and improve.”
Then, I also think that education is crucial. Thus, after discussing several universities, I ultimately chose Michigan.
Simply said, I felt like it was a perfect fit. This decision was made after considering the coaching staff’s dedication to
both individual and team growth, as well as their overall winning culture. All of those factors, along with the
excellent education provided here, were factors in my decision. It’s been fantastic.
