After the departure of Erik Portillo to professional endeavors following the Frozen Four last spring, it was paramount for the Wolverines coaching staff to find replacements in net for this upcoming hockey season. Enter Jacob Barczewski, who comes to Michigan as a grad transfer after playing four years at Canisius University in Buffalo. Barczewski is expected to be Michigan’s starting goalie this season, so let’s get to know him in another Hockey Hello. Quick Background Jacob Barczewski hails from O’Fallon, Missouri, in the outer reaches of the St. Louis area. He played two seasons in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm, posting a .904 SV% in 59 appearances before enrolling at Canisius University in the fall of 2019 for the upcoming 2019-20 NCAA season. Barczewski was Canisius’ primary goalie for all four seasons he was with the program, logging 28, 11 (in a 17 game COVID-shortened season), 29, and 32 games. In total that adds up to 100 gams, with Barczewski being credited with 44 wins, 6 career shutouts, and a .917 SV%. Barczewski’s first season saw him post a .905 and a 2.92 GAA, but his numbers were much stronger over his sophomore to senior seasons. Those years won him praise in Atlantic Hockey circles, earning honors within the conference for his .926 SV% in the shortened 2020-21 season, in addition to being named Canisius Male Athlete of the Year. His .923 the next season earned him All-AHA First Team, and again he was named team MVP by his coaches and teammates. As a senior, his numbers dipped down slightly (though it was solely due to one NCAA Tournament game), but he was still named All-AHA Third Team and his greatest triumph was on the ice. [Canisius Athletics] Indeed, Barczewski’s career at Canisius hit a climax in the Atlantic Hockey Association Championship Game, when he and his Golden Griffins teammates blanked Holy Cross 3-0 to make the NCAAs for the first time since 2013. The euphoria from that victory was short-lived as Canisius played the University of Minnesota, 1st overall seed, in their first game of the NCAA Tournament five days later. Despite holding a 2-1 lead early in the 2nd period, the Gophers power-play took over the game and Minnesota ended up winning 9-2, a typical score for the lopsided nature of the 1 vs 16 matchup. That defeat ended the season for the Griffins and the career of Barczewski at Canisius. The 2022-23 season was good statistically for Barczewski, who started all 32 games he appeared in. He finished with a .918 SV%, down from .925 before he had to face Minnesota with a Canisius defense in front of him. More importantly, Barczewski became noticeably stronger as the season progressed, which was exemplified by him registering 3 shutouts he in his last 10 starts. After the season, Barczewski entered the portal and then committed to Michigan with the intention of being the starter. Michigan goalie Noah West, who had originally entered the transfer portal after the season, re-committed to Michigan for his senior year as well, giving us the tandem for this upcoming season. [AFTER THE JUMP: How we can try to evaluate goalies]