Linebacker on skates: Michigan transfer’s size and speed are a benefit for Wolverines.

Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov  and Michigan forward Josh Eernisse  compete for the puck during the Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Saturday, February 10, 2024.Jacob Hamilton.

Ann Arbor – Michigan’s hockey team needed to replace holes after losing five players from last season’s Frozen Four, including Hobey Baker Award winner Adam Fantilli.

With only one forward returning taller than 6-foot-1, sophomore Josh Eernisse, a transfer from St. Thomas, has provided much-needed height and physicality to the team.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound power forward has also scored several important offensive goals and contributed significantly to the Wolverines’ 14th-ranked penalty kill (14-11-3).

“He’s like a linebacker on skates,” head coach Brandon Naurato said of Eernisse, who has seven goals and four assists through 28 games. “He’s incredibly swift and strong. I believe he holds back on guys a lot because he is afraid of hurting them. He’s a huge lad. “Very powerful.”
Ironically, football was one of the only activities that Eernisse did not participate in while growing up in Minnesota. However, Eernisse’s linebacker characteristics make him a difficult opponent on the ice. With his stature and quickness, Eernisse isn’t afraid to drive the net or be the first forward on the forecheck. Although there may be a physical cost, Eernisse is always prepared to contribute.

“It’s just hard when you’re a defenseman on the other team and he’s constantly finishing his checks, especially going into like the second night or the second or third period of the first night (of a two-game series),” he said. “That’s when you start creating turnovers and start getting chances.”

Because of many injuries to Michigan forwards this season, Naurato was regularly forced to rearrange his lines in the first half. Despite losing its top three scorers from last season, the squad returned a talented bunch highlighted by top-35 draft picks Rutger McGroarty, Frank Nazar, and Gavin Brindley. Eernisse has bounced up and down the lineup this season, playing with a variety of linemates.

“I think it complements it really well, and I think it goes both ways,” remarked Eernisse about his game. “I think having some of the more skilled guys really pushes me to hone my offensive skills and be able to develop those a little bit more, but in return, I can kind of push them in practice by being a little bit harder (to play against), holding guys accountable to finish hits and play more physically, and things like that. I believe that my approach complements it by adding a little bit of hard skill to a squad that already has a lot of highly talented players and offensive threats.”

Eernisse was second in scoring with 14 goals and nine assists for last year’s St. Thomas club, which finished 11-23-2, but he entered the portal after the season in the hopes of joining a more competitive team while also receiving a decent education.

The Wolverines have qualified for three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, reaching the national semifinals as No. 1 seeds the last two years. He had previously played with Brindley and Michigan junior forward Mark Estapa for the Tri-City Storm in the United States Hockey League, and he quickly connected with the Wolverines’ coaches.

Eernisse believes he made the correct decision, as Michigan is currently on the tournament bubble with six games left in the regular season.
“I wanted to find somewhere where the strength of schedule would be super high and that I could be pushed every single day in practice,” he told me. “I wanted a competitive environment where I would be pushed and able to improve my game.

“Education is important to me, too. So, after discussing about numerous schools, I decided on Michigan. I just felt it was an excellent fit. When I think about the coaching staff, how much effort they put into individual and team development, and the general winning culture they have, when you combine all of that with a wonderful education here, that’s how I made my decision. It’s been wonderful.