The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
8 — Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Michigan commits ready to take the NCAA leap

PLYMOUTH, Mich. — Though 

the offseason still trudges through 
the dog days of summer, multiple 
Michigan hockey team commits 
started ramping up for the upcoming 
season. 

On 
Sunday, 
the 
Wolverines’ 

incoming 
freshman 
forwards 

Rutger McGroarty, Frank Nazar 
III and defenseman Seamus Casey 
commenced a 10-day United States 
National Junior Team camp in 
preparation for the rescheduled 2022 
IIHF World Junior Championship 
taking place this August in Edmonton, 
Alberta.

While the three commits are some 

of the younger competitors vying 
for a spot on the team, they remain 
undaunted in the face of a team with 
top NHL draft picks. And with many 
of those draft picks also sharing 
spots on Michigan’s roster, this isn’t 
the first time seeing their Michigan 
teammates. 

“This spring we were training with 

Michigan quite a bit,” Casey said. “So 

I got to meet the whole team.”

Casey, who was drafted by the 

New Jersey Devils with the No. 46 
overall pick this month in the 2022 
NHL Draft, competed alongside 
Nazar III and McGroarty on the U.S. 
National U18 team this season, with 
their final matchup coming against 
Sweden on May 1.

That tournament ending gave the 

three an opportunity to familiarize 
themselves even further with the 
program after the U18 NTDP lost an 
overtime battle to Michigan earlier 

this season. Although the Wolverines 
were short handed due to an absence 
of talent attending the Olympics, the 
three each flashed the skills that 
define why they believe they can 
make an instant impact at the next 
level.

“Even last year, we played against 

teams that were college teams,” 
Nazar III said. “Obviously Michigan 
(was included), and I think we built a 
game to (the college level).”

Nazar III speaks from experience 

as the last time he entered Yost, the ice 

GABBY CERITANO/Daily

tilted his way. The future Wolverine 
centerman gave Michigan a glimpse 
of his signature wrist shot, netting 
two goals in a signature performance.

McGroarty chipped in on the 

action too, grabbing an assist on 
Nazar III’s second goal of the day — 
a powerplay strike. The two will look 
to replicate that magic, albeit with 
different maize and blue sweaters on, 
for a Wolverines team that lost key 
contributors to its power play.

Replicating 
that 
success 
for 

Michigan begins this week as the trio 

will gain plentiful experience on a 
roster that boasts five other current 
and former Wolverines.

And although the group may be 

ready to step into Yost familiar with 
their teammates, the adjustment to 
the college level will mean more than 
a faster game.

“Schedule-wise, I’ve been asking 

some of the guys like Dylan (Duke) 
about the schedule of each day and 
classes,” Nazar III said. 

Like any incoming freshman, the 

transition to a major university will 
boast a bevy of new emotions and 
experiences both inside the classroom 
and out. After years of crossing 
counties 
and 
countries 
playing 

with the NTDP, the University of 
Michigan will provide a new chance 
for the three to settle down and play.

But for this upcoming week, the 

three will have another chance to 
prove again why they feel ready to 
take on college hockey. As it seems, 
they’re up to the challenge.

“I’m very confident going into next 

year.” Nazar III affirmed.

Confidence, which they look to 

build upon as the three American 
commits — and the broader Michigan 
unit — take on the IIHF.

ICE HOCKEY

JOHN TONDORA 

Daily Sports Writer

Nazar III, McGroarty and Casey expect to bring chemistry to Michigan

PLYMOUTH, 
Mich. 
— 
For 

the Michigan hockey team, the 
US National Team Development 
Program (NTDP) has played a crucial 
role in the team’s core.

And for the upcoming 2022-23 

season, that trend is set to continue.

Incoming 
freshman 
forwards 

Frank 
Nazar 
III 
and 
Rutger 

McGroarty, along with defenseman 
Seamus Casey will all make the 
transition to the Wolverines from the 
NTDP this upcoming season. And as 
they join Michigan, they also bring 
impressive chemistry that they have 
displayed.

Nazar, McGroarty and Casey all 

played together on the NTDP U17 
Team in the 2020-21 season and made 
the move up to the U18 team at the 
same time for the 2021-22 campaign.

“Playing with people for that long 

obviously helps out,” Casey said. 
“There’s a lot of chemistry.”

The 
trio 
has 
experience 
on 

the ice together in high-pressure 
situations — something that will 

be beneficial for a young Michigan 
team with holes that need to be filled 
following the departures of forwards 
Matty Beniers, Thomas Bordeleau 
and Brendan Brisson, along with 
defenseman Owen Power to the 
NHL.

McGroarty, Nazar and Casey all 

traveled to Germany for the U18 
Men’s World Junior Championship 
in XX, representing the American 
team and propelling the team to 
a second-place finish. McGroarty 
demonstrated his strong leadership 
abilities by captaining the team 
and putting up nine points in six 
games. Nazar and Casey also were 
instrumental in the team’s success, 
tallying nine points and six points, 
respectively.

And now after playing in Germany, 

the trio has reunited on the ice after 
a month-long break away from each 
other.

“I just really relaxed … (and) was 

a kid,” McGroarty said. “And then 
now, dialing it back in, … this camp’s 
really good (to) try and put yourself 
out there to make the World Juniors 
Team and then get in shape for the 
season.”

Nazar, Casey and McGroarty are a 

part of a new group of NTDP products 
tasked following the impactful 2020 
group of Beniers, Bordeleau and 
Jacob Truscott.

In 2021-22, Beniers finished in 

the top 10 in Hobey Baker voting, 
and Bordeleau tallied 37 points in 37 
games, playing a crucial role in the 

Wolverines’ success, before departing 
to the San Jose Sharks.

And for the new additions, 

following in the footsteps of past 
Michigan standouts is not a concern.

“We’re not really trying to be like 

those guys,” Nazar said. “We want to 
come in and fill in a role like they did. 
And there’s no doubt that we’re going 

to come in … and work hard.”

And ahead of their debuts with 

the Wolverines, Nazar, Casey and 
McGroarty’s time spent together 
at 
the 
NTDP 
this 
offseason 

demonstrates their commitment to 
building off of a successful 2021-22 
season and using their chemistry to 
fill in the gaps.

ICE HOCKEY

COLE MARTIN 
Daily Sports Writer

Some of the Michigan hockey team’s new recruits will fill voids left by fellow US National Team Development Program alumni who left 
this offseason.

GABBY CERITANO/Daily

Three of the Michigan hockey team’s recruits are undaunted by the leap from the US National Team Development Program to college hockey.

