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.