The 2021-22 NCAA hockey season was once certainly one of good fortune for the state of Michigan. In addition to Adrian’s first-ever Division III nationwide identify, 3 of the state’s seven Division I hockey techniques made the NCAA match, with Michigan and Western Michigan each incomes No. 1 seeds within the 16-team box.
WMU picked up its first-ever win within the NCAAs, however misplaced within the regional ultimate; U-M, in the meantime, complicated to the Frozen Four for the twenty sixth time in program historical past earlier than dropping in additional time to eventual champion Denver.
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Adrian opens its championship protection with a consult with to Bowling Green on Oct. 22 and begins Division III play Oct. 28-29 opposed to Utica at house, however Division I groups are shedding the puck at the 2022-23 season ultimate weekend and this one. Here are 14 names to know from the state at the highway to the 2023 Frozen Four, slated for Tampa, Florida, on April 6-8.
Coach Brandon Naurato, Michigan
The state’s maximum a success program ultimate season — the Wolverines had been filled with NHL-level skill (together with seven first-round selections) — is most likely within the largest state of flux. The faculty declined to renew the contract of head trainer Mel Pearson, who had taken the Wolverines to two Frozen Fours in 5 seasons, after a file by way of the legislation company WilmerHale concluded that Pearson lied to investigators and helped foster a poisonous tradition inside the program.
Taking the reins this season is Naurato, an assistant below Pearson ultimate season. The 37-year-old Livonia local hasn’t ever been a head trainer, regardless that he spent 8 years with USA Hockey and 3 seasons as a participant building advisor with the Detroit Red Wings. Luckily for Naurato and Michigan, the Wolverines’ roster continues to be loaded with skill, together with ahead Mackie Samoskevich, a 2021 first-rounder (No. 24 general) who had 10 aims and 19 assists in 2021-22 and goalie Erik Portillo, who was once named the Most Outstanding Player in Michigan’s Big Ten match identify run in March. Still, the Wolverines might be led by way of …
D Luke Hughes, Michigan
The No. 4 general select within the 2021 NHL draft, Hughes racked up 17 aims and 22 assists en path to being named co-Big Ten Freshman of the Yeah, a second-team All-Big Ten select and main all NCAA defensemen in issues. Rather than sign up for his brother Jack in New Jersey, Hughes opted to go back to Ann Arbor, the place he’s already a preseason All-Big Ten select and a leader for the Hobey Baker Award (college hockey’s model of the Heisman Trophy). One of his largest challengers for the award can be suiting up in maize and blue …
F Adam Fantilli, Michigan
The freshman is already making the highest 3 in 2023 NHL draft previews (in the back of generational skill Connor Bedard) after striking up 37 aims and 37 assists in 54 video games for the Chicago Steel of the USHL. A Canadian local, he served because the trade captain (with six issues in 4 video games) for Team Canada’s gold-medal squad on the U18 Worlds in Germany, the place he beat …
F Frank Nazar III, F Rutger McGroarty & D Seamus Casey, Michigan
The gifted trio starred for the U.S. National Team Development Program ultimate season earlier than being decided on thirteenth (by way of Winnipeg), 14th (by way of Chicago) and forty sixth (by way of New Jersey) general in July’s NHL draft. Over two seasons with the USNTDP, they publish greater than 300 issues mixed. Oh, and so they additionally starred on the U18 Worlds in Germany, with a mixed 24 issues in six video games because the U.S. took silver — which may arise within the 4 occasions this season they’re scheduled to face …
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Coach Adam Nightingale, Michigan State
The former Spartans participant (2003-05) was once the pinnacle trainer of that silver-winning U.S. workforce this summer season in Germany after two seasons main the USNTDP squad. He replaces Danton Cole, who went 58-10-12 over 5 seasons in East Lansing. Before Nightingale performed in East Lansing, he performed at Lake Superior State, similar to every other new Spartan …
F Miroslav Mucha, Michigan State
The grad switch from LSSU was once named MSU’s captain on Sept. 30. The Slovakia local had 10 aims and 25 assists for the Lakers ultimate season; that adopted a junior season through which he had 5 aims and 9 assists as LSSU made the NCAA match for the primary time since 1996. The Spartans added every other grad switch with NCAA tourney revel in in …
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G Dylan St. Cyr, Michigan State
The Northville alumnus — whose father, Gerry St. Cyr, performed 5 seasons of professional hockey and mom, Manon Rheaume, was once the primary girl to play in an NHL preseason recreation, a Bally Sports Detroit analyst for Red Wings video games ultimate season and is now with the L.A. Kings — is on his 3rd workforce in 3 seasons. He spent 4 years at Notre Dame earlier than shifting to Quinnipiac ultimate season; with the Bobcats, he sponsored up probably the most country’s best goalies in Yaniv Perets and posted a 1.16 goals-against moderate and .936 save share in 13 video games. He additionally gave the impression within the Bobcats’ ultimate NCAA recreation, approaching in aid within the regional ultimate opposed to Michigan, with 4 saves and one function allowed in just about 18 mins as Quinnipiac just about knocked off the Wolverines. Meanwhile, in Kalamazoo, there’s every other switch who confronted Michigan within the NCAA match ultimate season …
D Zak Galambos, Western Michigan
The California local led American International to the primary around of the NCAAs (the place they misplaced to U-M, 5-3) with 5 aims and 24 assists. Galambos continues to be taking a look for his first issues of the 2022-23 season after WMU cut up with Alaska Anchorage ultimate weekend, regardless that he did have 3 photographs and two consequences. He’ll have every other shot to get at the board when the Broncos head to Big Rapids on Saturday evening to face Ferris State and …
F Connor McGrath, Ferris State
At 5 foot 9 and 144 kilos, the Saskatchewan local may have some rising to do, however he already has an electrical scoring contact, with 35 aims and 49 assists in 56 video games with the Humboldt Broncos in juniors ultimate season as he gained the CJHL’s awards for rookie of the yr and best ahead. He’s scoreless in two video games to this point, however can exchange that within the Bulldogs’ first recreation of the weekend, once they host Michigan Tech and …
G Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech
The senior was once a workhorse in main the Huskies to the primary around of the NCAA match ultimate season, beginning all 37 video games for Michigan Tech with a 1.91 GAA and .918 save share. His seven shutouts tied this system report and earned him an All-CCHA Second Team nod. The Howell alumnus stopped 23 of 25 photographs in Tech’s Oct. 1 exhibition win over Lake Superior State and …
F Louis Boudon, Lake Superior State
The local of France will repeat as Lakers captain for the second one yr after main the workforce in aims (15), assists (29), plus/minus (+14), photographs (92) and game-winning aims (4) in 36 video games ultimate season en path to making Second Team All-CCHA. He additionally had two hat tips, together with one opposed to Northern Michigan on Dec. 11, which means he most definitely has already the Nov. 4-5 consult with from NMU rotated on his calendar, when he’ll face …
F Joey Larson, Northern Michigan
The gifted freshman arrives in Marquette coming off a sizzling season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks through which he had 32 aims and 34 assists in 62 video games. Larson isn’t any stranger to awards, both; the state’s 2019 Mr. Hockey with Hartland, Larson was once tabbed as this season’s preseason Rookie of the Year within the CCHA. He didn’t waste any time, both, with a function and two assists within the Wildcats’ cut up with Bowling Green ultimate weekend.