McGroarty’s stellar season ends as Michigan falls to Boston College in Frozen Four

ST. PAUL — Rutger McGroarty’s magical season has come to an end — two wins short of the ultimate college hockey goal.

His Michigan Wolverines were outclassed 4-0 on Thursday night by the top-ranked Boston College Eagles in one of the semi-finals of the Frozen Four at Xcel Energy Center, which was played in front of a terrific crowd of 18,598.

McGroarty, the top forward prospect of the Winnipeg Jets, now faces a critical decision — does he elect to turn pro and immediately sign with the organization that drafted him 14th overall in 2022, or does he return for one more season with the Wolverines?

Some clarity about his future should come in the next few days.

Although he was held off the scoresheet in this one by a star-studded BC squad that includes a pair of 2023 first-rounders that had huge games — 4th-overall Will Smith (two goals) and 23rd-overall Gabe Perreault (one goal, two assists) — McGroarty emerged as one of the top players in the NCAA this year.

He had 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) in 35 regular-season games, a significant jump from the 39 (18 goals, 21 assists) he produced in 39 contests last year.

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McGroarty also captained the U.S. World Junior team to a gold medal over Sweden in early January, with five goals and four assists in seven games. The tournament came just six weeks after he was stretchered off the ice during a Michigan game, suffering from a punctured lung and broken ribs after being checked hard into the boards.

The 20-year-old, who is 6-1 and 200 pounds, has been in constant contact with the Jets during his season. Director of player development Jimmy Roy was at Thursday’s game, while general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and assistant GM Larry Simmons attended earlier playoff games.

Boston College will now play in Saturday’s championship game against the Denver Pioneers, who rallied to beat the Boston University Terriers 2-1 in overtime earlier in the day.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg

Mike McIntyre
Sports reporter

Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer.

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