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Drafted twenty first at this yr’s NHL Draft, Hage can have loads of time to realize weight and power within the fitness center at College of Michigan.
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Montreal followers obtained their first have a look at Michael Hage in a Canadiens sweater throughout final week’s growth camp on the CN Sports activities Complicated in Brossard.
They received’t get to see Hage in bleu-blanc-rouge once more till subsequent summer time’s growth camp as a result of the first-round decide at this yr’s NHL Draft (twenty first general) is headed to the College of Michigan and NCAA eligibility guidelines don’t permit gamers to participate in the principle NHL coaching camps.
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“It was the route I needed to take,” Hage mentioned after the camp wrapped up final Friday when requested about taking the college path as a substitute of major-junior after posting 33-42-75 totals in 54 video games final season with the USHL’s Chicago Metal. “I imply, I personal my choice. It was the choice I made after I was 16, 17 years previous and I actually like the trail I’m on.
“I feel going to high school is a extremely good alternative for me to get higher, problem myself at a unique degree subsequent yr,” Hage added. “It’s what sort of comes with going to varsity. Clearly, it sucks not with the ability to come to coaching camp. I feel for me it’s simply worrying about exhibiting as much as Michigan’s camp and simply being myself and taking part in my sport.”
Going to Michigan is a brilliant choice by the 18-year-old centre from Mississauga, Ont., who was measured at 6-feet and 185 kilos at growth camp. He might want to acquire weight and power earlier than he’s able to play within the NHL.
“Two video games per week, so you could have that probability to hit the burden room,” Rob Ramage, the Canadiens’ director of participant growth, mentioned when requested about Hage’s choice to go to Michigan. “It’s an excellent program, clearly. They’ve put a variety of guys within the NHL, so I feel it’s an excellent growth path for him.”
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Growth camp marked the primary time Ramage noticed Hage play stay and he got here away impressed.
“Fairly clean,” Ramage mentioned. “You may see the ability set there. Nice launch. Very assured on the market for a younger man. So it’s thrilling.”
Hage stood out in the course of the growth camp together with his clean skating fashion, stickhandling and imaginative and prescient, in addition to the best way he continuously retains his head up prefer it’s on a swivel. It introduced again reminiscences of former Canadiens defenceman Petr Svoboda, who was 6-foot-1 and about 170 kilos when the Canadiens took him with the fifth general decide on the 1984 NHL Draft. Svoboda needed to hold his head on a swivel in an effort to survive within the NHL again then.
Talking with the gamers the Canadiens have chosen on the final three NHL Drafts since Jeff Gorton took over as government vice-president of hockey operations after which employed Kent Hughes as normal supervisor, it turns into apparent they’ve put an emphasis on intelligence and character, together with hockey abilities. Hage is one other instance.
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When requested if his mother and father had an affect on his choice to take the NCAA route, Hage mentioned: “I’m positive that they had their opinion on what they needed me to do, however they let it’s as much as me. They gave me the professionals and cons and I knew each what the professionals and cons had been. They needed me to personal that call, so that they form of simply left it as much as me.”
Hage’s father, Alain, died in a freak swimming pool accident final July. Hage’s mom, Rania, and youthful brother, Alexander, attended the NHL Draft with him in Las Vegas. Hage’s mother and father each grew up in Montreal, so the household was thrilled when he was chosen by the Canadiens.
Hage mentioned he discovered rather a lot at growth camp concerning the significance of taking good care of his physique, whether or not it’s off-ice coaching, consuming or sleeping habits. He plans to work arduous within the fitness center this summer time in an effort to acquire weight and power so he will be extra explosive on the ice.
Hage additionally discovered an necessary lesson at growth camp when Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki and teammate Brendan Gallagher spoke with the gamers.
“I feel from what they’ve mentioned it’s actually all about consistency,” Hage mentioned. “You bought to indicate up and convey the identical factor each single day and higher. And for them, simply the sense that it’s a enterprise. The blokes at camp right here, the fellows which might be attempting to make this staff finally, from what they advised us it’s like they don’t need their spot to be taken and guys are coming in attempting to take their spot. So simply how aggressive it’s.
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“You begin to perceive that,” Hage added. “Not solely you need them to be your teammates at some point, however you bought to combat for a spot finally. I feel simply understanding how constant it’s a must to be and the way aggressive and the way dialed in it’s a must to be away from the rink for that to occur.”
What number of years on the College of Michigan will it take earlier than Hage is able to flip professional?
“We’ll take it one yr at a time proper now,” Ramage mentioned.
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