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When sophomore forward Rutger McGroarty was carried off the ice on a stretcher during Michigan’s home matchup against Penn State, questions about his future as a Wolverine loomed. When the inevitable question of whether he would be able to compete for Team USA in the World Juniors emerged, the injury seemed to have come at the worst possible time.
A month later, McGroarty is not only back on the ice, but he is also travelling to Sweden to compete for Team USA in the World Junior Championship. He’s approaching the injury with a positive attitude, seeing it as fuel for his comeback and hopes to emerge a better player as a result.
Right now, he’s embracing it as much as he can by wearing a red non-contact jersey at the World Junior Selection Camp. McGroarty will have more time to recover because the World Junior Championship does not begin until December 26. While it is unknown how he would participate in Sweden, he said it best.
McGroarty’s presence on the ice is felt in a variety of ways. While his current health prevents him from using his full physicality, it allows him to focus on different parts of the game and improve his shooting and ability to recognise and adapt to pressure.
“When you’re on the couch, things don’t move as fast,” McGroarty explained on Thursday. “Obviously hockey is a fast sport, so reading pressure when guys are coming at you, that’s tough to come back to.”
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