Rutger McGroarty

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Rutger McGroarty
2020-01-19 Ice hockey at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics - Men's tournament - Preliminary round - Switzerland vs. USA (Martin Rulsch) 119.jpg
McGroarty at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics
Born (2004-03-30) March 30, 2004 (age 20)
Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Pittsburgh Penguins
WBS Penguins  (AHL)
NHL draft 14th overall, 2022
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 2024present

Rutger McGroarty (born March 30, 2004) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 14th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL entry draft, but was traded to the Penguins before he began his professional career. [1]

Contents

Playing career

Early years

McGroarty spent two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP). He was the first player from the state of Nebraska to play for the USNTDP. [2] During the 2020–21 season, he recorded 20 goals and 21 assists in 53 games. The following season, McGroarty recorded 35 goals and 34 assists in 54 games, leading the team in goals, and fourth in points with 69. [3] He competed at the 2022 BioSteel All-American Game where he recorded an assist and a goal with 2:37 left in regulation to force overtime. He was subsequently named the game's MVP. [4]

In July 2022, McGroarty was selected in the first round, 14th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL entry draft, surpassing Jake Guentzel (77th overall, 2013) to become the highest drafted player from the state of Nebraska. [5] [2]

Collegiate

McGroarty committed to play college ice hockey for the Michigan Wolverines of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beginning in the 2022–23 season. [6] During his freshman season, he recorded 18 goals and 21 assists in 39 games.

McGroarty was named the Hockey Commissioners Association co-Player of the Month for the opening month of the 2023–24 season. He led the nation in scoring during October, finishing with 15 points in eight games (five goals and 10 assists). He had at least one point in seven games, including the first five of the season, to extend his point-scoring streak to a career-high 13 games. In the eight games he played, he had multiple points in five. He also scored two game-winning goals and two power-play goals and led the team in shots with 33. [7] McGroarty was named the Hockey Commissioners Association Player of the Month for the month of January 2024, averaging 2.67 points per game. He recorded three goals and 13 assists, scoring in all six games, and had multiple points in five of the games. [8] [9] He would finish his sophomore season with 16 goals and 36 assists in 36 games played. His 52 points ranked second on the team in scoring, whereas his 1.59 points per game ranked fourth in the nation. Following the season, McGroarty was named to the All-Big Ten First team, and named an AHCA West Second Team All-American. [10] [11]

Collectively, he finished his collegiate career with 34 goals, 57 assists and 91 points in 75 games for the Wolverines. [12]

Professional

Prior to the 2024–25 season, reports emerged that McGroarty refused to sign with Winnipeg, with the team beginning to explore trade options. [13] On August 22, 2024, McGroarty was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Brayden Yager. [14] [15] Following the trade, he immediately signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins. [16] [17] He made the Penguins' opening night roster, and made his NHL debut on October 9, 2024, where he had one shot on goal in 12:20 time on ice. [18] [19] [20] On October 16, 2024, he was assigned to the Penguins' AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Prior to being reassigned, he was scoreless in three games for the Penguins. [21]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Sweden
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2023 Canada
World U18 Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Germany

McGroarty represented the United States at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics and won a silver medal. [22]

McGroarty represented the United States at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he was scoreless in five games. [23] He again represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he served as team captain and recorded eight goals and one assist in six games and won a silver medal. [24]

On December 12, 2022, McGroarty was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. [25] During the tournament he recorded one goal and six assists in seven games and won a bronze medal. [26]

On December 16, 2023, McGroarty was again named to Team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he served as team captain. During the tournament he recorded five goals and four assists in seven games and won a gold medal. [27] He was the first forward to captain a U.S. National Junior Team since Joey Anderson in 2018. [28]

Personal life

McGroarty was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. His father, Jim, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman from Mississauga, Ontario, while his mother, Cindy, is a native Nebraskan. [29] The family moved to Michigan before McGroarty joined the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). [29]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2020–21 U.S. National Development Team USHL 5320214134
2021–22 U.S. National Development TeamUSHL5435346965
2022–23 University of Michigan B1G 3918213918
2023–24 University of MichiganB1G361636526
NCAA totals7534579124

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2021 United States U18 5th50002
2022 United StatesU18Silver medal icon.svg681927
2023 United States WJC Bronze medal icon.svg71670
2024 United StatesWJCGold medal icon.svg754910
Junior totals2514112539

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
College
Big Ten All-Tournament Team 2023, 2024 [30] [31]
All-Big Ten First Team 2024 [32]
AHCA West Second Team All-American 2024 [33]

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References

  1. McNeil, Kristy (July 7, 2022). "Nazar, McGroarty Selected Back-to-Back in First Round of NHL Draft". MGoBlue.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Wheeler, Scott (November 29, 2021). "Meet Rutger McGroarty, the Nebraska kid making history on his way to the 2022 NHL Draft" . The Athletic . Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  3. Scheder-Kimelman, Adam (June 14, 2022). "McGroarty's off-ice work paying off ahead of 2022 NHL Draft". NHL.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  4. Robinson, Tom (January 25, 2022). "Hard Work for Rutger McGroarty Pays Off with MVP Performance at BioSteel All-American Game". biosteelallamericangame.com. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  5. Michelson, Lauren (July 7, 2022). "Lincoln native Rutger McGroarty selected 14th overall in NHL draft". KLKN-TV . Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  6. Gray, Tim (July 6, 2022). "Rutger McGroarty grew up with the Lincoln Stars. Now, he's waiting to hear his named called during the NHL Draft". Lincoln Journal Star . Retrieved July 7, 2022.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winnipeg Jets first round draft pick
2022
Succeeded by