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Michigan star Adam Fantilli ‘driven’ for NHL greatness
Adam Fantilli shot to the top of the draft boards with two dominant seasons with the Chicago Steel. (Credit: Chicago Steel)

Michigan star Adam Fantilli ‘driven’ for NHL greatness

DETROIT (BVM) — Adam Fantilli is the No. 2 prospect heading into the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and he’s gearing up to lead the Michigan Wolverines to a national championship. But before becoming a Wolverine, Fantilli was suiting up for the Chicago Steel and displaying his competitive drive.

“It starts with him as a person,” Chicago Steel associate head coach Matt Deschamps said. “Everything he does, he wants to do it to the best of his ability, and he wants to win. That’s taking faceoffs or practice reps; whatever it is, he is driven by this inherent want to be great, and I think that’s a huge driver for him, and it’s really impressive.”

Fantilli spent two seasons with the Steel, playing in 103 games and recording 110 points. During the 2021-22 season, he scored 37 goals (second most in a single season in team history) and 37 assists in 54 games. With a successful season, Fantilli also played with his older brother Luca, who’s always been by his side.

Adam Fantilli NHL draft prospect michigan
Michigan forward Adam Fantilli (19) and Notre Dame forward Jackson Pierson (11) set to face-off during the Michigan-Notre Dame NCAA hockey game on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, Indiana. (Credit: John Mersits / USA TODAY NETWORK)

“To see them go through their journey together, support each other and push each other and still have such a tight bond is something that’s really special,” Deschamps said. “To be able to coach but then as a dad, you see that; that’s the dream you have for your boys. … I don’t think it can be understated for where Adam’s at is having the support of his brother pretty much every step of the way.”

Both won Anderson and Clark Cups with the Steel and headed north to join Michigan’s hockey program, where they’ve become standout players.

“I chose to play hockey at Michigan because I trained there in the summer and got quite a few good looks at it,” Adam said in an article with NHL.com. “My brother (Luca) committed here about two years before I did. The school is pretty close to home and a lot of my friends committed as well so it was a pretty good choice. I was also heavily recruited by North Dakota, but I decided on Michigan.”

Adam has 64 points (29 goals and 35 assists) in 35 games and missed out on being named Big Ten Player of the Year, but he has been named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the best NCAA D-I men’s hockey player. He’s also drawn comparisons to current NHL players, including superstar Nathan MacKinnon.

“I heard Craig Button used Nathan MacKinnon,” Deschamps said. “I think there’s a lot there, with how explosive Adam is and how explosive MacKinnon is — the ability to play hard and fast and be multi-dimensional. I think there are a lot of similarities there with the two. I really like that [comparison] from Craig Button.”

Adam is set to hit the ice with his brother and the rest of his teammates on Thursday at the 2023 Frozen Four, but before that happens, he can appreciate the time he spent with the Steel, who will continue to further the careers of others

“We had Sean Farrell, Matt Coronato, Nick Abruzzese, Owen Power enter the league, and you’re going to see it in the next few years, with the success within the draft, that the organization’s had,” Deschamps said. “You’re going to start to see those players transition into pro and NHL careers.”

fantilli NHL prospect michigan wolverine
Adam Fantilli (19) led the Big 10 averaging 1.58 ppg with 30 points in 19 conference games. (Credit: Chicago Steel)

It will continue to be a memorable journey for Adam, and there will be many to thank when he eventually makes his NHL debut. Looking back on that journey, he could say that joining the Steel was one of the best decisions he could’ve made. 

“I think it shows the resources, the culture and the support for players is here,” Deschamps said. “You’re seeing players develop with what we have here, and we’ve been very fortunate to have some great individual players come in here and invest into everything that is here and take pride in having been here and helped us win championships. It speaks to the culture that’s here.”

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