After a 2016-17 season that ended with a 5-29-2 record, the Minutemen hockey team is looking to improve by bringing in strong players, like Makar, to help turn things around.
The defensemen is all about staying loyal and fulfilling his commitments. When asked at the NHL Draft if he wavered at all knowing there was a coaching change and a struggling program, Makar responded, "Not at all."
He continued, "I think that I committed obviously under the old coaches, and when that coaching change happened, I just kind of wanted to wait it out. I wanted to stay loyal and see what happened, and I knew they were going to hire somebody great, and I think I made the right decision with sticking there because, like I said, Carvel and the assistants there are going to be immensely incredible for my development, I think."
Makar recently showed off his talents for Team Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan. He had one goal and one assist during the exhibition and finished with a plus-1 rating. His single tally came at a pivotal time on Aug. 4 against Sweden, tying the contest 4-4 in the third period. The marker reenergized the Canadians as they registered three more goals to pull off a 7-4 win.
As the summer comes to an end and the 2017-18 season nears, Makar is ready to begin play at UMass and build his game to become a player worthy of one day being in the NHL.