2023 NHL Draft Diary: Adam Fantilli

Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan will file a draft diary for NHL.com this season leading up to the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on June 28-29. The 18-year-old freshman center (6-foot-2, 195 pounds), who was born in Nobleton, Ontario, is an A rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list and a projected first-round selection. He has 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) and four power-play goals in 16 games this season. He will represent Canada at the IIHF 2023 World Junior Championship from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Hello hockey fans!
Representing Canada at the World Juniors is something every Canadian hockey player growing up, dreams about. I've watched it every single year since I was 7- or 8-years-old and you have some heroes that go through it, have been part of it in the past, and you listen to them talk about it in conversations, about wearing the same logo on your chest and how big an honor it is.
My main priority is a gold medal. Everything else is secondary. Obviously, I want to play the best I can every time I'm on the ice to showcase myself to the best of my abilities. As I've said many times, the cards will fall where they may on draft day. I'm just going to do everything I can up until then. Right now, though, my main focus is a gold medal with Canada.
I was notified about making the team when one of the assistant coaches knocked on our door at the hotel and told me and my roommate at the time (Shane Wright) that we had made the team. It was good. I'm rooming with Nathan Gaucher now.
I've never played a hockey game in the Maritimes, so that'll be a first. But it's not my first time in the Maritimes. My family has a cottage in Prince Edward Island and I was coming here every year until the coronavirus outbreak happened, so I'm familiar with the area.
I really like our team. We have many returning guys from the summer tournament, have a lot of experience and we're a big, physical team on the back end. All four lines have skill, have pace, and are physical.

During the exhibition games, I've been playing left wing with center Logan Stankoven (Dallas Stars) and Dylan Guenther (Arizona Coyotes). Stankoven is a little bit of an undersized forward (5-8, 170) but that doesn't change anything in his mentality or the way he plays the game. He plays like he's 6-foot-4, and he works so hard every game. I have so much respect for the way he plays the game. Stankoven and Guenther are two returning players who have a lot of experience. Guenther plays the game like an NHL player already. He's got that experience under his belt. He plays fast, he plays smart and I'm just really enjoying the experience with each of them.
I was happy to see five of my University of Michigan teammates (Luke Hughes, Rutger McGroarty, Seamus Casey, Gavin Brindley, Dylan Duke) make the United States roster for World Juniors and I'm really proud of them because what they've been doing is really special. They drive our team (at Michigan); they're all great guys and really fun to be around. I have nothing negative to say about any of them.
But, at the end of the day, we're wearing different sweaters right now and I know they'll be playing as hard as they can for their country, and I'll be doing the same for mine.
Canada coach Dennis Williams has been doing a great job. He's been holding video sessions with us every day, working us hard. I think when you come to Hockey Canada and you put that crest on, you put away all your egos and try and come together for a common goal which is that gold medal. I feel a lot of that is on the players and on us for recognizing there's a greater goal than ourselves. Coach Williams has been able to bring us together, collectively, and get us playing the right way, so he's been doing a really good job.
Before I sign off this month, I want to mention a few of my favorite World Junior Championship moments. First, Jordan Eberle's game-tying goal with six seconds left in the third period to tie Russia in the tournament semifinal round in 2009. I attended the 2018 World Juniors at KeyBank Center in Buffalo when Canada beat Sweden 3-1 in the gold medal game. I loved watching that game and being in an arena that big with that many Canadians. That was really special.
Thanks for reading this month. I'll post a recap of my experience at the World Juniors next month. I hope you all have a great holiday and enjoy the hockey.
Photos: Daniel St Louis/Hockey Canada Images
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