Prospects Update | Power making the most of sophomore season at Michigan

Last November, when Owen Power was a freshman at Michigan, the campus was deserted due to COVID-19 and the stands in the hockey rink was virtually empty during games. One year later, it's been a different - and much more enjoyable - situation.
Fans have packed Yost Ice Arena and have made this season extra special. The Wolverines are currently ranked No. 2 in the country with a record of 8-2.
"It's a way different atmosphere and a lot more fun with everyone on campus," the first-overall pick by Buffalo in the 2021 NHL Draft said Monday evening. "All the things going on here when it's pretty much normal life. It's been a ton of fun and obviously a lot different than last year."

It's not only at home where the Wolverines are playing in sold-out arenas. On the road, they're facing hostile crowds and the defenseman is embracing that challenge as well. Michigan is currently undefeated away from home.
"Obviously it's a lot different with fans. Now you're going in there, a lot of these places have crazy loud student sections," he said. "It definitely makes it harder to play against, especially when things aren't going your way.
"For me, I love it. I think it's hilarious. I think it's a ton of fun to go play on the road and play against people that are rooting against you the whole time. I think it's been a lot of fun, but at the same time, it's something that's difficult to do and obviously something you don't want to be doing every game."

Power finished last season with 16 points (3+13) in 26 games. He is already five points away from surpassing that total in 16 fewer games. He is tied for 10th in the nation with 12 points (4+8) through 10 games.
"My offensive game has taken another step, but I think just all over the ice, defensively, with my gaps, it's been a lot better," he said. "And just in the D-zone, I've become harder to play against and done a better job of breaking out pucks and making it hard on other teams to create offense and create sustained O-zone time."
Power wrapped up last weekend with two assists in each of the Wolverines' wins against Michigan State. In Friday's 7-2 rout of the Spartans, all four Michigan players drafted in the Top 5 of the 2021 NHL Draft - Power (1st), Matthew Beniers (2nd), Luke Hughes (4th) and Kent Johnson (5th) - had multi-point outings.
"A big part of it is the guys I'm playing with and also, it's a sign that I've been working on (my offense) the last year-and-a-half," Power said. "It was one of my main focuses of the summer. All the work I've put into it and continue to put into it is showing up."
Michigan has a two-game set at Penn State on Thursday and Friday. Thursday's game will air on the Big Ten Network.

Bloom records first-career hat trick

Josh Bloom (third round, 2021) had a six-point weekend for Saginaw, that saw his score his first OHL hat trick:

He leads the Spirit with 12 points (6+6) through nine games.

Check out this move

Stiven Sardarian (3rd round, 2021) put on all the moves yesterday for the Youngstown Phantoms for this shootout goal: