Latest news with #Hage
Ottawa Citizen
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Canadiens prospect Michael Hage has taken great strides at Michigan
Article content Canadiens prospect Michael Hage got off to an impressive start last season as a freshman at the University of Michigan. Article content Rob Ramage, the Canadiens' director of player personnel, was in Michigan to watch Hage — selected in the first round (21st overall) of last year's NHL Draft — play his first two NCAA games at centre against Minnesota State. Hage, who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds when the Canadiens drafted him, had a goal and three assists as Michigan split the two-game series. Article content Article content Article content Ramage was also there a couple of months later, when Hage got bounced around by a very physical and heavy Michigan State team. Article content Article content 'From the development standpoint, that was great and he was aware of that,' Ramage said about the game against Michigan State Thursday when Hage was among the 31 Canadiens prospects who scrimmaged in Brossard as the Canadiens wrapped up this year's development camp. Article content Hage finished his freshman season at Michigan with 13-21-34 totals in 33 games and was named the Big Ten's rookie of the year. Michigan didn't qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, finishing the season with an overall record of 18-15-3. Article content As the season went on, Hage became a target for older and stronger opposing players. Article content 'As I said to him, 'Michael, if you're an elite player get used to it,'' Ramage said Thursday. 'The good players, the elite players, they find a way. He's a really solid young man. He takes it to heart. He really cares. One thing we talked about being with him last night is that it's good to take it to heart, but don't let it affect your game. It's a game of failures some times.' Article content Article content Article content Smooth is the best way to describe Hage's game. Everything he does is smooth, from his skating, to his stickhandling and his playmaking. He stayed at the University of Michigan after the season ended to work out in the gym and put on about 10 pounds ahead of the Canadiens' development camp. Article content 'I feel like it has really helped me,' the 19-year-old said. 'The strength and conditioning coaches and just the resources that we have at school are unbelievable. It's really helped me so far and I think it's going to help me next year.' Article content Hage will be going back to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season. When Ramage was asked when Hage might be ready to turn pro, he said: 'We're one year at a time right now. He was a freshman last year playing against older guys. Let's give him this year, we'll see where he's at.' Article content Michael Hage (No. 25 red), Canadiens' first-round pick (21st overall) at last year's NHL Draft, in action at #Habs development camp. — Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) July 2, 2025
Edmonton Journal
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Canadiens prospect Michael Hage has taken great strides at Michigan
Article content Canadiens prospect Michael Hage got off to an impressive start last season as a freshman at the University of Michigan. Article content Rob Ramage, the Canadiens' director of player personnel, was in Michigan to watch Hage — selected in the first round (21st overall) of last year's NHL Draft — play his first two NCAA games at centre against Minnesota State. Hage, who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds when the Canadiens drafted him, had a goal and three assists as Michigan split the two-game series. Article content Article content Ramage was also there a couple of months later, when Hage got bounced around by a very physical and heavy Michigan State team. Article content Article content 'From the development standpoint, that was great and he was aware of that,' Ramage said about the game against Michigan State Thursday when Hage was among the 31 Canadiens prospects who scrimmaged in Brossard as the Canadiens wrapped up this year's development camp. Article content Hage finished his freshman season at Michigan with 13-21-34 totals in 33 games and was named the Big Ten's rookie of the year. Michigan didn't qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, finishing the season with an overall record of 18-15-3. Article content As the season went on, Hage became a target for older and stronger opposing players. Article content 'As I said to him, 'Michael, if you're an elite player get used to it,'' Ramage said Thursday. 'The good players, the elite players, they find a way. He's a really solid young man. He takes it to heart. He really cares. One thing we talked about being with him last night is that it's good to take it to heart, but don't let it affect your game. It's a game of failures some times.' Article content Article content Article content Smooth is the best way to describe Hage's game. Everything he does is smooth, from his skating, to his stickhandling and his playmaking. He stayed at the University of Michigan after the season ended to work out in the gym and put on about 10 pounds ahead of the Canadiens' development camp. Article content 'I feel like it has really helped me,' the 19-year-old said. 'The strength and conditioning coaches and just the resources that we have at school are unbelievable. It's really helped me so far and I think it's going to help me next year.' Article content Hage will be going back to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season. When Ramage was asked when Hage might be ready to turn pro, he said: 'We're one year at a time right now. He was a freshman last year playing against older guys. Let's give him this year, we'll see where he's at.' Article content Michael Hage (No. 25 red), Canadiens' first-round pick (21st overall) at last year's NHL Draft, in action at #Habs development camp. — Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) July 2, 2025
Vancouver Sun
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Canadiens prospect Michael Hage has taken great strides at Michigan
Canadiens prospect Michael Hage got off to an impressive start last season as a freshman at the University of Michigan. Rob Ramage, the Canadiens' director of player personnel, was in Michigan to watch Hage — selected in the first round (21st overall) of last year's NHL Draft — play his first two NCAA games at centre against Minnesota State. Hage, who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds when the Canadiens drafted him, had a goal and three assists as Michigan split the two-game series. Ramage was also there a couple of months later, when Hage got bounced around by a very physical and heavy Michigan State team. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'From the development standpoint, that was great and he was aware of that,' Ramage said about the game against Michigan State Thursday when Hage was among the 31 Canadiens prospects who scrimmaged in Brossard as the Canadiens wrapped up this year's development camp. Hage finished his freshman season at Michigan with 13-21-34 totals in 33 games and was named the Big Ten's rookie of the year. Michigan didn't qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, finishing the season with an overall record of 18-15-3. As the season went on, Hage became a target for older and stronger opposing players. 'As I said to him, 'Michael, if you're an elite player get used to it,'' Ramage said Thursday. 'The good players, the elite players, they find a way. He's a really solid young man. He takes it to heart. He really cares. One thing we talked about being with him last night is that it's good to take it to heart, but don't let it affect your game. It's a game of failures some times.' Smooth is the best way to describe Hage's game. Everything he does is smooth, from his skating, to his stickhandling and his playmaking. He stayed at the University of Michigan after the season ended to work out in the gym and put on about 10 pounds ahead of the Canadiens' development camp. 'I feel like it has really helped me,' the 19-year-old said. 'The strength and conditioning coaches and just the resources that we have at school are unbelievable. It's really helped me so far and I think it's going to help me next year.' Hage will be going back to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season. When Ramage was asked when Hage might be ready to turn pro, he said: 'We're one year at a time right now. He was a freshman last year playing against older guys. Let's give him this year, we'll see where he's at.' Michael Hage (No. 25 red), Canadiens' first-round pick (21st overall) at last year's NHL Draft, in action at #Habs development camp. Hage has been invited to attend Team Canada's summer camp ahead of the IIHF World Junior Championship and has set a goal of making that team. Making the jump to the NCAA was a big one for Hage, who had 33-42-75 totals in 54 games with the USHL's Chicago Steel the season before the Canadiens drafted him. 'I would say just the intensity every night,' he said when asked what was the biggest adjustment. 'You play less games, so every game feels like a playoff game. I think as the year went on I started to get a little bit harder matchups. So I'd say the biggest thing is just how intense it is. It's harder to score than in a season when you're playing 68-70 games and you can't play with that intensity every night. I would say that's the biggest thing and you just got to be ready for it.' Overtime game winner from Michael Hage! Hage watched the Canadiens on TV last season and said it was 'a blast.' 'Seeing them really heat up in that second half and get in the playoffs was really fun,' he said. 'I was cheering for them. It's pretty cool. They're a fun team to watch. They're young, skilled, so I really enjoyed it.' When asked where he needs to improve his game the most next season at Michigan, Hage said: 'I would say just rounding out my game, my defensive game, faceoffs. Just continue to try to be as dominant as I can and just do everything I can to help us win.'
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kyle Stowers' three-run home run (12)
Canadiens: Hage Is Committed To Getting Bigger When Michael Hage was drafted 21st overall by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2024 draft, he was listed as a 6-foot-1 and 188-pound center. A year later, after playing a year in the NCAA at the University of Michigan, he has put on a couple of pounds, and according to The Gazette's Stu Cowan, the prospect will be hitting the gym hard this Summer under the supervision of the Michigan strength coach. 1:50 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Montreal Gazette
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Cowan: Canadiens prospect Michael Hage displays potential at centre
Montreal Canadiens By Michael Hage's skill level made him stand out at the Canadiens' development camp last summer in Brossard. You could see right away why the Canadiens selected Hage in the first round (21st overall) of last year's NHL Entry Draft after taking Ivan Demidov with the fifth overall pick. Demidov, 19, made the jump to the NHL this year after completing his KHL season with 19-30-49 totals in 65 games with SKA St. Petersburg, setting a league record for most points by a player younger than 20 and winning the rookie-of-the-year award. Demidov had a goal and an assist in two regular-season games with the Canadiens and added two assists in five playoff games. He showed he's ready to play regularly in the NHL next season. Hage, also 19, is coming off an impressive freshman season at the University of Michigan, where he had 13-21-34 totals in 33 games and was named his team's top rookie. Hage still isn't ready for the NHL, but if all goes well, the Canadiens hope he can develop into the second-line centre they need behind Nick Suzuki. Rob Rassey, the associate head coach at Michigan, believes that can happen. 'Yeah, I do,' Rassey said during a phone interview on Thursday. 'I think he's got top-six potential at the NHL level. It's going to take him some time to get there — it's not going to be an overnight thing. But from a potential standpoint, his ceiling is extremely, extremely high.' Hage is listed at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds and needs to add more muscle in order to compete in the NHL. He's continuing to work on that with the University of Michigan players going through their spring-term training sessions with the team's strength coach. 'It's hard throughout the course of a hockey season to be able to grow and add (muscle),' Rassey said. 'But to see what he's done so far in the eight weeks in the post-season and still having eight weeks to go, I think he's going to be a different player next season from a physical standpoint. He looks really good in the gym. MICHAEL HAGE ALL BY HIMSELF ️ @umichhockey It's all tied up in Ann Arbor, 2-2. #B1GHockey on BTN — Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) February 16, 2025 'What impressed me most about Michael is you kind of underappreciate his 200-foot game,' Rassey added about Hage's freshman season. 'It's still an area where he has to grow and develop to play at the National Hockey League level. But for me, seeing how engaged he was and willing to learn the responsibilities of playing a 200-foot game and a complete hockey game — not just skill — because he has the skill to be able to take over games. But as he moves up, that's harder to do. I thought he still made some plays this year that make you go 'wow!' But I also feel like throughout the course of the year he really developed and grew into a 200-foot player.' Hage first caught the eye of Rassey and University of Michigan recruiters when he was playing for the Toronto Junior Canadians U16 team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League and posted 57-46-116 totals in 57 games. 'He was outstanding,' Rassey recalled. 'I remember watching him in the OHL Cup and he was absolutely electric.' The Canadiens drafted Hage last year after he had posted 33-42-75 totals in 54 games the previous season with the USHL's Chicago Steel. Making the jump from the USHL to the NCAA's Big Ten Conference is a big one for a teenager, but Rassey said Hage handled it very well. 'The Big Ten is an extremely competitive conference in college hockey — probably the most competitive from top to bottom,' Rassey said. 'He's an 18-, 19-year-old kid playing against 23- and 24-year-olds on a nightly basis. So just from a physical standpoint, the demand that takes is hard. It's hard for a young kid. With the puck, he had less time and space to make plays, but he could still do it. But away from the puck, that's where you get challenged. You got to take the puck from a guy that's four or five years older than you and learning how to do that isn't easy. I definitely thought he got better at it as the year went on.' The recipient of this year's Dekers Club award, given to the most outstanding rookie is ... Michael Hage. #GoBlue ️ — Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) June 16, 2025 Rassey was an assistant coach at Harvard University for six seasons before moving to Michigan three years ago. During his time at Michigan he has coached two other fist-round draft picks — centre Adam Fantilli, selected third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023, and defenceman Luke Hughes, selected fourth overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2021. Fantilli and Hughes are both playing in the NHL. I asked Rassey if he sees any similarities in Fantilli, Hughes and Hage. 'I feel like they're all different,' Rassey said. 'I think Adam is different from Luke and I think Michael is different than both of those guys. But I was really impressed my first year having Michael. I thought he handled himself really well. I think he's a kid that really wants to win. Those guys that you mentioned have that competitive edge and Michael definitely does, too.' Canadiens fans will get their next look at Hage when the team holds this year's development camp in Brossard from July 1-3.
