When Michael Hage decides to make an entrance on stage, he doesn’t just knock on the door… He knocks it down!
For his very first game with the University of Michigan, the Montreal Canadian prospect literally turned the NCAA upside down.
Barely time to wet the back of his neck, and here comes Hage with a masterful cross pass.
BANG! The disc lands directly on the palette of William Whitelaw (another prodigy, this one from the Blue Jackets).
Result? A precise shot, first goal of the season for Michigan and… the start of the show!
On social networks, analysts were quick to line up to praise the youngster.
Matt Drake, visibly seduced, made a well-felt comment: “I can already say I’m going to like Michael Hage because he doesn’t make unnecessary back passes in the neutral zone on power plays. »
In other words: this guy has no time for nonsense! His flair for the game and his calm under pressure speak volumes about what he can bring to the Montreal organization.
And that’s not all. A few minutes later, Michael Hage gives us a feint at the end of his skate worthy of a future power play general.
Does he miss the target? Yes, but who cares? This is exactly the kind of game that promises to wreak havoc later in the season. Opposing defenders just have to watch out.
Hage even performed an acrobatic feat to feed his teammate, while losing his balance in the corner of the ice.
He slipped into the corner of the ice and managed to send a perfect pass to the center of the circle… all while falling!
This first game already highlights why Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News ranked him among the top 10 college prospects this season.
After an explosive second half of the USHL campaign, the young Hage seems more determined than ever to silence the doubters.
But be careful! All this talent doesn’t come without pressure. Hage went through some tough times after losing his father, but he came back even stronger.
His mental steel allowed him to ignore distractions to become the player he is today. The kind of young man who can change the course of a game with just one appearance on the ice.
It remains to be seen how long he will stay in the NCAA. If he continues on this path, we could well see him arrive in Montreal earlier than expected.
We remember Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield who both forced management’s hand by offering brilliant performances in college. Michael Hage could be the next to follow in their footsteps.
So yes, expect to see this combination regularly: Pass from Hage to Whitelaw… and that’s it!
Because, let’s be honest, this young man obviously doesn’t intend to make up the numbers!
To be continued…
