Michigan hockey gets commitment from another CHL player

Michigan’s hockey program continues to take advantage of the Canadian Hockey League players now being eligible to compete at the NCAA level.

On Wednesday, the Wolverines scored their fourth commitment from a CHL player, with Flint Firebirds defenseman Matthew Mania announcing his verbal pledge on social media.

The 20-year-old right-handed shot has aged out of the Ontario Hockey League — one of the three CHL leagues — but can now play college hockey since the NCAA lifted its longstanding ban on Canadian major junior players who were previously deemed to be professionals because they received stipends from their teams.

He was a fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2023 but they no longer hold his rights by not signing him to an entry-level contract by the June 1 deadline. Last season, Mania registered a career-high 45 points (seven goals, 38 assists) in 66 games for the Firebirds.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder spent the first three seasons of his OHL career with the Sudbury Wolves, totaling 16 goals and 74 points in 161 games.

Michigan only had one right-shot defenseman on its roster last season but now has three with the addition of Mania. Hunter Hady is back for his sophomore season, while the team also added Henry Mews from the OHL’s Wolves. The 2024 third-round pick of the Flames finished third among OHL blue liners in scoring last season with 82 points.

After missing the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since 2019, the Wolverines are bringing in a talented freshman class. There’s a chance six incoming freshmen could be selected during this week’s NHL draft, while Mews and Mania have already been drafted.