Does Michigan boast the best college hockey recruiting class ever?

NHL

The halls of Yost Ice Arena should be bustling right now, with the Michigan Wolverines’ pep band blaring “The Victors” and the Children of Yost — the boisterous student section — heckling an opposing goaltender. But with no fans allowed in the building, one of college hockey’s most sacred cathedrals is empty. And yet, it certainly isn’t quiet.

Outscoring opponents 21-9 through six games, the No. 7 Michigan hockey team is making plenty of noise on the ice. Starting the season 4-2, the Wolverines’ offensive attack is spearheaded by a group of freshmen that has come in with an incredible amount of hype, attention and expectations, shining a bright spotlight on the program.

Head coach Mel Pearson brought in 10 first-year players, four of whom were already drafted into the NHL and three of whom could each go in the top 10 of the 2021 draft. Among them is 6-foot-5 two-way defenseman Owen Power, who was ranked as ESPN’s preseason No. 1 prospect for the next year’s draft and is poised to be the highest-drafted collegiate player since Jack Eichel (No. 2) in 2015.

If they could, scouts would be taking up a rather large section of seats in Yost. Due to local regulations to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19, however, the school has not allowed spectators into the building, including scouts who now have to catch the team on video like everyone else. (The Wolverines travel to Penn State for a Big Ten matchup on Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU and the ESPN app.)

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