MGoBlue.com Spotlight: Adam Fantilli
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University of Michigan ice hockey forward Adam Fantilli is coming off a historic freshman season in 2022-23, capped off by being named the 2023 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner. Fantilli is projected to be the second overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft (June 26) by many media outlets and scouting services. Take a look at some of the best photos and moments from his freshman campaign.
Photos by Luke Hales, Student Photographer, Michigan Photography
Hobey Baker photos by Daryl Marshke, Senior Photographer, Michigan Photography
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Fantilli started his career on an eight-game point streak to lead Michigan to a 7-1 start and earned the Hockey Commissioners Association Player and Rookie of the Month in October. He won Player of the Month honors again in February, the only two-time honoree this season.
Returning from the World Junior Championship with a gold medal as a member of Team Canada, Fantilli went on a 12-game point streak and helped push U-M into second place in the Big Ten standings.
A clutch performer, U-M was 24-9-3 when Fantilli was in the lineup and 2-3 without him. In 26 games against ranked opponents, Fantilli scored 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points (1.62 points per game).
To the Children of Yost and Michigan faithful, thanks for your endless support to our program and dedication to our atmosphere. You make it the best place to play college hockey.-- Adam Fantilli
Fantilli was named the recipient of the 2023 Hobey Baker Memorial Award on April 7. The honor is given annually to college hockey's top student-athlete. He is the third Wolverine to capture the prestigious honor, joining Brendan Morrison (1997) and Kevin Porter (2008). Fantilli led the nation in scoring 65 points in 36 games, scoring 30 goals and 35 assists -- averaging 1.81 points per game, 0.83 goals per game and 0.98 assists per game.
Gallery: Hobey Baker Award Ceremony
NHL/INTERNATIONAL
• 2023 NHL Draft Eligible (projected No. 2)
• 2023 World Juniors (gold medal) (five points in seven games)
• 2022 U18 World Championship (alternate captain, six points in four games)
• 2020 World Junior Olympics (silver medal, alternate captain, three points in four games)
FRESHMAN YEAR (PART 1)
• Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner
• Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year
• First-Team All-American
• B1G Freshman of the Year, First-Team All-B1G, B1G All-Freshman Team
• College Hockey News Player and Rookie of the Year, First-Team All-CHN
• B1G Tournament MVP and all-tournament team
• NCAA Midwest all-region team
• Hockey Commissioner's Association Player of the Month (February, October)
• Hockey Commissioner's Association Rookie of the Month (October, March/April)
• Preseason CHN All-Rookie Team, All-B1G Second Team
• B1G First Star of the Week (Oct. 25), Third Star of the Week (Jan. 31)
• Led the nation in points per game, goals per game and assists per game
• Scored 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points in 36 games, finished a +31, won 52.2 percent of his draws
• His 1.81 ppg is the third-highest behind only Johnny Gaudreau (2.00 ppg) and Kyle Connor (1.87 ppg)
• Despite missing four B1G games, he still led the league with 1.58 ppg with 30 points in 19 games
• B1G records for most points (11) and most goals (7) in a single tournament
• Points in 33 of 36 games, 19 multi-point games,
• Tallied three game winning goals (one in OT at Penn State) and two hat tricks
• Totaled four points on a goal and three assists in opening weekend sweep over Lindenwood (10/7, 10/8)
• Contributed four assists in weekend split vs. Boston University (10/14, 10/16)
• Hat trick in 5-2 win at LSSU (10/21)
• Scored a goal and added three assists in 5-1 win at LSSU (10/22)
• Scored three goals in weekend sweep vs. WMU (10/28, 10/29)
FRESHMAN YEAR (PART 2)
• Registered a goal and an assist in 4-3 win at PSU (11/5)
• Totaled three assists in series split at Notre Dame (11/11, 11/12)
• Contributed a goal and an assist in series vs. Harvard (11/25, 11/26)
• Scored a goal in 6-3 loss at Wisconsin (12/2)
• Combined for three assists in series split vs. Ohio State (1/13, 1/14)
• Totaled three goals and an assist in series split at #2 Minnesota (1/20, 1/21)
• Combined for seven points from two goals and five assists in series sweep vs. #6 PSU (1/27, 1/28)
• Registered a total of five points off a goal and four assists in series sweep vs. Wisconsin (2/3, 2/4)
• Assisted on three goals in 6-2 win vs. Wisconsin (2/3)
• Tallied a goal and an assist in 4-2 victory over #15 MSU (2/10)
• Scored a goal and added an assist in road series vs. #10 Ohio State (2/16, 2/18)
• Scored a goal in 3-3 tie (SO loss) vs. #20 ND (2/24)
• Second career hat trick in B1G Tournament first round 7-4 win vs. Wisconsin (3/4)
• Combined for six points from five goals and an assist in B1G Tournament first round series sweep vs. Wisconsin (3/3, 3/4)
• Tallied four points from a pair of goals and assists in 7-3 B1G Tournament semi-final win vs. Ohio State (3/11)
• Assisted on a goal in 4-3 B1G Tournament final victory at top-seeded Minnesota (3/18)
• Scored and assisted on a goal in 11-1 NCAA Tournament first round win vs. Colgate (3/24)
• Netted the then game-tying goal in 2-1 NCAA Tournament second round victory vs. PSU to advance to the Frozen Four (3/26)
• Tallied his 30th goal of the season in the national semifinals versus Quinnipiac
BEFORE MICHIGAN
• Spent the last two seasons with Chicago (USHL) with 110 points in 103 games
• Led Steel in goals in 2021-22 with 37, while adding 37 assists for 74 points in 54 games
• His 37 goals is the second most in single season in club history
• First-Team All-USHL in 2021-22
• USHL Forward of the Week (Nov. 16, 2021)
• Named to the USHL Second-Team All-Rookie Team in 2020-21
• USHL MVP with eight goals, one assist, and +6 in the playoffs as Steel won the Clark Cup in 2020-21
• Scored 18 goals and 18 assists during the 2020-21 regular season, finishing a +17
• Won two Anderson and Clark Cups with Chicago
• Attended Kimball Union where he had 36 points in 26 games
PERSONAL
• Born October 12, 2004
• Son of Giuliano and Julia Fantilli
• Brother Luca is also on the Michigan hockey team
• Intended major is Sport Management
Luca -- my best friend and brother, and someone I’m lucky enough to call my teammate. Not many guys get to play with their brother, but I have been fortunate enough to do it the past four years. None of this would be possible without you.-- Adam Fantilli
Fantilli, a Nobleton, Ontario, native, had points in 33 of 36 games (91.7 percent) and multi-point performances in 19 of 36 games (52.8 percent). He has an active seven-game points streak, scoring multiple goals in three of four Big Ten Tournament games for a 7-4-11 scoring line to set a new single-tournament record for goals and points before a two-point performance versus Colgate and a goal against Penn State in the NCAA regionals. Additionally, he scored his 30th goal of the season against Quinnipiac in the NCAA semifinal.
Fantilli is just the second Canadian to win gold at the World Juniors and Worlds in the same season, joining Jonathan Toews, and is only the 11th player to do so in the world. He is the first player in history to win both in the same year.
Fantilli capped the year off by being named one of seven nominees for Male Player of the Year by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
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Photos by Luke Hales, Student Photographer, Michigan Photography
Hobey Baker photos by Daryl Marshke, Senior Photographer, Michigan Photography