Adam Fantilli
Fantilli playing collegiate hockey for the Michigan Wolverines in 2022
Born (2004-10-12) October 12, 2004
Nobleton, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team Columbus Blue Jackets
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 3rd overall, 2023
Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career 2023–present

Adamo Giuliano Fantilli (born October 12, 2004) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted third overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.[1][2] During his freshman season at the University of Michigan he was the leading goal and point-scorer and won the Hobey Baker Award, becoming the third freshman to win the award, after Paul Kariya in 1993 and Jack Eichel in 2015.

Playing career

Early years

Fantilli was drafted in the first round, 18th overall, by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection Draft.[3] He was considered the top Canadian prospect in the draft, however, he had already committed to play for the Chicago Steel.[4] On September 13, 2021, the Spirit exercised their defected player rule and traded Fantilli's OHL playing rights to the North Bay Battalion. Saginaw received a first-round pick, 19th overall, in the 2022 draft, one spot after the player was originally drafted, as compensation for the player failing to report to the team. They will also receive four conditional picks if Fantilli ever plays in the OHL.[5][6]

Fantilli attended Kimball Union Academy where he recorded 18 goals and 18 assists in 25 games. On March 25, 2020, Fantilli signed a USHL tender agreement with the Chicago Steel for the 2020–21 season.[7] During the regular season he recorded 18 goals and 18 assists in 49 games for the Steel and was named to the USHL All-Rookie Second Team.[8] During the Clark Cup playoffs, he recorded eight goals and one assist in eight games to help lead his team to the Anderson Cup and Clark Cup. He was subsequently named the Clark Cup Playoffs MVP.[9] During the 2021–22 season, he led the team in scoring and recorded 37 goals and 37 assists in 54 games. His 37 goals were the second-most in a single season in program history.[10] His 74 points tied him with Kyle Connor for the most points by a player in their draft-minus-one season in USHL history.[11] Following the season he was named to the All-USHL First Team.[12]

Collegiate

Fantilli (right) playing for Michigan alongside his brother Luca (left) in a December 2, 2022 game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin

In August 2021, Fantilli verbally committed to the University of Michigan.[13] He began his collegiate career for the Michigan Wolverines during the 2022–23 season.[14] He made his debut for Michigan on October 7, 2022, in a game against Lindenwood, where he won 15 of 19 faceoffs and recorded two assists.[15] The next day, he scored his first career collegiate goal in a victory over Lindenwood.[16] On October 21, he scored his first career hat-trick in a game against Lake Superior State.[17][18] The next day, he scored a career-high four points with one goal and three assists, in a victory over Lake Superior State.[19] He was subsequently named the Big Ten First Star of the Week for the week ending October 24, after he recorded seven points during the weekend series.[20] With 15 points over his first six games, he recorded the best start in program history since Bruno Baseotto had 19 points in his first six games in 1979.[21] He was named the Hockey Commissioners Association Men's Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month for the month of October.[22] In eight games, he recorded eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points. He recorded at least one point in every game.[23] He was named the Hockey Commissioners Association Men's Player of the Month for the month of January. In six games, he recorded five goals and nine assists for 14 points, and led the NCAA with 2.33 points per game.[24] On February 24, 2023, Fantilli recorded his 50th point of the season, becoming the first player in the nation to reach the milestone. He became the first Wolverine player to record 50 points in a season since Cooper Marody had 51 points during the 2017–18 season.[25] During the regular season he recorded 11 goals and 19 assists in 19 conference games for a league-best 1.58 points per game. Following an outstanding season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, the All-Big Ten First Team and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.[26]

During the 2023 Big Ten men's ice hockey tournament he set the Big Ten tournament record for goals in a single tournament with seven and in points with 11. He was subsequently named the Big Ten Tournament MVP.[27][28] He finished his freshman year with 30 goals and 35 assists in 36 games. He led the nation in points, and goals, averaging 1.81 points-per-game, 0.83 goals-per-game and 0.98 assists-per-game. His 1.81 points-per-game average was the third-highest scoring mark behind only Johnny Gaudreau (2.00) and Kyle Connor (1.87). Following an outstanding season he was awarded the Tim Taylor Award, Hobey Baker Award and was named an AHCA West First Team All-American.[29][30] He became the third freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, after Paul Kariya in 1993 and Jack Eichel in 2015.[31]

Professional

Fantilli was drafted third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. On July 1, 2023, Fantilli signed a three-year entry level contract with the Blue Jackets. He will forego the rest of his college career to go play in the NHL. [32][33]

Fantilli made his NHL debut on October 12, 2023, his 19th birthday, against the Philadelphia Flyers.[34] His first career NHL goal was scored on October 21, 2023, as part of a 5-4 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild.[35]

International play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Canada
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 Finland/Latvia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 Canada
Winter Youth Olympics
Bronze medal – third place2020 Lausanne

Fantilli was part of the Canadian boys' team at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics where he served as alternate captain.[36] During the tournament he recorded two goals and one assist in four games and won a bronze medal.[37][38]

In 2022, Fantilli was named to Canada's national under-18 team at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he again served as alternate captain. He recorded one goal and five assists in four games before the team was knocked out in the quarterfinal stage.[39][40] On December 12, 2022, he was named to Canada's national junior team at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[41] During the tournament he recorded two goals and three assists in seven games, and won a gold medal.[42]

On May 5, 2023, Fantilli was named to Canada's national senior team at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.[43][44] He scored the game-winning goal in the semi-final against Latvia, his first of the tournament.[45][46] He finished the tournament with one goal and two assists and won a gold medal. He became the second Canadian to win gold at both the World Juniors and World Championship in the same year, after Jonathan Toews, and the 11th player to do so in the world. He was subsequently nominated for the inaugural IIHF Male Player of the Year award.[47][48]

Personal life

Fantilli is the son of Giuliano and Julia Fantilli. His brother, Luca, also plays college ice hockey at Michigan.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2020–21 Chicago Steel USHL 49 18 18 36 22 8 8 1 9 2
2021–22 Chicago Steel USHL 54 37 37 74 93 3 0 1 1 2
2022–23 University of Michigan B1G 36 30 35 65 67 — — — — —
NCAA totals 36 30 35 65 67 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 Canada U18 5th 4 1 5 6 0
2023 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 2 3 5 4
2023 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 10 1 2 3 29
Junior totals 11 3 8 11 4
Senior totals 10 1 2 3 29

Awards and honours

Award Year
College
Big Ten Freshman of the Year 2023 [49]
All-Big Ten First Team 2023
All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2023
Big Ten All-Tournament Team 2023 [50]
Big Ten Tournament MVP 2023
Tim Taylor Award 2023 [51]
Hobey Baker Award 2023
AHCA West First Team All-American 2023

References

  1. ↑ Kennedy, Ian (October 24, 2022). "Can Adam Fantilli make a legit case to go No. 1 over Bedard in the 2023 NHL draft?". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ Tondora, John (September 28, 2022). "Amid high expectations, Adam Fantilli focuses on the team". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Saginaw Spirit make 14 picks in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection Draft". saginawspirit.com. April 4, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  4. ↑ Bernreuter, Hugh (April 4, 2020). "Saginaw Spirit gamble, take No. 1 prospect Adam Fantilli in OHL draft". MLive.com. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  5. ↑ Bernreuter, Hugh (September 13, 2021). "Saginaw Spirit trade OHL rights to University of Michigan commit Adam Fantilli". MLive.com. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  6. ↑ "TRADE: Spirit acquire draft picks from Battalion for rights to Adam Fantilli". saginawspirit.com. September 13, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Fantilli Brothers Commit to Steel". USHL.com. March 25, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  8. ↑ "USHL Announces All-Rookie Teams for 2020-21 Season". USHL.com. June 26, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Chicago Steel Win Clark Cup Championship". USHL.com. May 22, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Adam Fantilli Bio". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  11. ↑ Peters, Chris (October 21, 2022). "2023 NHL Draft: Adam Fantilli Is No Consolation Prize". flohockey.tv. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  12. ↑ Fantilli, Adam (October 21, 2022). "2023 NHL Draft Diary: Adam Fantilli". NHL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Michigan Hockey Lands Top 2023 NHL Draft prospect Adam Fantilli". The Detroit News. August 25, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  14. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (February 4, 2022). "Michigan Ice Hockey Announces 11-Member Signing Class". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  15. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (October 7, 2022). "Michigan Offense Overpowers Lindenwood in Season-Opening Win". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  16. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (October 8, 2022). "Michigan Secures Season-Opening Sweep of Lindenwood". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  17. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (October 21, 2022). "Fantilli Hat Trick Leads Michigan to Series-Opening Win Over Lake Superior State". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  18. ↑ Kingsley, Noah (October 26, 2022). "Adam Fantilli is unfazed by the hype". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  19. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (October 22, 2022). "Fantilli's Four-Point Night Seals Michigan Win, Sweep of Lake Superior State". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Michigan, Wisconsin and Michigan State Earn Hockey Three Stars Awards". BigTen.org. October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  21. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (October 24, 2022). "Awards and Honors: Fantilli Named Big Ten First Star of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Fantilli and Serdachny Highlight First HCA Monthly Honors". hockeycommissioners.com. November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Michigan's Fantilli, St. Cloud State's Basse named first HCA men's monthly award winners to kick off 2022-23 season". USCHO.com. November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Zumwinkle, Dalton and Fantilli Top HCA Monthly Honorees". hockeycommissioners.com. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  25. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (February 24, 2023). "Fantilli Scores Late to Earn Point for Michigan in Tie vs. Notre Dame". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  26. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (March 14, 2023). "Fantilli Named Big Ten Freshman of the Year". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  27. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (March 11, 2023). "Michigan Advances to Big Ten Championship with Win Over OSU". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  28. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (March 18, 2023). "Mich-AGAIN! U-M Wins Second-Straight Big Ten Tournament Title". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  29. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (April 7, 2023). "Hughes, Fantilli Named First Team All-Americans; Fantilli Rookie of the Year". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  30. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (April 7, 2023). "Michigan's Fantilli Wins Hobey Baker Award". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  31. ↑ Murphy, Bryan (April 7, 2023). "Who won the Hobey Baker Award 2023? Michigan's Adam Fantilli given honor as NCAA hockey's top player". The Sporting News. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Blue Jackets sign Adam Fantilli to three-year entry level contract". NHL.com. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  33. ↑ Hedger, Brian (July 1, 2023). "Columbus Blue Jackets wade into free agency by signing top prospect Adam Fantilli". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Blue Jackets pay tribute to Adam Fantilli with emotional video". ESPN.com. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  35. ↑ "Adam Fantilli scores first NHL goal in Blue Jackets overtime win over Wild". NBC4 WCMH-TV. 2023-10-22. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  36. ↑ Heroux, Devin (January 17, 2020). "Team Canada eyes gold in boys hockey at Youth Olympics in Switzerland". CBC Sports. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  37. ↑ Malloy, Jason (December 20, 2019). "Gordie Dwyer to coach Team Canada in hockey at Winter Youth Olympic Games". SaltWire Network. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  38. ↑ Jiwani, Rory (January 22, 2021). "Where are Matvei Michkov, Isaac Howard, Jimmy Snuggerud and the stars of Lausanne 2020 now?". Olympic Channel. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  39. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (April 21, 2022). "Six Incoming Wolverines to Compete at U18 World Championships". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  40. ↑ Kennedy, Ryan (April 19, 2022). "Canada's U-18 World Championship Team: Who to Watch". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  41. ↑ Kimelman, Adam (December 12, 2022). "2023 World Junior Championship rosters". NHL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  42. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (January 2, 2023). "Wolverines at the 2023 World Junior Championship: Fantilli and Canada Win Gold; USA Takes Bronze". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Fantilli, Flames trio among initial Team Canada roster at World Championship". TSN. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  44. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (May 5, 2023). "Fantilli Named to Hockey Canada World Championship Roster". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Fantilli leads Canada to world hockey gold-medal game with 1st goal of tourney". CBC Sports. May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  46. ↑ Podnieks, Andrew (May 27, 2023). "Fantilli's gem ends Latvia's golden dreams". IIHF.com. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Blais scores 2 as Canada downs Germany 5-2 for record 28th title at hockey worlds". The Washington Post. May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  48. ↑ McNeil, Kristy (June 7, 2023). "Fantilli Wins IIHF Gold, Nominated for Male Player of the Year". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Big Ten Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  50. ↑ "2023 Big Ten Hockey Tournament All-Tournament Team" (PDF). BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  51. ↑ "Dual winner Adam Fantilli headlines national award winners". collegehockeyinc.org. April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
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