Recruiting: Rutger McGroarty commits to Notre Dame

By @MichaelCaples –

One of the top 2004 birth-year players is off the board.

Rutger McGroarty has announced his commitment to Notre Dame.

The Honeybaked 14U forward announced Monday that he has verbally committed to Jeff Jackson and the Fighting Irish hockey program.

“There is just no other place like it – I feel like it’s a home,” McGroarty told MiHockey. “I talked with a bunch of the players and they didn’t have one negative thing to say about Notre Dame. The coaches are top notch with Coach Jackson, Coach Slaggert, and Coach Pooley.

“Also, the recruiting class is unreal – a bunch of great kids who want to do some big things.”

McGroarty grew up in Lincoln, Neb., while his dad, Jim McGroarty, was working for the USHL’s Lincoln Stars. The family moved to Metro Detroit when Jim accepted a position with Total Package Hockey.

Rutger was one of the leaders for a Honeybaked squad that has won their last two state championships (Pee Wee Major in 2017 and Bantam Minor in 2018). He was the MVP in Honeybaked’s Silver Stick championship in Port Huron in 2017, as well.

Highlights from the 2018 Bantam Minor state championship game: