The University of Michigan ice hockey program announced Friday (June 25) another highly-regarded five-player recruiting class that will join the Wolverines this fall.
The newcomers include forwards Dylan Duke, Mark Estapa and Mackie Samoskevich, along with defensemen Ethan Edwards and Luke Hughes.
Dylan Duke
F | 5-10/181 | Left | Strongsville, Ohio | USNTDP
• Spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program
• Appeared in 105 games and had 97 points on 58 goals and 39 assists
• Played at the 2021 World U18 Championship for Team USA, scoring three goals in five games
• Won a silver medal with USA at the World U17 Hockey Challenge in 2019, collecting eight points in six games
• Represented U.S. at the U17 Four Nations and Five Nations Championships
• Captain of Compuware U14 and U16 teams
• Four-time Michigan state champion (Michigan Amateur Hockey Association)
• A 2021 graduate of Northville High School
• Ranked No. 34 by EliteProspects.com and No. 29 by NHL Central Scouting (North American Skaters)
Associate coach Bill Muckalt on Duke ... "Dylan is a tireless worker, with great hands in tight spaces and willing to pay the price. He is a complete player that has good details to his game. He is a real competitor, and we're excited about what he is going to bring to our team on a day-to-day basis as we feel he is a guy that will make others around him better."
Ethan Edwards
D | 5-11/185 | Left | St. Albert, Alberta | Sioux City (USHL)
• Played this past season with the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
• Musketeers were USHL semifinalists for the Clark Cup
• Led the team's defensemen in scoring with 27 points on 21 assists and six goals
• Named USHL Player of the Week on Feb. 15
• Competed for Canada West at the 2019-20 World Junior A Challenge
• Previously played with Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
• A 2020 graduate of Bellerose Composite High School
• 2020 NHL Draft pick by New Jersey Devils (fourth round, 120th overall)
Muckalt on Edwards ... "Ethan made great strides this year in Sioux City of the USHL. He can really transport pucks with his feet and likes to compete. Ethan brings the skill set that we are looking for in terms of the style and system that we play."
Mark Estapa
F | 6-2/197 | Left | St. Clair, Mich. | Tri-City (USHL)
• Spent two seasons with Tri-City Storm
• Tallied 13 goals and 23 assists in 91 games
• His first career USHL goal was voted 2020 USHL Goal and Play of the Year
• Storm was the 2021 Western Conference regular-season champion
• Five-time Michigan state champion with Little Caesers
• Alternate captain for USA at the 2019-20 Hlinka Gretsky Cup and competed at the 2018 Five Nations Tournament
• A 2020 graduate of St. Clair High School
Muckalt on Estapa ... "Mark is a power forward that is tremendous on the forecheck, penalty kill and net-front presence on the power play. He can add an element of physicality with his size and speed, and brings energy to his team. He is a 200-foot player, and we are excited about what he will add to our group."
Luke Hughes
D | 6-2/186 | Left | Canton, Mich. | USNTDP
• Played the last two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program
• Led USNTDP defensemen in points per game (0.89) this past season with 34 points in 38 games
• In 86 games with USDP he collected 62 points on 13 goals and 49 assists
• In 46 USHL games, he had 27 points and was fourth in the league in defensemen points per game
• Member of Team USA that won the silver medal at the 2019-20 World U17 Hockey Challenge
• Ranked No. 11 by EliteProspects.com and No. 4 by NHL Central Scouting (North American Skaters)
Muckalt on Hughes ... "Luke is a high-end, excellent skater. He has really good size and frame, and is a dynamic modern day offensive defenseman. He has great vision with high hockey IQ and has a really good shot. He is expected to make huge contributions immediately."
Mackie Samoskevich
F | 5-11/190 | Right | Sandy Hook, Conn. | Chicago (USHL)
• Alternate captain of USHL champion Chicago Steel
• Played last two seasons with Chicago in the USHL and totaled 73 points in 85 games
• Averaged 1.03 points per game this past season with 13 goals and 24 assists in 36 games
• Won both the Anderson Cup and Clark Cup with Chicago
• Played in the USHL with Lincoln and Central Illinois in 2018-19
• Selected to the Bio-Steel All-American Game in 2021
• Played with U.S. National U18 Team at the 2019-20 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
• Attended Shattuck St. Mary's and University of Nebraska High School
• Ranked No. 19 by EliteProspects.com and No. 26 by NHL Central Scouting (North American Skaters)
Muckalt on Samoskevich ... "Mackie is coming off a year where he was a key cog in the wheel for the USHL champion Chicago Steel. He has shown excellent offensive instincts and produced offensively both at Shattuck St. Mary's and in the USHL. We feel he has a very bright future with the ability to be an elite player here at Michigan."
