Sieloff & Trouba – defensemen, prospects, and friends

By Michael Caples –

ANN ARBOR – The hallways of the National Team Development Program’s offices are lined with former players who skated in Ann Arbor. They travel from across the country to come to “The Cube” and play for USA Hockey’s program designed to propel players to college hockey and beyond.

Yet two of the current players didn’t have to travel very far to compete for Team USA. In fact, they didn’t even have to adjust to a new blueline partner, nor even find that one closest cohort in the locker room.

For Jacob Trouba and Patrick Sieloff, every day in Ann Arbor is just another day at the rink shared between best friends.

The Michigan natives – Trouba is from Rochester, while Sieloff is from Ann Arbor – established themselves as elite talent in the Great Lakes state while patrolling the blue line together in the Compuware organization.

And for the past two years, they’ve been doing the same thing, just in a slightly higher stage of hockey, like international tournaments against some of the best players in the world.

“It’s awesome,” Trouba said of having Sieloff by his side every day. “I don’t have to talk to him about anything. He gets mad, but he’ll never get mad towards me. He’s a nice kid.”

The duo, who have been on the same team for six years by Trouba’s estimation, have clearly benefitted from skating side-by-side for so many years. When asked whether they compete with one another on the ice, Sieloff laughed and said “definitely”.

“I think if I told him I have a better shootout move, he would freak out,” Sieloff said. “That’s probably the big thing actually, the shoot-out move. I’ve got the better shoot-out move.”

The competitive drive in the two friends has led them both to amateur championships, scholarship offers from elite universities, and NHL draft expectations. In the latest NHL Central Scouting rankings of North American skaters, Trouba is No. 9, and Sieloff is No. 34. Hearing their names called by professional teams will be just the latest addition to resumes built by the pair of defensemen that include national title medals with Compuware, international tournament victories, and guaranteed spots in college. Sieloff will be heading to Ohio to play for Enrico Blasi and the Miami RedHawks, while Trouba will stay in Ann Arbor, to play for Red Berenson and the Michigan Wolverines.

But until they officially enroll in classes, the duo will continue practicing with some of the top coaches and trainers in the country for their age level, and continue to compete in both United States Hockey League games and international tournaments.

Trouba insisted it would be OK if they had to play on separate lines for a while.

“We were split up last year for a while, and we were split up on Compuware for a while,” he said. “We just enjoy playing together. But we’re not going to get mad if we don’t.”

On the same line or on separate ones, both Trouba and Sieloff know that while they continue to move closer of one day skating with or against each other at the professional level, they have a long way to go. Sieloff said they don’t talk about that possibility much, instead focusing on the present-day challenges and tasks.

“Obviously every kid wants to do that, but I mean, we both have our goals, where we want to be, and obviously the end goal is to be in the NHL,” Sieloff said. “It would be unbelievable if we both end up going. I think if we both keep working hard, do what we’ve been doing, it’ll take us where we have to go.”

 

Jacob Trouba

 

Birthday: Feb 26, 1994

Hometown: Rochester, MI

Position: Defense

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 194 lbs.

Scouting report from the Wolverines coaching staff: “Set himself apart in the upper echelon of ‘94 d-men … Great size, strength and a real passion for game.”

 

Jacob Trouba would rather talk about his famous barbeque burgers than his draft status.

The elite prospect said that he makes the best BBQ burger around.

“Me and my brother were stuck home maybe two years ago,” Trouba said. “My parents were gone with my little brother, so we had to fend for ourselves and cook. I learned how to make them, and then, I don’t know, I’ve made them ever since.”

That, along with his superstition of not wearing any deodorant on game days, reminds people that Trouba is just like any other 17-year-old. Then, you look at NHL.com and see that he has his own blog, and you’re reminded that he could one day be playing against the best players in the world.

But the humble Rochester native says that all the talk from scouts and members of the media don’t mean anything until he proves himself on the ice.

“That doesn’t really matter,” Trouba said of his ranking of draft-eligible players. “People say whatever they want. I don’t think it really changes how I play or what I’ve done. I’m just as far as all of them are, no matter what anybody else says, until I actually prove myself and do what everybody says I can do, then I don’t think it really matters.”

Right now, Trouba is focused on getting through the daily grind of being both a student, and a member of Team USA in Ann Arbor.

“Go to school, then come here ready to work, and do whatever you’re told to do. Usually we practice, then we lift two or three times a week, then we have life-skills, or other stuff on the side that we do. Sometimes you don’t get home until 7 o’clock, sometimes you don’t get home until 5. It really depends, but every day is a challenge.”

A challenge the talented defenseman enjoys, however.

“It’s definitely fun. It definitely has to be something you want to do, or else you won’t enjoy it, because you’re at it all the time, it’s a full-time thing. It’s a lot of fun for me. I think everyone here really loves hockey, but it’s not for everyone, for sure.”

 

Patrick Sieloff

 

Birthday: May 15, 1994

Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI

Position: Defense

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 196 lbs.

Scouting report from the RedHawks coaching staff: “Patrick’s strength is in his skating ability and the physical element he brings to the game. He is a very reliable defender that has a knack for delivering the big hit and can shoot the puck well too.”

 

Patrick Sieloff has a commute to work that most of us in Michigan can only dream of.

He lives in Ann Arbor. He goes to school in Ann Arbor. And he plays hockey – a lot of hockey – in, you guessed it, Ann Arbor.

Sieloff said he didn’t know about the NTDP until his year at Compuware, but became intrigued with the idea of playing close to home when he was evaluating his options to improve his game.

“This opportunity was given to me, and it wasn’t far from home,” Sieloff said. “I could live at home, which I still do, and I couldn’t ask for anything better. Still living with my family, it’s like 15 minutes away – it’s not too bad.”

Sieloff said that there was more to his decision of playing for Team USA then just the distance from his family’s living room.

“I don’t know how [Juniors programs] workout things are, but here, it’s every day,” Sieloff said. “Working out three times a week, skating every day; when I heard of that, I knew that that was a big thing on my part. I wanted to improve my game and gain some weight, and also get taller, but also playing for my country. There was no way I could turn that down when it was offered.”

The training the NTDP offers has helped Sieloff grow into the type of defenseman he wants to be.

“I like to be a physical defenseman,” the 17-year-old said, “ and a defensive defenseman also. When the rush is given, offensive chances are given, I’ll go, but I like to shut down top lines, I like to play defensive zone, hit.”

And Sieloff takes great pride in the opportunity he has had to play for the Red, White and Blue.

“The first time was definitely goose bumps all around,” Sieloff said. “But I think it’s something earned, I’ve worked hard for it. Also, I’m not where I want to be yet – I want to reach my goals. But putting the jersey on, it’s unbelievable, it’s almost like a dream come true every time.”