Zach Werenski to join the Michigan Wolverines for 2014-15 season

By @MichaelCaples –

Grosse Pointe native Zach Werenski, a potential first-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, just announced that he has signed a letter of intent to play for the Michigan Wolverines.

Werenski, a standout defenseman for the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-17 Team, confirmed with MiHockey today that he will be joining the Wolverines for the 2014-15 season.

“Growing up in Michigan, going to football games when I was younger, going to hockey games when I was younger, it was definitely a place I wanted to play,” Werenski said. “Just going into Yost, and all the great players that have played there before me, defensemen especially, like Jack Johnson, Jacob Trouba – I just thought it was a good fit for me. With Coach Berenson, the experience he has had, playing in the NHL and coaching for 20-plus years, and they have a great coaching staff and great leadership in Copp and Compher and the captains. I just thought it would be a good team next year, and I just want to thank them for giving me an opportunity to do this. A few months ago, I had no idea.”

The Belle Tire and Little Caesars product will graduate high school early to make the jump to the NCAA level. Werenski will officially graduate from Grosse Pointe North after completing summer school – he is in the process of finishing up five classes, completing English and physics classes that will take care of both his high school graduation and NCAA requirements.

“I’ve been pretty swamped this summer, just doing summer school all day,” Werenski said. “…I just started my last two, and it’s been pretty busy, but it’s all worth it.”

He said that the Michigan coaching staff presented him with the opportunity to enroll a year early in April, something that was surprising for Werenski and his family. However, they looked into it, and began the process of making him NCAA eligible quickly.

“I’m really excited, I think it will be good. I’m staying in Ann Arbor, which will be nice. It’s just a few minutes from home, and I just can’t wait to play for Michigan.”

Last season, Werenski recorded seven goals and 20 assists in 47 games with the NTDP.