After only one season with the Michigan hockey team, freshman defenseman Matthew Mania opted to enter the transfer portal April 14, ending his short tenure with the Wolverines. Mania is the first from Michigan to officially depart from the team for reasons other than graduation, signaling a new season, new roster and new beginnings for the Wolverines.
A 2023 fifth-round NHL Draft pick for the L.A. Kings, Mania left the OHL’s Flint Firebirds with great expectations. A tall defenseman with scoring abilities made him an exciting pickup for Michigan, however the team’s depth required little of Mania in the long run.
Despite finding some playing time in wake of freshman defenseman Henry Mews’ season-ending injury, Mania notched only one assist in his 15 games — straying far from his initial expectations. And since January, Mania’s been a healthy scratch in all but one game for the Wolverines.
Mania was quickly picked up by Rochester Institute of Technology, making his time in the portal very brief. The Tigers ended their season 17-17-2, and placed fifth in the Atlantic Hockey conference. RIT possessed a relatively young defensive class, with just two seniors departing from the program.
While Mania saw little time on the ice, moving to RIT may offer him more opportunities to play hockey at the highest level as he attempts to find a spot in those vacant pairings. And as he assimilates into a new program, what he left behind in Ann Arbor needs to be filled, as well as Michigan gears up for next season.
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