When he was 5 years old, Ben Robertson sat at home watching a Washington Capitals hockey game, cheering on his hometown team with the rest of his family. What he didn’t know, however, was how pivotal this moment would become in his life trajectory.
Robertson walked up to the television, pointed at the screen and told his parents he wished to be just like the guys donning red sweaters decorated with three stars and a hockey stick. Fortunately for him, Robertson’s parents didn’t hesitate to put him in skates. Just like that, he embarked on a journey he would never look back on.
***
Like most young kids, Robertson’s athletic endeavors didn’t solely consist of hockey. Soccer, flag football, lacrosse and golf were just a few of the many competitive outlets in Robertson’s life. But hockey stood out from the rest, taking on a leading role in his life.
“I played a lot of sports growing up,” Robertson told The Michigan Daily. “That’s something that I’m very appreciative for, that my parents kind of made me play all different types of sports to see what I really liked. And hockey kind of just stuck with me.”
Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, Robertson’s love for hockey was rare. Players like Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom spearheaded the growth of the sport in the city, but it never compared to hockey’s prominence in the Midwest or the Northeast. Regardless, Robertson was all in.
His love for hockey shone bright from the get-go. Robertson played all over the ice, beginning as a forward before moving back to the blue line. And while many kids wanted to take on the glorious goal-scoring role, Robertson simply wanted to play hockey. So when the time came to seriously choose a position, he was willing to score fewer goals to get more ice time — and the greatest opportunity for future success.
For Robertson, that switch was a no-brainer. It’s not to say he didn’t care where he was: He cared most of all. Any chance to play hockey looked perfect in his eyes, regardless of where he was positioned on the ice. So from that point on, Robertson fully embraced his defensive role, doing his best to provide for his team wherever he could.
***
Robertson’s hockey career quickly flourished. From his first Pee-Wee team to the Washington Little Caps, he fostered a love for the game that took him all over the region. Living in Virginia, attending school in D.C. and eventually playing hockey in Maryland got him well-acquainted with the DMV. And eventually, decisions had to be made.
“(Robertson) was in all three and was every day, and the days were super long,” Charissa Robertson, Ben’s mother, told The Daily. “It was a lot. So in the middle of that, he was looking at some hockey academies and traditional prep schools, and he made the choice to go to Mount St. Charles in Rhode Island.”
Moving to Rhode Island, of course, had its fears. Leaving home at such a young age to pursue a sport is terrifying in and of itself. Ben had to leave his family, his friends and a life he was so familiar with, and the decision was essentially on his own. But with support from his family, he made a tough sacrifice to pursue his hockey dreams. And it certainly paid off.
After spending two seasons at Mount St. Charles, Ben went on to junior hockey in the USHL, playing in Omaha, Neb., before joining the Waterloo Black Hawks. It was there that Ben would lead the league in assists for defensemen, notching 42 in 61 games played. While he sacrificed a goalscoring role to assume a spot on the blue line, that didn’t stop him from occasionally finding the back of the net, too. He also added three goals to his point total, showcasing the versatility in his game.
Before entering the USHL, Ben committed to Cornell for his future, giving him something to work toward while climbing the hockey ladder. He had a vague image of what his future looked like, meticulously choosing his place to best suit his future goals. But without the Black Hawks, Ben may have never found his way to Michigan.
***
Wolverines junior forward Garrett Schifsky once played at Waterloo as well, captaining the team during the 2022-23 season. Ben wore an ‘A’ on his sweater that same season, establishing a close bond with Schifsky as they led their team both on and off the ice.
So when Ben decided to leave the Big Red in search of new opportunities and enter the transfer portal, he called up one of his good friends to see what life at Michigan looked like.
“We had a strong bond at Waterloo,” Schifsky told The Daily. “We went our separate ways there for a bit. But once I heard he had an opportunity to go in the transfer portal and come here, I sold the school and sold the coaching staff. It’s a no-brainer for him, but coming here, he had someone who could help show him the ropes and already have a big connection.”
Schifsky’s pitch worked wonders. After making it official, Ben reunited with his former teammate in Ann Arbor last spring, immediately immersing himself in the Michigan culture. Joining the team workouts and familiarizing himself with the campus helped him better understand his new home, and right away, he meshed with his new team. And he quickly realized how beneficial this change would become for his hockey success.
“Moving teams or changing teams, that’s just a natural course of sports, right?” Charissa said. “That’s part of it, is adaptability. That’s what sports brings, you know. It teaches you all kinds of lessons. How to handle defeat, how to win gracefully and being adaptable to different environments. So he’s done really, really well with that, for sure.”
***
Ben joined the Wolverines more prepared than the typical transfer. Being part of the Cornell squad that upset then-No. 1 seed Michigan State in the 2025 NCAA Regional semifinal, Michigan coach Brandon Naurato brought in a guy who already knew how to beat the Spartans — a must for the Wolverines.
Ben also brought in plenty of leadership experience to guide Michigan’s 11 incoming freshmen who had yet to play at the collegiate level. Few Wolverines had experience competing in the NCAA Tournament, and Ben’s knowledge of the postseason proved vital. He not only earned a spot on the Albany All-Tournament team but also helped Michigan return to the Frozen Four.
To say he’s had a successful year is an understatement. From ranking No. 4 in assists to earning Co-Defender of the Month honors in November, he quickly established himself in his new program. But the best is yet to come.
Ben’s senior season is fast approaching, and he’ll be even more embedded in the Wolverines’ squad than ever before with another year of experience under his belt. Michigan still has much work to be done to achieve its ultimate goal of a national championship, but Ben has the opportunity to be part of the group that finally brings it home.
His choice to leave Cornell wasn’t taken lightly, but Ben understood that a change of scenery could benefit more than just his game, but open him up to new opportunities. This year with the Wolverines, Ben saw places he’d never before — a Frozen Four and a Big Ten championship. So in spite of the initial difficulties, his instincts proved successful for his hockey career.
***
Since the very beginning, Ben has remained in complete control of his hockey journey. Each decision came at his own discretion, and his wild ride is all thanks to that fateful moment of inspiration watching Ovechkin. From that point on, Ben followed his dreams all the way from the DMV to Ann Arbor, making a couple of stops along the way.
The final destination is still a long way away, though, and Ben plans to make the most of this journey that his younger self started all those years ago.
