After an exhaustive amount of scouting and an invitation to a final evaluation camp on March 18-22, 2023 that included 45 elite players from 17 states, Drew Schock was selected by USA Hockey to play for the National Team Development Program (NTDP) for the 2023/24 season. As an indication of the elite talent that has played at Green Bay Notre Dame, Drew Schock is the second Notre Dame player to be selected for NTDP, and third player to attend the final evaluation camp. “It will be an honor representing my country and wearing the red, white and blue. Can’t wait for it to start,” Drew Schock.
"It means a lot for Notre Dame to have another player advance to NTDP. It validates a player can stay home in Wisconsin and still develop at the rate necessary to be considered for a program like NTDP. There’s no shortage of interest for Drew. Twelve D-1 colleges reached out on January 1, the first date NCAA teams could contact," Cory McCracken, Notre Dame Coach
Drew Schock, currently a sophomore and pivotal player on Green Bay Notre Dame’s undefeated WIAA championship team, had a whopping 55 points (12 goals and 43 assists) during the 2022/23 WIAA season. Schock was called “a modern offensive defenseman” by McCracken. He was named by the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association as a first team all-state defenseman, a unanimous first team all-conference defenseman and Player of the Year for the Fox River Classic Conference, and received Wisconsin Prep Hockey's Jake McCabe award as the state's best defenseman. “Playing high school hockey was an amazing experience and a great development opportunity. The high practice to game ratio was very helpful for me. Playing for Notre Dame Academy and Coach McCracken was awesome in so many ways. The relationships I developed in high school hockey I hope to have the rest of my life,” said Schock.
USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) was created in 1996 for the specific purpose of providing advanced player development for the top prospects in 11th and 12th grades. NTDP has 44 players divided between two teams, U17 & U18. The U17 team plays a schedule of games primarily versus USHL teams, plus several international tournaments. The U18 team plays a game schedule primarily versus NCAA teams, plus international tournaments. NTDP consistently each year sends its graduates to NCAA D-1 programs, and the NHL. Current NHL players from Wisconsin that are also NTDP graduates include Anders Bjork, Cole Caufield, Phil Kessel, Jake McCabe and Ryan Suter.
Each year a new group of 22 players are given an opportunity to join NTDP. Drew Schock is the lone player from Wisconsin to be selected to join NTDP for the 2023/24 season. NTDP’s home rink is USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. “I have been very fortunate to have a supportive family and friends; and have had multiple coaches that have helped me along the way…I am so grateful for their support,” added Schock.
Notre Dame’s coach, Cory McCracken, shared with me that he and Drew watched a lot of game video together, and receiving Drew’s viewpoint & perspective was appreciated because of his high hockey IQ and willingness to learn. In what is one of the strongest statements I have heard a coach make, Cory McCracken concluded by saying “Drew made me a better coach and for that I am grateful.”
Drew Schock is an impressive young man that we in Wisconsin can be proud of!
