Rutger McGroarty eyeing World Junior return after injury, dependent on medical clearance

After a scary injury a month ago, Rutger McGroarty worked to be ready for the 2024 World Junior Championship. But now, he needs a medical clearance to play.

PLYMOUTH, Mich. — Nearly a month removed from a scary hit that had him stretchered off and sent to the hospital, the Michigan hockey team’s Rutger McGroarty is more or less back to normal. On the ice, he looks the part of a returner set to lead Team USA on his last run at the 2024 World Junior Championship. Even the off-ice intangibles that make him such an effective leader — namely the smile and wit — have come back too.

The only hang-up? The red non-contact jersey he wears in practice, and the medical clearance he hasn’t received to play in this year’s tournament in Sweden.

“At this point, it’s just not up to me,” McGroarty said Thursday at the U.S. National Junior Team training camp. “And obviously I can do all the things — take my vitamins, eat healthy, get good sleep, let my body recover. But I feel like whatever happens, happens, so I’m not really thinking about it too much.”

McGroarty has had to think about his injury for long enough. When he crashed into the boards after a late hit from Penn State’s Reese Laubach on Nov. 17, McGroarty saw his tournament, his season and most importantly his health threatened in an instant. It didn’t matter that he had put in so much offseason work to be a key contributor for the American team, nor that his 18 points in 13 games made him one of the nation’s best scorers — the injury hit the reset button on his progress.

But McGroarty didn’t give up. Rather, he planned his comeback.

With his friends, family, doctors and coaches by his side, he went step by step to make sure he’d be ready to play in Sweden. After a little over a week away from the ice, he got to work preparing for World Juniors. That regimen included bag skating himself until his cardio felt right. Now, he’s working on getting back into game speed.

“Once you’re on the couch, stuff isn’t moving as fast and obviously hockey is a fast sport,” McGroarty said. “So reading pressure when guys are coming at you — go this way, that way — like it’s tough to come back.”

That part is a little more tricky to rekindle because it’s so dependent on the ability to play. Nothing simulates games better than, well, games, and McGroarty’s injury kept him out of the Wolverines’ past five. Instead of leading the first line, he had to watch the past two road series from Ann Arbor with his parents in town.

But now, McGroarty plans to watch no longer. He says he’s ready to go. For the first time since his injury, he played five-on-five hockey Thursday as part of Team USA’s drills. In them, he made a handful of plays, particularly on a practice line with fellow returners Cutter Gauthier and Jimmy Snuggerud. One of those plays included an intercepted puck deep in the offensive zone that led to a mini breakaway. While McGroarty didn’t score on the opportunity, the fact that he could create it gives some hope that he has been able to get back his ability to read pressure that he noted was so fickle. He also made a few errors, including a turnover that led to a goal which he was quick to point out.

But even if McGroarty says he’s ready to go, the medical team’s word matters more. And he’ll be shelved in international play until they give their stamp of approval.

“Without my injury, like if I wasn't injured, I could go play any game tomorrow,” McGroarty said. “I mean, cardio-wise, shot, making plays, twisting, turning like it doesn't bother me on the ice. But I feel really good right now.”

So, McGroarty is stuck waiting, and so is his team. If he can’t be medically cleared, that would force Team USA to make a decision on whether to include him on the final roster.

“We all saw the hit, you know. I think the fact that he's even here at this stage, we’re optimistic even about that, because it was a tough hit,” USA coach David Carle said. “And for him to even be here I think is impressive and a success so far, credit to him and the medical team at Michigan and the people that are surrounding him. So lots to be determined there. Obviously we're hoping for the best but we’ll continue to evaluate as camp goes.”

Whether McGroarty can play in this tournament is a crucial question for the Americans. He’s a veteran whose seven points rank third among returners behind Snuggerud and Gauthier, but he’s also a leader who can bring together his teammates. Such a player is invaluable for Team USA, especially with a roster that will be built from mostly newcomers.

Carle and his staff don't plan to finalize roster decisions until Saturday, so there is still time to wait for McGroarty’s clearance. But if it doesn’t happen, the Americans might have more difficult decisions to make, and McGroarty might be stuck in a position he doesn’t want to be in.

For now, even after rushing to get back in playing shape, all McGroarty can do is wait.