Rutger McGroarty

Rutger McGroarty (born March 30, 2004) is an American college ice hockey right wing for the University of Michigan of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was drafted 14th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Playing career
McGroarty spent two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He was the first player from the state of Nebraska to play for the national development program. During the 2020–21 season, he recorded 20 goals and 21 assists in 53 games. During the 2021–22 season, he recorded 35 goals and 34 assists in 54 games. He led the team in goals, and ranked fourth in points with 69. He competed at the 2022 BioSteel All-American Game where he recorded an assist and a goal with 2:37 left in regulation to force overtime. He was subsequently named the game's MVP.

He was drafted 14th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

McGroarty committed to play college ice hockey for the Michigan Wolverines during the 2022–23 season. During his freshman season he recorded 18 goals and 21 assists in 39 games. McGroarty was named the Hockey Commissioners Association co-Player of the Month for the opening month of the 2023–24 season. He led the nation in scoring during October, finishing with 15 points in eight games, scoring five goals and 10 assists. He had at least one point in seven games, including the first five of the season, to extend his point-scoring streak to a career-high 13 games. In the eight games he played, he had multiple points in five. He also scored two game-winning goals and two power-play goals and led the team in shots with 33. McGroarty was named the Hockey Commissioners Association Player of the Month for the month of January 2024. He led the nation in scoring, averaging 2.67 points per game. He recorded three goals and 13 assists, scoring in all six games, and had multiple points in five of the games.

International play
McGroarty represented the United States at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics and won a silver medal.

McGroarty represented the United States at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he was scoreless in five games. He again represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he served as team captain and recorded eight goals and one assist in six games and won a silver medal.

On December 12, 2022, McGroarty was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the tournament he recorded one goal and six assists in seven games and won a bronze medal.

On December 16, 2023, McGroarty was again named to Team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he served as team captain. During the tournament he recorded five goals and four assists in seven games and won a gold medal. He was the first forward to captain a U.S. National Junior Team since Joey Anderson in 2018.

Personal life
McGroarty was raised in Nebraska. His father, Jim, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player from Mississauga, Ontario, while his mother, Cindy, is from Nebraska. Their family moved to Michigan before McGroarty joined the United States National Team Development Program.