Power preparing for Big Ten Tournament following Olympic experience

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Owen Power doesn't shy away from the big stage.
In the past calendar year, the first-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft has done it all. During the IIHF World Championship,Power won a gold medal. At World Juniors, he became the first Canadian defenseman to ever score a hat trick in the tournament. And he's fresh off his Olympic debut for Team Canada.
The 19-year-old Buffalo Sabres prospect has shifted his focus to adding "National Champion" to his impressive resume.

Last year as a freshman at the University of Michigan, Power and the Wolverines were unable to compete in the NCAA tournament due to COVID-19 cases affecting the team.

Michigan had three players go in the Top 5 of the draft: Power, Matthew Beniers (second overall to Seattle) and Kent Johnson (fifth overall to Columbus). Instead of going pro, they decided to return to Ann Arbor for a chance at a title.
"Matty was kind of the ring leader to get us to all come back for another season," Power said. "We all talked about it and kind of knew what everyone was thinking.
"I think for me, I just wanted another chance to win a national championship. We knew how good the team was going to be, and it could just be another year for my development to get better."
This season, the Wolverines finished No. 5 in the NCAA poll with a 25-9-1 record. Fellow Sabres prospect Erik Portillo, drafted in the third round in 2019, played a big part in that thanks to his sensational play in the crease. He played every game for Michigan this year. His 25 wins rank second in the nation and his .926 save percentage ranks sixth.
Despite missing 11 games due to the World Junior Championship and the Olympics, Power still finished tied for ninth in scoring among all NCAA defensemen with 27 points (3+24).

The Wolverines open the playoffs Friday night when they host Michigan State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. FS2 will air the game nationally at 7 p.m. Game 2 will be played on Saturday at 7. If necessary, Game 3 will be played on Sunday at the same time.
Power returned from Beijing for Michigan's last regular season series. They were swept by Notre Dame.
"I'd say my first period wasn't very good, but it didn't last long before I got back caught up. I think it was more jet lag than getting back to speed with the hockey aspect," Power said.
He's hoping the Olympics isn't just a once-in-a-lifetime experience. NHL players did not go this time around, opening the door to former NHLers, amateurs and other professionals around the globe to represent their countries.
While there, he was able to pick the brains of more experienced players and use some of that knowledge to his advantage as his own career progresses.
"I learned a ton just from being around the guys who have played pro hockey for so long," he said. "There are so many different little things that I picked up from asking questions and being observant."
The first team in Michigan's way of ultimate glory is their rival from East Lansing. The Wolverines defeated the Michigan State Spartans in all four meetings this season, outscoring them 23-9.
Power played in their first series back in early November, recording four assists in the 7-2 and 3-2 victories.

Even if the No. 2-seed Wolverines do not win the Big Ten tournament, there's a good chance they will be invited to the NCAA tournament as an at-large bid. The Frozen Four will be held at TD Garden in Boston on April 7 and 9.
Even though his mind is on bringing home Michigan's first national championship since 1998, Power did confirm that he feels ready to make the jump to the pros at the end of the season if the stars align.
"I think I'm ready and good to go, but that's not what I'm worried about right now," he said. "I'm worried about my season here and to win a national championship."