The offers to play at larger, more prestigious hockey schools were coming in, but he had a good feeling about playing in Amherst and stuck with the university that believed in him from the beginning.
"At the time, I honestly didn't have those big, big options, but I had options from a few other schools, and it was just kind of the feeling that I had, the personal touch of UMass," he said. "I had been down to the campus, and I really liked it there. You know what you're going to get when I go there.
"[Loyalty is] a big trait. I've been taught to stay loyal and be humble since I was a little kid. It kind of runs in the family."
The feeling was mutual.
Makar was recruited by then UMass head coach John Micheletto, but when there was a coaching change, Makar was left wondering what his future would hold. It turned out, he didn't have to wait too long to get some reassurance.
"It never really wavered from my mind," he said. "[Greg] Carvel told me that I was his first call on his job, so that was a pretty special moment for me. Right than I knew they were going to be perfect for me."
A mobile defenseman, the Calgary, Alberta, native fits the mold of what Sakic and the Avalanche want to be: younger, faster and more skilled.
"We're excited to add Cale to our organization," said Avalanche director of amateur scouting Alan Hepple. "He's a very good skater, a very good puck-mover. Very good puck management. Offensive upside with a great shot and great vision."