FEATURE: Rinzel Found Growth in His First Full USHL Season

Following his season in the USHL, Blackhawks prospect Sam Rinzel looks to make an impact with the University of Minnesota this fall as he enters his freshman season.

Before making the jump to the NCAA, the 6-foot-4 defenseman wanted to focus on the growth of his overall game, and returned to Waterloo in the USHL last year. Looking back, he saw the progression that he wanted to help his defensive game, but on offense as well.

"I was able to really see growth in my game, especially my defensive game," Rinzel said. "It was a big reason why [I went back to the] USHL and to be able to kind of work on that part of my game. While being able to play a two-way game is what I want to be able to do in the future."

In his second season with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks, Rinzel produced 36 points (9G, 27A) through 58 games played this year and produced one goal and two assists in the team's three playoff contests in the series loss against the Lincoln Stars. The Minnesota native also helped the U.S. Junior Select Team capture its' ninth World Junior A Challenge Title back in December.

Blackhawks Assistant General Manager of Player Development Mark Eaton noticed the strong skating ability that Rinzel brough to the USHL. After seeing him play with fluidly and effortlessly with his style, he noticed the defenseman settled into his first full season in the junior league and learn how to grow his game.

"I think the natural instincts and abilities he has with his skating and his skill is that offensive side of the game, which I think will always be there and will always be an asset for him," Eaton said. "So, I think this was a good start for him to learn to hone in on the defensive side of the game a little more, and the defensive side of the puck, which every defenseman needs at the next level."

The 2022 first round draft pick will start his freshman year at Minnesota this fall after the team advanced to the NCAA Championship before falling to Quinnipiac. For him, it's a special experience to join the Golden Gophers, he looks to continue his growth as a stronger and faster player while learning new aspects of the game.

While the jump from the USHL to NCAA can be a challenge for most players, the 6-foot-4 defenseman is confident that he can adjust to the speed of the game.

"Obviously, it's a big jump but my plan is just train in the summer and prepare really hard," Rinzel said. "That's what I'm kind of training this summer for is just preparation and I'm confident that I'll be able to do it."

For Eaton, the most important things that Minnesota will provide Rinzel will be honing in on little details of his game and also his training. With a top ranked strength and conditioning program, it will allow him to learn and train with the older players.

"So I think that that will be a big piece of his development for his time at Minnesota is just training hard, training consistently with guys older than him, stronger than him and seeing what that next level of training looks like," Eaton said.

As for Rinzel, he plans on prepping for his upcoming season this summer to perfect both sides of his game to help Minnesota look for their next title.

"It's a big offseason for me," Rinzel said. "Whether it's watching a bunch of video or kind of being able to grow every part of my offensive game, keep being tight defensively and just keep finding new ways to use my skating and use my strengths as big advantages for me and growing every part [of my game]."