Mike Cammallaeri on his Experience in the NCAA

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Mike Cammallaeri talks about his time in the NCAA playing for the University of Michigan. You can follow Cammallaeri on twitter @MCammalleri13.

Cammallaeri fast-tracked through high school and graduated from Country Day School in King City, Ontario in just three years. At the time, he was playing provincial jr. hockey for the Bramalea Blues and putting up amazing stats. That’s when he made one of the first difficult decisions in his life.

“It was obvious that hockey was in my future, and many guys were taking the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) route. But my parents and I, along with my coach at the time Lindsay Hofford, talked about it and decided going to University would be a far better choice.”

At the age of 15, he orally committed to the University of Michigan, where he received a full scholarship. When he finished high school he continued to play for the Blues and represented Canada in the world juniors. 

At the University of Michigan, Cammalleri played three seasons while studying sports management and communications.

“Going to University was a great decision. I feel like I learned a lot about life, about myself there. I grew and matured as a person and feel like I didn’t miss out on an aspect of my life that other players did.”

Cammalleri has always believed that having something to fall back on in the event his hockey career ended is important. In 2001, at the end of his second year of university the LA Kings drafted him in the second round, 49th overall.  The following year, his third at university, the Kings offered him a contract, and he left school to play in his first professional game with the American Hockey League’s Manchester Monarchs.

The next season, he split his time between the Kings and Monarchs. His statistics were noteworthy in both leagues, but the NHL went on strike the following season. During the strike he finished second in the AHL in scoring which got the attention of the Kings. 

In his first season back in the NHL he scored 26 goals in 80 games.  However, the following season, he scored 34 goals (with 80 points) in 81 games.