Going into the 2022-23 season the Michigan Wolverines had been depleted of 10 players who signed professional contracts following a Frozen Four appearance in 2021-22. If it was supposed to be a “ rebuilding year”, no one told Fantilli. The Nobleton, Ontario native began his freshman year on an eight-game point streak and started Michigan off to a record of 7-1. It led to him capturing Hockey Commissioners Association Player and Rookie of the Month in his first month of the season.

Midway through the season after Fantilli returned from the World Juniors with a gold medal as a member of Team Canada, Fantilli went on a 12-game point streak and helped push U-M into second place in the Big Ten standings.
Leading Michigan to the 2023 Big Ten Tournament title, as the No. 2 seed – winning on its rivals’ home ice – was Fantilli. He set Big Ten records for most goals (seven) and most points (11) in a single tournament, which earned him the title of B1G Tournament Most Outstanding Player. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year kept his point streak alive through the NCAA Tournament, culminating in his 30th goal of the season in the national semifinal against Quinnipiac.
The next day in Tampa, Fantilli was named Michigan’s third recipient of the Hobey Baker Award. The nation’s leading scorer, Fantilli finished the season with 65 points in 36 games, scoring 30 goals and 35 assists – averaging 1.81 points per game, 0.83 goals per game and 0.98 assists per game. It’s the third-highest scoring clip behind only Hobey Baker winner Johnny Gaudreau (2.00 ppg) and 2016 runner-up Kyle Connor (1.87 ppg). Moreover, his stellar performance translated to an excellent +31 rating, epitomizing his offensive and defensive effectiveness. The Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year and first-team All-American showcased his versatility by posting a superior face-off win percentage of 52.2%, further highlighting his ability to dominate in all aspects of the game.
In May, Fantilli accepted Canada’s offer to attend the World Championships just a month before the draft. Proving again, Fantilli loves hockey and just wants to play the game. He became just the second Canadian to win gold at the World Juniors and Worlds in the same season, joining Jonathan Toews, and is only the 11th player to do so in the world.

The brothers were roommates together in Ann Arbor in 2022-23 and have immense respect and love for each other on and off the ice.
“Luca is my best friend and brother, and someone I am lucky to be able to call my teammate. Not many guys get to play with their brother, but I have been fortunate enough to do so the past four years. None of this would be possible without him.” Fantilli and the Wolverines had to overcome big obstacles during the season. With a life-threatening injury to a teammate and heartbreaking loss of a team staff member, the brothers and the team battled through many emotions, together.
“You guys are my brothers,” Fantilli said during his acceptance speech. “I’ve never been on a team that has made everyone feel like family as much as you have. This has been an incredible ride. We truly battled it all. We went through hell and back, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys to do it with.”

Fantilli clearly proved himself on the ice through the record-breaking statistics and points, but even more importantly he is a proven leader and role model to his team. He understands the importance of his team and recognizes the direct impact they have made on his personal journey. He made that evident with his suit selection at the 2023 NHL Draft Awards in Nashville in June. The back of his vest was embroidered with over 140 names of the people that helped get him to where he’s at.
“On the back of my vest, I have a list of everybody that has helped me get to where I’m at,” he said about the personal shoutout. “Being able to give my jacket away and walk down the whole way with my vest showing, I just wanted them to know that they were walking up there with me.”
Drafted No. 3 overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Fantilli signed with the organization on July 1. He leaves an indelible mark on not just the Michigan Hockey program but college hockey in general. He has shown Canadian hockey players another path to the NHL. And has done it in a style Hobey Baker would have been proud of.