Drew Schock selected in 4th Round NHL Draft

GREEN BAY – Hockey defenseman Drew Schock has seen a lot of success in his young hockey career from his time winning the WIAA State Tournament with the Notre Dame Tritons and then getting called up to to the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) — it’s certainly no shock that when the Anaheim Ducks announced the rising star as their Round 4 Pick 101 of the 2025 NHL draft.

“It was a great experience. I got to talk to a lot of really cool people in the hockey world. I talked to a lot of teams and it was really fun,” said Schock about his experience being drafted to the NHL.

Because of the elite level and ruthless competition at the professional level, Schock said he had no indication of what team would take him, but he was beyond grateful to find out that the Ducks wanted his talent enough to call his name on Draft day.

“I talked to them before the draft but you never know on Draft day what is going to happen,” said Schock.

Schock had to report to Anaheim for the Ducks’ Development Camp from June 30 to July 2 for his first glimpse at what it’s like to be on the ice with NHL talent.

“It was a lot of fun. I got to meet a ton of new people and got to see Anaheim. The weather was unbelievable. It was just a really cool experience,” said Schock.

Schock said that his trip to California was not his first time to the Golden State and his family actually has ties to the West Coast.
“My mom went to Stanford, so I went there for her 25th reunion, but I haven’t been in the Anaheim area,” said Schock.

Though it was mostly business, Schock said that the draftees had some time to experience Southern California culture off the ice as well.

“There was some fun stuff, too. We had a dinner at the Honda Center and we drove around and did a community service project where we got to meet with people who were paraplegic. We went paddling around an island at the beach and got to see the ocean and the houses around there, which was all super cool,” said Schock.

Though most of his hockey journey so far — playing for the Tritons, Junior Gamblers and recently making his NCAA commitment to play for the Michigan Wolverines — has kept him in the Midwest, Schock said he could definitely see himself making Southern California his home if he gets the opportunity to don the orange jersey at some point down the road.

“Absolutely. It’s a beautiful place. The weather is beautiful and it would be really cool to be on the hockey team there. I have a lot of work to do to get there, but I think it would be an unbelievable place to be one day,” said Schock.

Given his family’s ties to the area, Schock said that the support he got from his family was nothing short of amazing.

“[My mom] was super pumped. My sister plays a lot of tennis and does a lot of tournaments out in California, so they were all very excited for me,” said Schock.

“My family has been unbelievable. My three sisters have been so supportive, travelling to games and bringing energy. It could be a late game in the middle of January or February and they’re at the game having fun and bringing energy. They always continue to push me,” said Schock.

“My parents have been so supportive, and just unbelievable with the early mornings and late nights and all the driving. I’m very grateful.”
What’s next?

The NHL draft is unique in terms of most NCAA in that recent draftees can return to play their sport at the collegiate level until they are ready to make the leap to the professional level.

“I plan to go back to Michigan for at least one or two more years. I don’t know exactly but I plan to go back to Michigan to kind of judge how I am developing there. In the future I could then see myself making the jump to either San Diego (Gulls) or Anaheim, depending on a number of different things,” said Schock.

As he looks forward to his time playing at the collegiate level, Schock said that he is thankful for everything he had a chance to learn from playing for the NTDP for the past two seasons.

“I’d say the first year was certainly a challenge. A lot of guys play in the USHL which is a league full of guys that are 20 to 22 and we were a bunch of 17 year olds. But, we got a lot closer that first year and built a lot of chemistry. That second year, we had a bit of a shaky start, but towards the second half we really came together and had a good season and I just had a blast with every one of those guys and created a lot of great relationships through that,” said Schock.

Through his years of taking to the ice, Schock said that his favorite of hockey that keeps him so motivated remains the team-bond he is able to create.

“The team aspect of getting to build a brotherhood and a relationship with a bunch of the guys is the first thing that comes to mind. This sport is awesome with how fast-paced it is and there are a lot of quick decisions you have to make. It’s really fun to play,” said Schock.

Where it all started

“So many people have contributed to my journey and helped me along the way. I know Cory McCracken at Notre Dame was unbelievable with me. He spent a lot of time with me on film on the ice and helped me hone my skills. He also spent a lot of time with me off the ice and I respected how he treated me and the standards he set for me both in school and on the ice. The Green Bay area has been super supportive of me and it’s always felt like home,” said Schock. “Maybe it’s because it’s a smaller town but it is just somewhere I’ve always felt safe and at home and can just go to work every day.”

Even at such a young age, Schock’s hockey career has taken him all over the country. Yet, Schock said that one of the things that continues to keep him grounded is staying in touch with his former Triton teammates as they all take their careers to different levels.

“A lot of my friends are still from Notre Dame Hockey, like Sam Kappell. A lot of my teammates I run into at the rink or work out with,” said Schock.

Kappell has taken his career to the Madison Capitols in the USHL while Schock has spent the last few years with the NTDP.

“In my sophomore year of high school I was at NDA. I got to be part of a newer team as a younger guy and I stepped into a role there immediately. I made a lot of great relationships. Then I moved to the NDTP for the last two years where I certainly got bigger and stronger and earned a spot. The sports science was tremendous. Our coaching was unbelievable. I grew a ton there, especially on the defensive side of the game, and now I’m going to head to Michigan.”

During Schock’s sophomore year at Notre Dame, Schock was in the top 2% for his birth year, 2007. Now, being drafted to the NHL, Schock has earned his way into the top 0.2% of all athletes who make it to the professional level for hockey.

“It’s truly an honor. I feel like it never stops. You always have to be putting in the work. I know for me, I have to skate consistently throughout the week and workout right after and then shoot pucks four to five times a week. There’s even more to it like taking care of my body and stretching and I have different routines with that, but that’s all part of the fun of it at the end of the day, so I’ve really enjoyed that,” said Schock.

Though he is only 18 years old, Schock said it is finally becoming a reality that he is getting closer every day to being on the same level as those he has looked up to his whole life.

“There certainly have been guys I’ve looked up to over the years. Quinn Hughes, Josh Morrissey, Gustav Forsling are all guys I try to emulate my game after on and off the ice. It’s super cool, seeing where I’ve gotten and the level I’m at now,” said Schock.

Now that he has reached a level nearly all young hockey players aspire to, Schock said he is more motivated than ever to make a career out of the hard work and dedication he has put into hockey.

“Plan A would be hockey. I’d love to play hockey as long as I can, but I know at some point I won’t be able to, so I don’t know exactly what I’ll do, but I’d love to stay in the game, whether it’s coaching or trying to get to management at some level. If that doesn’t work out I plan to study economics and I’m going to the business school at Michigan. Those are things I’ve thought about, but right now the goal is hockey and that’s my focus right now,” said Schock.