By @MichaelCaples –

ANN ARBOR – While the Detroit Red Wings are getting ready for their season out in Traverse City, one of their top prospects is doing the same in Ann Arbor.

Dylan Larkin, the team’s first-round pick in this summer’s NHL Draft, is beginning his freshman season with the Michigan Wolverines, skating at Yost Ice Arena as one of eight freshmen joining the Big Ten program.

“It’s been good, really good,” Larkin said. “I’ve waited for the time to go to college – I think I was committed for three or four years – so there’s a lot of anticipation. It’s been a lot of fun, and the guys have been real open to us and what we bring to the team. All eight freshmen are excited, it should be a good four years.”

While he may be just another freshman in the Wolverines’ program, Larkin certainly had a different summer than most. After hearing his name called by his hometown NHL team on June 27, he attended the Red Wings’ development camp in Traverse City from July 4-8 and was one of the most talked-about players in attendance.

“It was a good time to celebrate with my family and friends back in Waterford, but after development camp, I focused on what I need to do to play at that level,” Larkin said. “It was good for me to go to that camp and get back to work in the gym and on the ice on some skill stuff.”

Now, he’s learning how to be a student-athlete.

“It’s good,” Larkin said of his first taste of college. “You get to meet a lot of new people, kind of go through the struggle of school together. Do homework, meet people in the dorms – it’s been fun.”

And despite the popularity that came with him being a Red Wings draft pick, Larkin said he hasn’t been noticed too many times around Ann Arbor.

“There are a few Wings fans, but not too much, which is good,” Larkin said. “I just want to be known as a student-athlete. Maybe as the season gets going, I hope our team gets more recognition around campus for what we’re doing on the ice.”

On the ice, the Belle Tire and U.S. NTDP product is one of eight new players to the Wolverines’ program – a team looking to regain its spot at the top of the college hockey world. Larkin described the first few practices as “real intense” skates at Yost Ice Arena.

“Everyone wants to be a better hockey player here and that’s a good thing,” the 18-year-old said. “Coming from the NTDP, where everyone wants to be drafted and win a world championship, I think everyone here wants to win a national championship and wants to be better, so it’s a good transition.”

Intense could also be a word used to describe one of the Wolverines’ rites of passage each preseason – running the stairs at Michigan Stadium. Larkin admitted that it was a daunting experience.

“It was tough. I did pretty well on the lap, but I didn’t really realize that we had 15 stairs after that, so I definitely got some experience out of that. It was a good challenge though.”

While he’s focused on his freshman campaign with the Wolverines, Larkin said he expects to be watched over by his NHL club throughout the season. He said that he knows the Wings want him to keep developing both on and off the ice and work on being a leader.

“We talked so much after the draft and at the draft and development camp, they gave me some space in the summer,” Larkin said. “It was good to just work on what they told me to and get ready for this year. I’m not really sure during the season. I talked to Jiri Fischer a few weeks ago, just to check in on him, and his crazy year is starting, so I’m sure they’ll be around watching and talking to Coach Berenson about what’s going on.”

Larkin also said he kept a close eye on the NHL Prospects Camp tournament in Traverse City, admitting that he was disappointed that he couldn’t attend.

“Yeah, but I think eventually my time will come for that tournament. I tried to follow it as much as possible, seems like they had a good team and they have a bunch of great prospects. I know they had fun, but I’ve got something going on here, so.”

And that thing ‘going on here’ will become that much more important when the puck drops on the 2014-15 season. The Wolverines open their schedule with a road game against the Ferris State Bulldogs on Oct. 4.

“It’s going to be awesome,” Larkin said. “Ferris State’s a big game. I’ve got a few friends on the team, so it should be good.”