BUFFALO, N.Y. — In his first year of draft eligibility, Jack Devine from Glencoe, Ill. submits his resume with a freshman NCAA title along with USHL and USNTDP experience.

As the youngest player on the championship Pioneers team this year, the 5’11” forward says winning the Frozen Four so early in his career was incredibly impactful.

“It was a really fun year,” Devine said at the combine. “Like you said, winning a championship, you’re able to learn a lot. We had an older group of guys that really took me under their wing and really helped me develop this year. Winning a championship like that, you can take it throughout your hockey career and take those experiences a long way.”

Devine is a notable playmaker off the puck, knowing when to wedge himself around corners in order to set up forethought plays. He tallied 16 assists with Denver his freshman year and 20 points with the National Team Development Program last season.

“The coaching staff put me in numerous amounts of roles this year,” Devine said of his time at Denver. “They expected different things from me throughout the season and I think I was able to adjust and kind of shine in different roles.”

Being able to plug and play as a freshman was a moment of pride for Devine, who has worked hard to maintain a high vision and hockey IQ.

“I think for me, I just try to read the play and anticipate as much as I can. I try to see where the puck’s going, where the puck’s been,” Devine said. “That’s kind of something where — I played with Brett Stapley this year and we developed chemistry — so over the course of the year, I was kind of able to read off him and anticipate. ‘Hey, he’s coming down the wall here,’ so I’m going to adjust myself in the slow so I can support him there. It’s just something where I think the game pretty quickly and I think that helps me out on ice.”

In addition to USHL, USDP and World Juniors experience, Devine also played baseball and ran cross-country growing up. This factors in to his appreciation for team culture and loyalty to teammates.

“I’m a guy who’s pretty professional for my age, and I think I’m a caring guy,” Devine said. “I mean, we had a really, really good culture at the University of Denver and I think that’s a big contribution to why we’re so successful. I get along with my teammates. I like to have fun with them. I think that’s just all part of the culture of good people we have at the university.”