For a self-proclaimed underdog, getting drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft isn’t too shabby.

Always overlooked and never projected as a top player, Sean Lorenz got a late jump to hockey stardom.

“I always had to work harder,” said Minnesota’s third overall pick. “I wasn’t the guy everyone was always talking about so I had to really do more to get noticed.”
It clearly paid off.

The Wild had only four picks in the entire entry draft so it was a testament to Lorenz’s hard work that he was chosen. When heading into the event, he was unsure what would happen. Teams often look at a number of guys so it’s really up in the air how things pan out.

“I wasn’t sure going into the draft [what would happen],” said Lorenz before heading to the Wild’s Development Camp. “The Wild flew me out a week before and got a chance to know me, so I knew they had interest.”

The rest is history and already Lorenz has been hard at work, netting the final goal in the development camp’s final-day shootout.  

Lorenz is a mature young man who exudes the confidence and composure of a league vet. He answers questions with a certain ease and a been there, done that-type attitude. In other words, he belongs.

But it might be a little while before the Wild add him to their roster. That’s because Lorenz has committed to play for Jeff Jackson and the Fighting Irish for at least next season—probably longer.

“The plan is to do four years and really get to develop in Coach Jackson’s program,” he said, referring to the coach who led the Irish to No. 2 ranking last season. “If [the Wild] see that I’m ready, I might rethink. But the plan is four years.”

Funny thing, that’s about the time it took for Lorenz to really be noticed. After stints with Foothills, Arvada and Littleton, the Colorado native upped his game by joining the AAA Thunderbirds.

“That’s when my hockey career really started to get going,” he explained. “[The Thunderbirds opened up my options as a hockey player.”

Hockey became more involved. There was more travel, more exposure and people took notice—the right people.

For the last two seasons, Lorenz has been playing with the U.S. National Team Developmental Program. He’s very thankful for his time in the Developmental Program and credits a lot of his hockey knowledge to his experience in Ann Arbor (where the Developmental Program is based). The program did what it was intended to, progress the young American talent and help place them in programs, whether they be college, NHL or others.  

Coach Jackson really likes what he’s getting in Lorenz.

"Sean is a high-character kid who has progressed a great deal over the last few years. He's a stay-at-home defenseman who has good size and a physical presence,” he said in a statement released by Notre Dame Athletics. “He makes good decisions with the puck. He is a player with some similarities to (Irish sophomore defenseman) Ian Cole."
Lorenz has some advice for all the young guns out there not getting the attention they deserve.

“Work hard, enjoy the game.”

It’s as simple as that. And why not listen, he’s been there, done that.

But it doesn’t seem like he’s much of an underdog anymore.