“His work ethic is no different from that of the kids who came before him and who are part of the elite. You never had to tell Cole (Caufield) to work hard. You never had to tell Ty Emberson to work hard.

Emberson, the Badgers captain last season, is a good comparison for Cleveland other than playing with the opposite hand. They share a passion for hits and a relentless approach to improvement.

Byce said he needs to convince Cleveland that a high number of penalty minutes with the Wisconsin team due to his abrasive style isn’t going to hurt him. The left-handed defenseman, who is listed at 6-3, has good speed but needs to work his shot over the next two seasons with the NTDP.

He also spoke at Colorado College, Cornell and Michigan Tech, but said the Badgers were his only serious consideration. One of the main reasons was associate head coach Mark Osiecki, widely praised for developing as young defensive prospects.

Cleveland said he told Osiecki he needed him to still be at UW when he arrived, likely in 2023.

“I’ve talked to everyone – the NHL scouts, my advisor, the coaches, whatever – they all talk about him and his record,” Cleveland said.

Walos’ leadership qualities began at home with four younger siblings, said DJ Drayna, who coached him for more than a decade, most recently with the Milwaukee Junior Admirals.