For decades, the stars of the Canadian Hockey League were deemed pros as juniors — they received stipends — and ruled ineligible for the NCAA as a result.

In the age of name, image and likeness deals and the transfer portal, the NCAA recently lifted its ban on CHL players. That means a new wave of CHL standouts has the opportunity to hoist an NCAA trophy before skating off to chase the Stanley Cup in the NHL.

This week, there are nearly 20 players with CHL connections on the rosters of the Frozen Four participants: Denver, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Dakota.

“This is going to make college hockey better,” said Denver coach David Carle, whose team faces Michigan in a semifinal game Thursday as the Pioneers seek their 11th national title and Michigan pursues No. 10. “Obviously, it’s probably happened quicker than we thought.”

The various paths to the NHL

The CHL and NCAA have long been two different avenues for players to take in hopes of reaching the top of the sport. The CHL has 61 teams spanning North America in the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). They have produced the likes of Gretzky, Crosby, MacKinnon, Connor Bedard and many of the NHL’s top names.

There was also a path through college hockey, which was typically forged by a stop in the United States Hockey League (USHL), which met NCAA amateurism rules. On Tuesday, the USHL unveiled a standard player development agreement that introduces benefits, including support for travel and secondary education, along with reimbursements for training and career-ending injuries.

The lanes converged in November 2024 when college’s governing body lifted the long-standing ban on players who suited up in the CHL.

It led to an influx of immediate talent onto the NCAA ice. For instance, forward Gavin McKenna left Medicine Hat of the WHL to play for Penn State. He could be the top pick in the 2026 NHL draft, with North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff also in the running to go No. 1 overall.

All four freshmen goaltenders at the Frozen Four have roots with the CHL. Denver’s Johnny Hicks (WHL) is 14-0-1 since stepping into the net on Jan. 24. Michigan’s Jack Ivankovic (OHL) has 25 wins, while North Dakota goalie Jan Špunar (WHL) has more shutouts (six) than losses (four). Wisconsin’s Daniel Hauser (WHL) is 20-7-2 this season.

“Players coming through the CHL and its member leagues are accustomed to competing in big games, under pressure, and in demanding environments where every shift matters,” CHL president Dan MacKenzie said.

The CHL caters to players ages 16 to 20, with common aspirations: “Everybody came to our league with laser focus on the National Hockey League,” said Dan Near, the commissioner of the WHL. “Until now, nobody’s ever walked into our door and said, ‘My dream is to play in the NCAA.’ That was foreign to us.”

But they’re adjusting to the new landscape of hockey.

“There just needs to be more time and data for players to get a better understanding of what’s the best path for them,” Near said.

The NCAA allows CHL players

The NCAA Division I Council’s approval of a rule that allowed players with CHL experience to compete at U.S. colleges starting this season was a landmark decision. Before the ruling, CHL players who previously received a certain level of stipend for living expenses were considered pros and not permitted into the NCAA ranks.

Last summer, there were 21 CHL players selected in the first round of the NHL draft, including the New York Islanders picking defenseman Matthew Schaefer from the OHL’s Erie Otters with the first pick.

Things changed quick, too.

A year ago, Denver forward Kristian Epperson was scoring 27 goals for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. On Thursday, Epperson, a third-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings, is playing for a spot in the national title game.

“I definitely didn’t entirely think I’d be ending up in the Frozen Four,” Epperson said. “Now that it’s here, it’s like a pinch-me moment.”

The roster makeover

For coaches, it’s been a major recruiting adjustment. In a hurry, too, with programs scrambling to sign players.

“We just continue to push the ceiling,” said Badgers coach Mike Hastings, whose team faces North Dakota in the semifinals. “The talent level that’s at the collegiate game right now is at an all-time high.”

North Dakota coach Dane Jackson concurred.

“Definitely strengthened the depth,” Jackson said. “Our lineup is as strong as it’s ever been.”

The lawsuit challenging the NCAA

An assist for the rule change feels warranted for a defenseman who’s currently suiting up for the Fort Erie Meteors, a Canadian Junior B ice hockey team in Ontario. Rylan Masterson and his attorneys filed a class-action complaint against the NCAA and several schools, including Denver and Boston College, in August 2024.

Masterson was ruled ineligible for college hockey after playing in two exhibition games for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. The NCAA permitted players from the CHL to join member universities before Masterson’s suit went to trial.

His attorney, Stephen Lagos, wrote in a statement to The Associated Press: “When we filed the case challenging the NCAA’s rule in 2024, one of the arguments we made was that, if the NCAA allowed CHL players to play Division I hockey, players wouldn’t just benefit, but the quality of play would also improve. It’s been really exciting for us to see that happen this season.”

The thought of playing for an NCAA title is tempting — even for NHL players. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog left Sweden for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL when he was a teenager.

“Maybe I say this because I didn’t have the college experience, but I like the idea of going to college,” Landeskog said. “I would’ve entertained it.”

Simply another option.

“It makes the depth of college hockey that much better,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “It’s exciting.”

An inexperienced driver of a semi-truck went through a stop sign at an intersection in rural Saskatchewan and into the path of the team’s bus on April 6, 2018.

Sixteen people died and 13 more were injured, sparking an outpouring of grief and tributes from around the world.

The Humboldt Broncos Memorial Committee says asphalt work for a parking lot and pathways at the site of the crash, near the town of Tisdale, is scheduled for this year.

It says the next phase of the memorial project will focus on building a monument to honour the lives lost.

The City of Humboldt says it’s also continuing work with a second committee on a future recreation centre to honour the team.

“Eight years later, we continue to carry the memory of the 2017-18 Humboldt Broncos with us in everything we do,” Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench said in a statement released Monday.

“These projects are about more than remembrance; they are about creating spaces where families, residents and visitors can reflect, heal and feel connected.”

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League said it sends its deepest thoughts and prayers to the victims’ families and friends.

“Today and every day, the victims and survivors of that awful event are in the hearts of all of us,” it said in a statement.

It was announced Thursday that Michigan forward T.J. Hughes, Minnesota Duluth forward Max Plante and Denver defenceman Eric Pohlkamp were named the three finalists for the prestigious award, given to college hockey’s top player.

Hughes, a native of Hamilton, Ont., and the captain of the Michigan Wolverines, has enjoyed a productive senior year, tallying 21 goals and 35 assists in 39 games while leading his side to the semifinals of the NCAA D1 men’s hockey championship.

An undrafted forward, Hughes has spent four years in Ann Arbor, but managed to put it all together for his age-24 campaign, finishing second in D1 scoring behind only Ethan Wyttenbach of Quinnipiac University.

Plante, 20, is in his sophomore season with the Bulldogs and is a Detroit Red Wings prospect, having been drafted 47th overall by the team in 2024.

A native of Duluth, Minn., the left winger has enjoyed a breakout year, tallying 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) in 40 games and helping his side to the Regional Final of the NCAA D1 men’s hockey tournament.

Pohlkamp, 22, has spent the last two seasons at the University of Denver after starting his collegiate career at Bemidji State University.

A fifth-round selection of the San Jose Sharks in 2023, the Baxter, Minn., native has 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 41 games for the Pioneers in his junior season. He and the rest of his Denver squad are set to face Hughes and Michigan in the Frozen Four semifinals next week.

McKenna is a notable omission from the list of finalists, as the freshman led the Big Ten in scoring with 38 points (11 goals, 27 assists) in 24 conference games. He was also named the Big Ten freshman of the year.

The Whitehorse, Yukon, native may hear his name called first overall at the upcoming NHL Draft in June.

The winner of the Hobey Baker Award is set to be announced on April 10.

The Texas-born, 15-year-old defenceman has applied for exceptional status in the OHL for next season, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Hockey Night in Canada’s Saturday Headlines segment.

Exceptional status is granted to players below the age of 16, allowing them to join the league a year early.

If he does receive permission, O’Rourke would become the first pure-born American player to receive exceptional status in the OHL. Sean Day was a dual citizen of Canada and the United States when he received his exceptional status in 2013.

“A number of people I spoke to this week said there is no question he’s ready,” Friedman said of O’Rourke.

O’Rourke moved to Toronto to play in the Greater Toronto Hockey League four years ago at the age of 11.

This season, he led the Toronto Jr. Canadiens to the OHL Cup final, but they fell in the final to the Detroit HoneyBaked on Saturday.

O’Rourke scored 10 points in the tournament, including a sensational goal in the semifinals. He was also named a tournament all-star.

The OHL Draft is on June 12th, so any decision on his status will have to be made before then. The Oshawa Generals own the No. 1 pick.

Along with Day, John Tavares (2005), Aaron Ekblad (2011), Connor McDavid (2012), Shane Wright (2019) and Michael Misa (2022) are the other players to be granted exceptional status in the OHL.

Now, the top Utah Mammoth prospect is hoping he can be just like Dad in another way — by capturing a Memorial Cup as a key member of a host team in B.C.

Thirty-one years after Jarome Iginla helped the Kamloops Blazers capture their second CHL title in a row on home ice, Tij will try to do the same thing when his Kelowna Rockets host the 106th Memorial Cup, May 22-31.

“I know his Memorial Cups are probably near (the) top of his achievements in his mind of what his most fun experiences in hockey and stuff are,” the six-foot-one, 195-pound Tij Iginla, 19, said in a telephone interview this week. “Even before we were hosting this one, he’s talked about it, talked about those Memorial Cups and winning. It’s definitely special.”

Based on the way Iginla and his teammates are playing these days, the Rockets are going to have a very real shot of being the first WHL team to win the Memorial Cup as host since Kelowna did it in 2004 — the last time the Okanagan Valley city hosted the four-team event.

Iginla had five goals and five assists in a four-game sweep of his dad’s old team, Kamloops, in a first round that finished Wednesday with a 6-2 Rockets road win.

After an up-and-down start to the season following major roster and coaching-staff changes, the Rockets found their groove in the second half and finished fourth in the Western Conference (38-21-6-3).

Iginla, too, elevated his game in recent months after his 2024-25 season was limited to 21 games because of a pair of hip surgeries, followed by an ankle procedure. The sixth-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft finished with 90 points (41 goals, 49 assists in 48 games) and added four goals and four assists in seven world junior games for bronze-medal-winning Canada.

“I thought as the season went on, he got stronger and stronger and probably played with more confidence for sure. And also got more engaged,” Rockets GM/owner Bruce Hamilton said. “That all comes with getting through the injuries and having missed as much as he did, feeling comfortable you’re not going to get scuffed up.”

Iginla describes the six-month rehab from the hip injuries as “just long, and kind of boring.” But he followed the program by Vail, Colo., surgeon Dr. Marc Philippon closely, putting him in a good spot to have a strong campaign following a frustrating post-draft year.

“I think I’ve gotten better through the season and just working to improve at everything each day,” he said. “I felt my first half was good, too. And world juniors was a lot of fun, I felt like I learned some good stuff there. Going into the playoffs, it’s the most fun time of year. I think it’s been a great year to be back here, for sure.”

The injuries prevented him from making a real bid to make the Mammoth at training camp last fall, but Iginla should be in much better position to take a better run this September.

Of course, it won’t be easy as the much-improved Mammoth are closing in on a playoff spot and are loaded with promising prospects — including fellow first-rounders and Iginla’s Canadian junior teammates Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL) and Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts, OHL).

Desnoyers and Beaudoin both play for league title contenders and could join Iginla in what would be a super fun Memorial Cup for the Mammoth front office.

“I’ve been following (the Mammoth) a lot. I think it’s pretty exciting seeing what they’re doing, making a push to the playoffs here,” Iginla said. “They’ve had a really good year. It’s fun to watch and great to see young guys doing so well.”

The real goal now, however, is to make a big push for the Memorial Cup. World junior MVP Vojtech Cihar of Czechia, a Los Angeles Kings second-round pick, joined the Rockets at mid-season and has formed a dynamic duo with Iginla.

Cihar had six goals and four assists in the series versus Kamloops.

“Super-good dude and obviously a really talented player. Great linemate,” Iginla said.

Cihar has a good leader to follow in Iginla, one of the team’s alternate captains.

“He’s a classy young man,” Hamilton said. “He’s very well-mannered, very well brought up and a pleasure to have around, to be real honest.”

Iginla believes the best path for a Memorial Cup host is to make a strong playoff run. The last host team to win its league championship was the Kitchener Rangers, way back in 2008.

The Rockets will have to score several playoff upsets if they want to emulate that Peter DeBoer-coached Kitchener team, which lost to Spokane in the Memorial Cup final.

“I think we’ve got a really good team,” Iginla said. “I think we’re building for the playoffs, we’re heavy, we’ve got a lot of guys that play hard and can ramp up their game a little bit for the playoffs and the big ones. I’m excited to keep seeing what we can do.”

Speaking of familiar names …

Caleb Malhotra, son of Manny, is continuing to do everything in his power to make himself a high first-round pick in this year’s NHL Draft.

The Brantford Bulldogs centre has been one of the best players across the CHL early in the playoffs. He had two goals and three assists on Tuesday in a 6-5 overtime win over the Sudbury Wolves, giving his top-seeded team a 3-0 lead in the OHL first-round series.

Malhotra has five goals and four assists in three games.

Ranger flavour

The New York Rangers could have a series to watch if OHL Western Conference first-round series finish as expected, and match up the Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires in the second round.

Flint’s Jacob Battaglia, acquired by the Rangers from the Calgary Flames for Brennan Othmann at the trade deadline, had five goals and 10 assists in a dominant four-game sweep for the Firebirds against the Owen Sound Attack. Flint teammate and Rangers prospect Nathan Aspinall wasn’t far behind, with six goals and seven assists.

The Spitfires feature Rangers prospect Liam Greentree, a Los Angeles Kings first-round pick acquired by New York in the Artemi Panarin deal. The Canadian junior team forward has three goals and one assist for the Spitfires in a series they lead 3-0 against the Guelph Storm.

Generals hit the jackpot

The Oshawa Generals won the OHL Draft lottery on Wednesday after finishing with the league’s worst record in the aftermath of two Eastern Conference titles.

Now, we’ll see if Hockey Canada grants exceptional status to Texas-born defenceman Kade O’Rourke, who has been playing up a year in the Greater Toronto Hockey League since 2022-23 after moving to the GTA with his dad, per Ken Campbell of the Toronto Star.

If the Toronto Jr. Canadiens star is allowed to enter the draft a year early and the Generals pick him on June 12 in Kingston, Ont., it would come 21 years after Oshawa selected the first player in CHL history to be given exceptional status — John Tavares.

I watched O’Rourke play at the OHL Cup minor-midget tourney on Tuesday, and it’s easy to see why he could be a franchise player. The six-foot-one blue-liner skates and passes well, gets pucks on net and isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty while being given plenty of ice time by coach Justin Teakle. O’Rourke has two goals and three assists in four games, all wins, at the OHL Cup.

The Jr. Canadiens face TPH Academy in a quarterfinal Thursday. The tourney final is Saturday at 2 p.m. ET at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre.

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In the past, players with major-junior eligibility could go directly to the NHL out of their draft year, if they made the team at training camp. The same held true for their second NHL training camp. But if the prospect wasn’t quite ready for full-time NHL duty, they had to be returned to their respective junior clubs to develop and couldn’t land in between in the AHL. 

Starting with the 2026-27 season, CHL prospects who were selected in the first round and are entering their second major-junior season after being drafted, will qualify for placement in the AHL. The news is being met with a degree of understandable concern from CHL clubs and fan bases. But the reality is, some prospects reach a point where they have outgrown major-junior hockey and are ripe for a new challenge in the AHL before eventually earning promotion to the NHL. 

Here’s a look at some major junior prospects who will qualify for the AHL starting next fall, as well as an example of one of my past experiences in the same scenario under the old CBA:

(Note: Players drafted out of NCAA, USHL or Europe were already eligible to play in the AHL under the old agreement and the new CBA has no effect on those players.)

Caleb Desnoyers, 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, left-shot centre, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

Desnoyers was selected fourth overall by the Utah Mammoth in 2025. Over the course of his major junior career, the captain of the Wildcats has produced 77 goals and 141 assists in 161 regular-season games. He was named the most valuable player in last year’s QMJHL playoffs after contributing nine goals and 21 assists en route to a league championship.  

Desnoyers recently signed his entry-level contract with the Mammoth and projects as a top-six NHL centre. 

Brady Martin, 6-foot, 186 pounds, right-shot winger, Soo Greyhounds, OHL

Martin is one of the hardest-hitting forwards in the OHL, and the Nashville Predators selected him fifth overall last year. He projects as a top-six winger who should provide better than secondary offence while constantly driving opponents crazy with his relentless competitiveness.

Martin hasn’t been as offensively dominant as other prospects on this list but he’s ready to compete in the AHL and leads by example as the captain of the Greyhounds. He’s deployed in all situations and empties the tank every time his number is called. 

A couple of examples of what I’m describing about Martin:

Jake O’Brien, 6-foot-2, 177 pounds, right-shot centre, Brantford Bulldogs, OHL

The Seattle Kraken selected O’Brien eighth overall in 2025. He averages over 20 minutes per game while being deployed in all situations for the Bulldogs. Although O’Brien needs to add strength before graduating to the pros, the fact he’s produced 60 goals and 131 assists over the last two seasons stands out. O’Brien has obvious skill, skating ability and vision with the puck on his stick. He could be a player the Kraken would look to challenge by sending him to the AHL to battle against more seasoned players compared to the OHL. 

Carter Bear, 6-foot, 179 pounds, left-shot forward, Everett Silvertips, WHL

Detroit selected Bear 13th overall in 2025. He’s a late birthday and one of the older prospects identified here. Bear’s combination of skill and will are undeniable. He can be deployed in all situations, and when he’s not producing offence, pushes back physically and contributes defensively. 

In 176 regular-season games for Everett, Bear has contributed 101 goals and 115 assists, and he’s an impressive plus-101. 

Braeden Cootes, 6-foot, 185 pounds, right-shot forward, Prince Albert Raiders, WHL

Cootes broke training camp with the Vancouver Canucks last fall after being selected 15th overall in 2025. He was used sparingly in his three-game audition and sent back to the Seattle Thunderbirds before being traded to Prince Albert. 

The Raiders are one of the top teams in the CHL, and Cootes is part of the reason they are contending for a WHL title this spring. He contributed 14 goals and 26 assists in 28 regular-season games after the trade to Prince Albert, and has produced two goals and four assists in four playoff games. The Canucks are in the midst of a full rebuild and might feel the best development path for Cootes is a stop at the AHL level next fall. 

Kashawn Aitcheson, 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, left-shot defenceman, Barrie Colts, OHL

Aitcheson is another late birthday prospect who’s already 19 years old. He was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round (17^th overall) in 2025. 

Aitcheson is a perfect example of a prospect who will be better off developing in the AHL compared to returning to major junior for an additional season. He’s produced offence, logged an incredible amount of ice time in all situations, and dominated the OHL with his physical style of play. 

Why this could make a difference

During my time scouting for the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers, I experienced many scenarios where we had a prospect who had to return to junior hockey as a byproduct of the CBA rules and regulations. 

At the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago, I was the scouting director for the Panthers when we selected Owen Tippett 10th overall. Tippett was a coming off a season that saw him contribute 44 goals and 31 assists in his draft year. We were confident in his upside offensively but also recognized Tippett was going to need to work on his consistency and off-the-puck work ethic as he matured. 

Tippett made our team out of his first training camp and dressed for seven games before it became obvious he wasn’t yet ready for the NHL. We sent him back to Mississauga in the OHL and he went on to produce 36 goals and 39 assists in 51 games. 

The following season, the organization determined Tippett wasn’t ready for the NHL again, and we had no choice but to send him back to the OHL. He ended up being traded to Saginaw that year and produced 33 goals and 41 assists in 54 games split between the Steelheads and the Spirit. Those numbers weren’t as elite as we expected them to be. Our player development department, led by former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Bryan McCabe, had its hands full attempting to motivate Tippett and push him toward better results and a more detailed/competitive game overall. 

At the end of the day, it’s the player’s responsibility to maximize his ability at every stop of their development path. In Tippett’s case, he had the look of a prospect who wasn’t playing to his potential at the OHL level. He was producing offence but it was coming to him far too easily in relation to his consistent, high-end compete. In short, he looked like a prospect who needed to be challenged. 

Tippett landed in the AHL the following season and had a wonderful rookie year. He went on to produce 19 goals and 21 assists in 46 games. He was trending in a positive direction at the pro level, plying his trade under the watchful eye of our coaches and development team.

Tippett was learning what it takes to be a good pro on a daily basis. If we would have had the luxury of sending him to the AHL the previous season when he was 19, there’s no doubt in my mind he would have developed sooner than he did and become a more impactful NHL sniper earlier than he has. That’s no knock on the OHL organizations, who do a great job developing players, but there are cases where someone, like Tippett, is just ready for the next step in their development.

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The second-seeded Pioneers, playing under an hour from campus, defeated the top-seeded Western Michigan Broncos 6-2 on Sunday in the Loveland, Colo. regional final of the NCAA men’s hockey tournament.

Western Michigan beat Denver in double overtime in last year’s Frozen Four semifinal en route to the national title. But Denver beat Western Michigan in this year’s NCHC semifinals before winning the conference title and then topped the Broncos again on Sunday.

The Pioneers have won 11 games in a row.

Denver is going to the Frozen Four for the third time in a row and fourth time in five years, having won championships in 2022 and ’24. The team has won an NCAA-best 10 national titles.

Pioneers freshman goalie Johnny Hicks improved to 14-0-1 with a 26-save performance. The native of Kamloops, B.C., took over the starting job at mid-season.

Sam Harris (Montreal Canadiens pick), Kyle Chyzowski, Samu Salminen (New Jersey Devils), Brendan McMorrow, Kieran Cebrian and Eric Pohlkamp (San Jose Sharks) scored for Denver.

Zach Bookman and Theo Wallberg (Ottawa Senators) replied for Western Michigan.

Denver will play Michigan in the Frozen Four on April 9 in Las Vegas after the nationally top-ranked Wolverines edged the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs 4-3 on Sunday in the Albany, N.Y., regional final.

Michigan freshman goalie Jack Ivankovic (Nashville Predators) made several big saves in the final minute and finished with 30 stops.

Will Horcoff (Pittsburgh Penguins), Adam Valentini, Garrett Schifsky and Jayden Perron (Carolina Hurricanes) scored for the Wolverines, who head to the Frozen Four for the fourth time in five years after missing the tournament entirely last season..

Harper Bentz, Ty Hanson and Scout Truman scored for the Bulldogs, who fought back from a 3-0 deficit after two periods.

Wisconsin meets North Dakota in the other Frozen Four semifinal.

Captain Ben Dexheimer scored 24 seconds into overtime to give the No. 3-seeded Wisconsin a 4-3 come-from-behind win over top-seeded Michigan State in the Worcester, Mass., regional final on Saturday.

The win over its Big Ten rival sends Wisconsin to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2010.

Trailing 3-1 with five minutes left, Wisconsin scored two goals in 34 seconds to tie it before Dexheimer beat Michigan State star goalie Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings prospect) on a shot from the point early in OT.

Quinn Finley (New York Islanders), Luke Osburn (Buffalo Sabres) and Gavin Morrissey also scored for Wisconsin.

Gavin O’Connell, Patrick Geary (Sabres) and Matt Bagsall scored for Michigan State.

Wisconsin will face North Dakota in a Frozen Four semifinal on April 9 in Las Vegas after the top-seeded Fighting Hawks blanked the No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats 5-0 in the Sioux Falls, S.D., regional final on Saturday.

Czech goalie Jan Spunar made 22 saves for his second shutout in a row for North Dakota, which will make its first Frozen Four appearance since 2016.

Jack Kernan, with two, Cody Croal, Dylan James (Detroit Red Wings) and Cole Reschny (Calgary Flames) scored for North Dakota.

Western Michigan meets Denver and Michigan battles Minnesota Duluth in the other regional finals on Sunday.

McKenna and Penn State were eliminated from the NCAA tournament with a 3-1 loss to Minnesota Duluth on Friday.

Penn State opened the scoring in the game on a goal from Shea Van Olm but Max Plante (Detroit Red Wings) tied the score 1-1 before the first intermission.

It remained tied until late in the third until Hunter Anderson put Minnesota Duluth ahead with just over five minutes to play. Ty Hanson sealed the win with an empty-net goal.

McKenna, 18, is one of the top prospects for this summer’s NHL Draft. He had 51 points in 34 games this season and is one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player.

No. 1 Michigan 5, Bentley 1

T.J. Hughes had three points to lead the top-seed Michigan to an easy win over Bentley. The Wolverines will face Minnesota Duluth in the regional final on Sunday.

Hughes, a senior, opened the scoring halfway through the first period and added two assists. Ben Robertson, Nick Moldenhauer (Toronto Maple Leafs), Kason Muscutt and Garrett Schifsky also scored for Michigan.

Jack Ivankovic (Nashville Predators) made 24 saves in the win and nearly recorded a shutout, with Bentley’s David Helledy scoring in the final minute of the game.

Michael Hage, the Montreal Canadiens’ first-rounder who finished the season second on the Wolverines in scoring, did not play for Michigan due to an injury.

No. 4 Western Michigan 3, Minnesota State 1

Western Michigan moved one step closer to defending its NCAA title with a 3-1 win over Minnesota State on Friday.

After a scoreless first period, Zaccharya Wisdom (Seattle Kraken) and Zach Bookman scored second-period goals for Western Michigan.

Alex Zetterberg cut the lead to win in the first minute of the third, but Owen Michaels iced the win for Western Michigan with an empty-net goal.

Denver 5, Cornell 0

Denver cruised past Cornell on home ice to reach the regional final against Western Michigan.

Jake Fisher (Colorado Avalanche) and Kieran Cebrian opened the scoring for Denver with first-period goals. Sam Harris (Montreal Canadiens) added to that lead in the second period before Clarke Caswell (Seattle Kraken) and Rieger Lorenz (Minnesota Wild) rounded out the scoring in the third.

Johnny Hicks made 24 saves for the shutout. Alexis Cournoyer (Canadiens) made 25 saves for Cornell.

Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine stopped a career-high 41 shots, while Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick Porter Martone and Nashville Predators first-rounder Ryker Lee scored as the top-seeded Spartans beat the No. 4 UConn Huskies 2-1.

Martone scored the winner in the second period after he helped cause a UConn turnover in the Huskies’ zone before one-timing a pass from Tiernan Shoudy past Huskies goalie Tyler Muszelik (Florida Panthers).

Augustine, one of three finalists for the Mike Richter Award as NCAA goalie of the year, was terrific on a day when Michigan State had to kill off five penalties and was outshot 42-22.

Martone, a freshman at Michigan State after playing in the OHL last season for the Brampton Steelheads, also had an assist on Lee’s beautiful individual effort in the first period.

Tabor Heaslip scored for UConn.

No. 3 Wisconsin 5, No. 2 Dartmouth 1

Wisconsin earned a date with Big Ten conference foe Michigan State in the regional final with a convincing win over Dartmouth.

Simon Tassy scored two goals for the Badgers, while Quinn Finley (New York Islanders) had a goal and two assists.

Wisconsin outshot Dartmouth 28-14.

Sioux Falls, S.D. regional

No. 3 Quinnipiac 5, No. 2 Providence 2

Quinnipiac scored two empty-net goals to pull away from Providence to secure a spot in the national elite eight.

Former QMJHLer Antonin Verreault led the Bobcats with a goal and an assist. NCAA scoring leader Ethan Wyttenbach (Calgary) Flames had one of the empty-netters for the victors.

Freshman goalie sensation Jack Parsons made 33 saves for Providence, while Logan Sawyer (Montreal Canadiens) had a goal and an assist.

No. 1 North Dakota 3, No. 4 Merrimack 0

Czech goalie Jan Spunar made 31 saves for North Dakota, sending the Fighting Hawks to the regional final against Quinnipiac.

Cody Croal scored two goals, including an empty-netter, for North Dakota, while Dylan James (Detroit Red Wings) had the other UND goal.

Will Zellers (Colorado Avalanche) had two assists.

The Albany, N.Y. and Loveland, Colo. regionals start Friday.

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After falling short of the 16-team field last year, the proud program is back with the team to beat in this year’s event.

The Wolverines are the unanimous No. 1 team in the country in this week’s poll and have a real shot to tie Denver for top spot with a 10th national title. However, crazy things can happen in a single-elimination, four-round event.

With this being the first year where ex-CHL players are eligible for the NCAA, expect increased interest.

Here’s a look at this week’s four regionals, which will determine the teams for the Frozen Four, April 9-11 in Las Vegas.

Worcester, Mass., regional

No. 1 Michigan State Spartans (25-8-2) vs. No. 4 UConn Huskies (20-12-5), Thursday, 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT

After winning the Big Ten regular-season title, Michigan State was upset by Ohio State in the conference semifinals.

Canadian world junior team captain Porter Martone (Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick) leads the Spartans in scoring and is third among all NCAA rookies. He’s complemented by Minnesota Wild first-rounder Charlie Stramel and Nashville Predators first-rounder Ryker Lee.

In goal, Michigan State has one of the best in Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine, a two-time world junior gold medallist with the U.S.

The Huskies dropped the Hockey East final to upstart Merrimack before getting the final at-large spot.

Joey Muldowney (San Jose Sharks), Jake Richard (Buffalo Sabres) and Ryan Tattle lead the attack, while goalie Tyler Muszelik (Florida Panthers) put up a .929 save percentage.

UConn and Michigan both have their women’s and men’s basketball and men’s hockey teams still going in their respective national tournaments this week.

No. 2 Dartmouth Big Green (23-7-4) vs. No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers (21-12-2), Thursday, 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT

Dartmouth captured its first ECAC title in school history and is in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1980.

Undrafted sophomore Hayden Stavroff leads the country with 29 goals in 34 games, while goaltender Emmett Croteau (Montreal Canadiens) allowed just one goal in two games for the Hanover, N.H. school at the ECAC final four in Lake Placid, N.Y. last week.

The Badgers, who lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten quarterfinals, sweated out results in other games before securing an at-large bid. Badgers forward Blake Montgomery (Ottawa Senators) won the Memorial Cup with the London Knights last season. Quinn Finley, a New York Islanders 2022 pick, tied for the team goal-scoring lead.

The Worcester regional final is Saturday.

Sioux Falls, S.D., regional

No. 2 Providence Friars (23-10-2) vs. No. 3 Quinnipiac Bobcats (26-9-3), Thursday, 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT

Providence was the lone Hockey East team that was a sure thing for the NCAA tourney before its conference championship, where the top-seeded Friars lost to eventual champion Merrimack in the quarterfinals.

The Rhode Island team wins with excellent defence (2.2 goals allowed per game) and has received great work from freshman goalie Jack Parsons. Three NHL picks lead the forward group — John Mustard (Chicago Blackhawks), Roger McQueen (Anaheim Ducks first-round pick, Hockey East rookie of the year) and Logan Sawyer (Canadiens).

Like Providence, Quinnipiac was assured of an NCAA spot before its conference tournament. And like the Friars, the Hamden, Conn. team exited as a top seed, being swept by Clarkson in a best-of-three ECAC quarterfinal.

Calgary Flames prospect and Bobcats freshman Ethan Wyttenbach leads the country in scoring. He’s making a return to Sioux Falls, where he played in the USHL.

Quinnipiac’s Elliott Groenewold (Boston Bruins) was named best defensive defenceman in the ECAC.

No. 1 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (27-9-1) vs. No. 4 Merrimack Warriors (21-15-2), Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

North Dakota rolled to the NCHC regular-season title before dropping a confernece-tournament semifinal against Minnesota Duluth.

Forward Cole Reschny (Flames first-round pick) was the conference’s rookie of the year, while another Flames prospect, Abram Wiebe, is a leader on defence, along with top 2026 draft prospect Keaton Verhoeff. Czech goalie Jan Spunar was the NCHC’s top netminder.

The NCHC has been the top conference in recent years, winning seven of the past nine national championships. North Dakota’s last title came in 2016.

Merrimack won its first Hockey East title in school history as a No. 8 seed, stealing a national-championship berth in the process.

Swedish goalie Max Lundgren made 49 saves in the title tilt against UConn. He has a .920 save percentage while playing every minute of every game for the North Andover, Mass. team.

Flames fans should have their eyes on this first-round game with Calgary prospect Trevor Hoskin one of the leaders for Merrimack offensively, along with Justin Gill (Islanders).

The Sioux Falls regional final is Saturday.

Loveland, Colo., regional

No. 1 Western Michigan Broncos (26-10-1) vs. No. 4 Minnesota State Mavericks (22-10-7), Friday, 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT

The reigning national-champion Broncos may not have the biggest individual names, but they’re certainly proven winners. They are in the tournament for the fifth time in as many seasons under coach Pat Ferschweiler.

Western Michigan lost 2-1 in overtime to Denver in an NCHC semifinal, and could be destined for another meeting with the Pioneers in the second round here.

Goaltender Hampton Slukynsky (Los Angeles Kings) has played every minute of every game, while his brother Grant leads the team in scoring. William Whitelaw (Columbus Blue Jackets) has had a nice season after transferring from Michigan.

Minnesota State is looking for its third Frozen Four appearance this decade after capturing the CCHA title for the second year in a row.

Tristan Lemyre leads the team in scoring after winning the national championship the last two years with Western Michigan and Denver, respectively. Alex Tracy gives the Mavericks strong play in net.

No. 2 Denver Pioneers (25-11-3) vs. No. 3 Cornell Big Red (22-10-1), Friday, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT

Denver is the host team for this regional, playing less than an hour from campus.

The Pioneers won national titles under coach David Carle in 2022 and ’24 before losing to Western Michigan in last year’s NCAA semifinals. Denver beat Minnesota Duluth in double overtime in this year’s NCHC final, extending the Pioneers’ win streak to nine games.

Eric Pohlkamp (San Jose Sharks) is an elite blue-liner and led the team in scoring. He is a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as top player in the country. Freshman goalie Johnny Hicks is 12-0-1 after taking over from Quentin Miller when the Canadiens prospect suffered a mid-season injury.

Cornell lost to Princeton in an ECAC semifinal but was assured of an NCAA spot before the conference tourney. The Ithaca, N.Y. team has reached the second round of the national championship the past three years.

Canadians prospect goaltender Alexis Cournoyer has a 1.98 GAA in his freshman year for Cornell. Top Cornell scorer Jonathan Castagna was acquired by the Flames from Utah in the MacKenzie Weegar deal.

The Loveland regional final is Sunday.

Albany, N.Y., regional

No. 1 Michigan Wolverines (29-7-1) vs. No. 4 Bentley Falcons (23-11-5), Friday, 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT

Michigan was guaranteed a No. 1 seed heading into the Big Ten final, but the Wolverines went full steam ahead and beat Ohio State 7-3.

Undrafted senior forward T.J. Hughes was named Big Ten player of the year, leading the charge for the top offensive team in the country. Right behind him are a couple of first-round picks — Michael Hage (Canadiens) and Will Horcoff (Pittsburgh Penguins).

In net, freshman Jack Ivankovic (Predators) is a two-time member of Canada’s junior team.

The Falcons won the Atlantic Hockey title for the second year in a row to grab the 16th and final spot in the tourney. Bentley’s Kellan Hjartarson was named the lowest-ranked conference’s top defensive forward and had two goals and an assist in the Atlantic-title win over Sacred Heart, while Michael Mesic has scored in nine consecutive games for the Waltham, Mass. school.

No. 2 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (23-14-1) vs. No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions (21-13-2), Friday, 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

The final game of the first round might be the most interesting.

Minnesota Duluth has a couple of top-10 scorers in brothers Max (Red Wings) and Zam Plante (Penguins). Jayson Shaugabay (Tampa Bay Lightning) gives the Bulldogs another huge threat up front.

Penn State lost to Michigan in a Big Ten semifinal after reaching the Frozen Four for the first time in school history last year..

All eyes, of course, will be on Gavin McKenna, who finished third in national scoring in his freshman campaign. He’ll try to make a final case to go No. 1 in this year’s NHL Draft.

Penn State defenceman Jackson Smith (Blue Jackets first-rounder) was named to the all-Big Ten second team in his freshman season.

The Albany regional final is Sunday.

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Here’s a look at some of the top prospects I’m monitoring closely at the tournament. Notably, these players have either already been drafted by an NHL team, or are on their way to being a free agent. We’ll take a team-by-team look, but I wanted to start with one player in particular who I think could have the largest long-term (and potentially short-term) impact for a Canadian NHL team:

Future Montreal Canadiens Second Line Centre

The Canadiens have an embarrassment of riches scattered throughout their prospect pool. The organization has, so far, held off trading for a second-line centre and it might have something to do with the fact Michigan Wolverines forward Michael Hage is a player who could end up filling the void in the near future. 

Hage is a play-driving centre who leans distributor more than pure shooter, but still projects as a prospect who could score 20 or more goals at the NHL level. He’s especially dangerous on the Wolverines’ power play. Hage has high-end vision with the puck on his stick and he’s highly competitive. He gets between 16-19 minutes per game for the Wolverines, depending on special teams. Almost all of his shifts have come at even strength and on the power play this season. 

Michigan plays Bentley on Friday and, if they move on, would face the winner of Minnesota-Duluth and Penn State on Sunday. If the Wolverines are eliminated some time this weekend in the regionals, I’m anticipating Hage to sign with the Canadiens after wrapping up his sophomore season.

What will be interesting to see whenever Hage does sign is how the Canadiens handle it. James Hagens signing an ATO (amateur tryout) contract with the AHL’s Providence Bruins allows him to get some pro experience before the Bruins sign him to his entry-level contract. That may set a precedent for how Montreal proceeds with Hage since they are in the thick of a playoff race as well and have a tough lineup to crack. By going that route, Montreal could sign him to his ELC at any time, either to use him in the lineup at the end of the regular season or in the playoffs, depending on their scenario.

Now on to the NCAA teams and the players I’m watching closely for their potential NHL impact.

Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans enter the tournament as the top seed in the Worcester region with a record of 25-8-2. They have several players on their roster who look poised to sign entry-level contracts at the conclusion of their season. 

Charlie Stramel, 6-foot-3, 222 pounds, senior forward 

Stramel is property of the Minnesota Wild, who drafted the power forward in the first-round (21^st overall) in 2023. Stramel took some time to evolve at the college level, but found his footing after transferring from Wisconsin after his sophomore season. He produced 19G-25A this year at MSU. He averaged nearly 20 minutes per game of ice time while being deployed in all situations. There was a time when I was concerned about Stramel’s ability to track up and down the ice, but he’s evolved over his college career and eliminated my concern in the process. 

Wild GM Bill Guerin values players like Stramel. It would surprise me if Minnesota decided not to sign Stramel at the end of his season. 

Trey Augustine, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, junior goaltender

The Detroit Red Wings selected Augustine in the second-round (41^st overall) in 2023. He’s a finalist for the Mike Richter award (top NCAA goalie) after a season that resulted in Augustine leading the Big Ten in save percentage, goals-against average and shutouts. He isn’t the tallest goaltending prospect, but Augustine has wide shoulders and takes up his share of the net. He squares up to shooters on time, has excellent crease composure and he’s plenty athletic enough to make second and third saves when required. Here’s a look at Augustine’s statistics his first three years at Michigan State. He’s a proven winner. 

Porter Martone, 6-foot-3, 204 pounds, freshman winger 

The Philadelphia Flyers selected Martone sixth overall last June. The freshman winger is the Spartans’ leading scorer (24G-23A) and appears ready to sign his entry-level contract. 

Martone averages around 18 minutes of ice time. His combination of power and goal scoring upside are an attractive element. Pucks are on and off Martone’s stick in a hurry. He leans goal scorer but, with his size and length, extends plays for linemates in the trenches that eventually lead to assists. 

Quinnipiac Bobcats

Ethan Wyttenbach, 5-foot-10, 181 pounds, freshman winger

The Calgary Flames have to be ecstatic with the step Wytennbach took with his game this year at Quinnipiac. Calgary selected him in the fifth-round (144^th overall) just last June out of the USHL and he led the entire NCAA in scoring with 24G-34A this season. Wyttenbach has great puck touch and the ability to escape pressure in small areas. He’s quick off the rush and creative overall. All of his ice time comes at even strength and on the power play. He generally gets between 18 and 22 minutes per game depending on special teams. 

It will be interesting to see what the Flames decide to do with Wyttenbach at the end of the year. The 19-year-old has time on his side to continue to develop at the college level and keep rounding out his overall game. Wyttenbach is a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker award.  

Michigan Wolverines

TJ Hughes, 6-foot, 185 pounds, senior forward

After mentioning Hage at the outset of my analysis, I’d be remised if I didn’t promote the leading scorer for the Wolverines. 

Hughes is the second-leading scorer in the NCAA (20G-33A). He averages just shy of 19 minutes per game of ice time with almost all of his shifts coming at even strength and the power play. Hughes leads by example with his relentless approach. He’s active up ice as F1 on the forecheck creating turnovers, strong on the puck and possesses a deceptive release. Hughes has pro ready habits overall. Although he doesn’t kill penalties, he’s generally trustworthy defensively in addition to the impact he provides offensively. 

Penn State Nittany Lions

Matt DiMarsico, 6-foot, 180 pounds, junior forward

Gavin McKenna has garnered most of the attention at Penn State this year, but DiMarsico has stood out for me as well. 

DiMarsico is the second-leading scorer at Penn State (18G-24A) behind McKenna (15G-36A). I appreciate DiMarsico’s competitiveness and consistency. He’s deployed in all situations and has averaged 18 minutes per game of ice time. DiMarsico might project as more of a bottom-six energy forward at the pro level, but he’s proven he has, at least, secondary scoring upside. His speed and commitment to detail in all three zones are attractive elements.

Dimarsico is 22 years old and undrafted, but it feels to me like there are several NHL teams that have interest in him. He could end up foregoing his senior season to turn pro. 

Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs 

Max Plante, 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, sophomore forward

Plante was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (47^th overall) in 2024. He is also a highly competitive forward who doesn’t shy away from engaging in the hard areas of the ice. He’s quick and fast on straight lines, reads how plays are developing and is exceptionally dangerous from the bumper position on the power play. Plante is the leading scoring at Duluth and fifth in the nation overall (24G-25A). He has the ability and commitment to be used in a variety of roles, including penalty-killing. 

Western Michigan Broncos 

Grant Slukynsky, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, junior centre

Defending NCAA champion Western Michigan plays a hard, buttoned up, style of game as a team and Slukynsky is a massive contributor to their overall team success. He’s deployed in a variety of roles, one of the top face-off centres in the entire NCAA and the leading scorer for the Broncos (10G-30A). NHL teams will value his overall detail and “lead by example” approach to the game. I’m projecting Skukynsky as a potential bottom-six/two-way forward at the NHL level. 

Cornell Big Red

Jonathan Castagna, 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, junior centre

The Calgary Flames acquired Castagna’s rights in the trade that sent defenceman MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth at the trade deadline. Castagna is the leading scorer for the Big Red and a forward who has a real chance at someday maturing into a bottom-six contributor for the Flames. Castagna plays fast and uses his size and length as an advantage. He’s not a really high volume shooter, but when he has a clean look at the net he definitely knows how to deposit the puck in the back of it. Castagna averages around 19 minutes of ice time per game. I view him as an emerging two-way forward with secondary scoring upside, size, and commitment to be used in a variety of roles.

Denver Pioneers

Boston Buckberger, 5-foot-11, 181 pounds, junior defenceman

Buckberger is a 22-year-old undrafted free agent who has developed nicely at the college level. Sometimes prospects need more time to work on their game. Buckberger is a perfect example. His skating, for his size, needed to improve for me to gain more trust in his trajectory. Now that he has proven his pace isn’t an issue the rest of his game has come into focus. Buckberger averages over 24 minutes per game of ice time. He’s in the top 10 for points by a defenceman in the entire NCAA (10G-18A) and top five in the plus/minus category (plus-29). 

Buckberger might end up returning to Denver for his senior season, but I’m confident in saying teams are circling him as well. I’m pulling for this player. He’s worked hard to get to the stage he’s at and, honestly, how can’t you pull for a player with such a great name. What a handle.

Rieger Lorenz, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, senior forward

Lorenz was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the second-round (56^th overall) in 2022. The senior forward has blossomed into a reliable three-zone contributor at Denver. After a down year offensively last year as a junior (6G-14A) Lorenz has improved to 15G-18A this season. He’s being deployed in all situations and is committed defensively. He has a chance to potentially provide the Wild with some bottom-six minutes at the NHL level in time. 

Why senior players are in control of their destiny

Something to keep a close eye on at this time of the year, in relation to seniors whose rights are already owned by an NHL team that drafted them, is the timeline to get graduating player signed to contracts. 

If a graduating player, like Lorenz for example, isn’t signed by August 15 this summer he becomes an unrestricted free agent free to sign with any NHL organization. Seniors are in ultimate control of their destiny. They can choose to sign with the team that drafted them or wait it out until August 15. When a team is informed that the graduating player isn’t interested in signing with them, they will usually attempt to trade his rights to another NHL organization in return for a later round draft pick.

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The WHL, OHL and QMJHL champions will join the host Kelowna Rockets in the Memorial Cup, May 22-31.

Twenty-three players picked in the first round of the past two NHL Drafts are in the playoffs, along with several top prospects for the next two drafts.

Here’s a look at matchups and storylines across the three leagues:

WHL

Eastern Conference first-round matchups
No. 1. Prince Albert Raiders vs. No. 8 Red Deer Rebels
No. 2 Medicine Hat Tigers vs. No. 7 Regina Pats
No. 3 Edmonton Oil Kings vs. No. 6 Saskatoon Blades
No. 4 Calgary Hitmen vs. No. 5 Brandon Wheat Kings

Western Conference first-round matchups
No. 1 Everett Silvertips vs. No. 8 Portland Winterhawks
No. 2 Penticton Vees vs. No. 7 Seattle Thunderbirds
No. 3 Prince George Cougars vs. No. 6 Spokane Chiefs
No. 4 Kelowna Rockets vs. No. 5 Kamloops Blazers

Tigers look to defend title

Despite losing their top four scorers from last year’s WHL championship and Memorial Cup runner-up team, including Gavin McKenna to Penn State, the Medicine Hat Tigers went right down to the wire with the Prince Albert Raiders in the race for first in the Eastern Conference. While Medicine Hat fell just short, GM/coach Willie Desjardins’ squad is in a good position to take a run at another championship.

Star defenceman Bryce Pickford, a Montreal Canadiens prospect, scored 45 goals for the Tigers, while 2026 NHL Draft-eligible twins Markus and Liam Ruck went 1-2 in WHL scoring.

The Tigers face the Regina Pats in an intriguing first-round matchup. Regina’s Maddox Schultz, allowed into the league a year early for half his team’s games under a new Western Canadian development model, put up a very impressive 29 points in 34 games for his hometown squad.

Silvertips in familiar spot

Just like last year, the Everett Silvertips finished the regular season with the best record in the WHL. Now, they get a chance to avenge last year’s second-round playoff loss against Portland as Everett opens the post-season against the Winterhawks.

Star defenceman Landon DuPont, in his second year after being given exceptional status in 2024, has been a huge force again (18 goals, 55 assists, plus-59 in 63 games) as he makes a bid to be the top pick in next year’s NHL Draft.

Up front, Carter Bear (Detroit Red Wings first-round pick), Julius Miettinen (Seattle Kraken second-round pick) and Matias Vanhanen lead the way for the CHL’s top-ranked team.

Memorial Cup hosts face tough test

The Rockets know they will play in the Memorial Cup as the host team, but Kelowna would rather not have a long break before competing for a national championship.

They meet a talented Kamloops Blazers squad in an all-B.C. Round 1 after the Rockets settled for fourth in the Western Conference.

The Blazers have two top-10 WHL scorers in 2026 draft-eligible Texan JP Hurlbert and Nathan Behm (Chicago Blackhawks).

Kelowna has one of the top NHL prospects outside the league in Tij Iginla (Utah Mammoth first-round pick), who scored 41 goals in 48 games.

Thunderbirds eye upset

The Seattle Thunderbirds look poised to be strong next season after a very busy trade deadline, but they’re no pushover this year.

Cameron Schmidt (Dallas Stars) was acquired from the Vancouver Giants at the trade deadline and helped push the Thunderbirds into the playoffs, finishing the season with a league-leading 51 goals.

The Thunderbirds also feature 2027 draft-eligible Brock England (51 points in 64 games as a rookie) and star defenceman Radim Mrtka (Buffalo Sabres first-round pick).

They figure to be a challenging foe for the West’s second-seeded Penticton Vees, who had one of the best expansion seasons in CHL history.

QMJHL

Eastern Conference first-round matchups
No. 1 Moncton Wildcats vs. No. 8 Saint John Sea Dogs
No. 2 Chicoutimi Sagueneens vs. No. 7 Halifax Mooseheads
No. 3 Newfoundland Regiment vs. No. 6 Cape Breton Eagles
No. 4 Charlottetown Islanders vs. No. 5 Quebec Remparts

Western Conference first-round matchups
No. 1 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. No. 8 Gatineau Olympiques
No. 2 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada vs. No. 7 Victoriaville Tigres
No. 3 Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. No. 6 Val-d’Or Foreurs
No. 4 Shawinigan Cataractes vs. No. 5 Sherbrooke Phoenix

Wildcats aim for back-to-back crowns

Like the WHL, the QMJHL could see a repeat champ.

The Moncton Wildcats edged the Chicoutimi Sagueneens for top spot in the league, and have their best player back from last year’s squad in recently signed Utah Mammoth first-round pick Caleb Desnoyers.

The father-son, coaching-GM duo of Gardiner and Taylor MacDougall has built a powerhouse for the second year in a row after Gardiner’s longtime run at the University of New Brunswick.

Nine Americans are on the roster, including QMJHL top-scoring defenceman Tommy Bleyl and 43-goal man Niko Tournas.

An all-New Brunswick first-round matchup against Saint John will see towering 2027 NHL Draft top-pick hopeful Alexis Joseph of the Sea Dogs test himself against the league’s best team.

Sagueneens a scoring machine

Chicoutimi scored more goals than any team in the CHL this season, averaging five per game.

Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxim Masse led the Q with 104 points, while Nashville Predators pick Alex Huang was second among defencemen with 70 points.

The Sagueneens also allowed the fewest goals in the league, and have a top goaltender in Ottawa Senators prospect Lucas Beckman.

Armada look for consistency

The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada have one of the best Q teams on paper, but battled injuries all season and finished one point back of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for top spot in the Western Conference.

St. Louis Blues first-round pick Justin Carbonneau and Pittsburgh Penguins first-rounder Bill Zonnon could head to the AHL next year under an expected new rule for 19-year-olds, so it’s a win-now feel for the Armada.

On defence, 2026 draft-eligible Xavier Villenueve is one of the most exciting players in the CHL.

Dynamic duo in Charlottetown

When the Charlottetown Islanders got Ivan Ryabkin from the Carolina Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate at mid-season, coach/GM Jim Hulton’s team suddenly had one of the most dangerous players in the league.

The Russian had 42 points in 29 games for an Islanders squad that was very good down the stretch. He forms a top pairing with Ontario native Nathan Leek, who passed through OHL waivers after a cup of coffee with the Peterborough Petes and scored 47 goals for Charlottetown this season.

OHL

Eastern Conference first-round matchups
No. 1 Brantford Bulldogs vs. No. 8 Sudbury Wolves
No. 2 Barrie Colts vs. No. 7 Niagara IceDogs
No. 3 Ottawa 67’s vs. No. 6 Kingston Frontenacs
No. 4 Peterborough Petes vs. No. 5 North Bay Battalion

Western Conference first-round matchups
No. 1 Kitchener Rangers vs. No. 8 Saginaw Spirit
No. 2 Windsor Spitfires vs. No. 7 Guelph Storm
No. 3 Flint Firebirds vs. No. 6 Owen Sound Attack
No. 4 London Knights vs. No. 5 Soo Greyhounds

Can anyone stop Bulldogs, Rangers?

The loaded Brantford Bulldogs and Kitchener Rangers are favourites to make it out of their conferences and square off for the OHL title.

Both teams are in the double digits when it comes to NHL Draft picks.

The Zach Hyman-owned Bulldogs have been a juggernaut all season, led by OHL No. 3 scorer Jake O’Brien (Kraken first-round pick). The Rangers became the clear class of the Western Conference after acquiring Sam O’Reilly (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Jared Woolley (L.A. Kings) from the rival London Knights at the trade deadline.

The Rangers lost out to the Guelph Storm for hosting duties for next year’s Memorial Cup, so Kitchener decided to become all-out buyers this season.

Scouts will be watching the Kitchener-Saginaw first-round series closely. OHL scoring leader Nikita Klepov of the Spirit is a first-round candidate for this year’s NHL Draft, while Saginaw’s Damian Zhilkin is a top 2027 prospect.

Firebirds crave elusive playoff success

Like the Rangers, the Flint Firebirds were buyers at the trade deadline with the crowded Western Conference seemingly up for grabs.

But the Firebirds settled for a second-place finish in the West Division behind the Windsor Spitfires, whose win on the final day of the season pushed them ahead of Flint.

That means the Michigan team will be a No. 3 seed in the conference after acquiring Kevin He (Winnipeg Jets) and Jacob Battaglia (New York Rangers) to bolster their roster.

The Firebirds have won just two playoff series (both in 2022) since moving to Flint from Plymouth, Mich., in 2014.

Knights make surprising run to No. 4 seed

Despite selling assets at the deadline, the reigning Memorial Cup champion London Knights held off the buying Soo Greyhounds in the race for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.

While the two-time reigning OHL champs don’t have the same level of talent on their roster this season, Dale and Mark Hunter once again have produced a very respectable squad.

It would be unwise to count out any team run by the Hunters.

The Knights’ series against top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Chase Reid, Brady Martin (Nashville Predators first-round pick), star goalie Carter George (Kings) and the Greyhounds should be interesting.

Cameron’s charges impress

Ottawa 67’s veteran coach Dave Cameron took a lot of criticism last year after Team Canada bowed out in the world junior quarterfinals under his watch. Months later, Cameron’s 67’s missed the OHL playoffs.

But it’s been a nice bounce-back campaign for the former Ottawa Senators coach, who guided the 67’s to the third-best record in the league despite a roster that doesn’t have the same amount of star power as other top contenders.

It brings back memories from the early 2000s in Toronto when Cameron led the St. Michael’s Majors to four consecutive Eastern Conference finals.

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The NCAA men’s hockey tournament bracket was unveiled Sunday, setting up four regional divisions that include rising contenders and potential bracket-busters — all vying for a spot in the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.

The University of Michigan Wolverines headline the Albany Region as the top seed, where they will open against the Bentley Falcons.

Canadian Gavin McKenna and the Penn State Nittany Lions will take on the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

The Loveland Region might be the most wide-open of the four. Western Michigan Broncos men’s ice hockey enters as the No. 1 seed, but all eyes will be on the Denver Pioneers, who have a strong history in the tournament, sitting as the No. 2 seed.

Cornell and Minnesota State Mavericks round out the Loveland Region.

The Sioux Falls Region features a stacked group with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, Merrimack Warriors, Providence Friars and Quinnipiac Bobcats, featuring the top opening-round matchups.

The Michigan State Spartans men’s ice hockey lead the Worcester Region, opening against the UConn Huskies. That region also features the Dartmouth Big Green and Wisconsin Badgers.

The road to the Frozen Four will culminate in Las Vegas, with the NCAA men’s hockey semifinals set for April 9 and the national championship game scheduled for April 11 at T-Mobile Arena.

Below is the complete bracket:

Albany Region
1. Michigan
2. Minnesota Duluth
3. Penn State
4. Bentley

Loveland Region
1. Western Michigan
2. Denver
3. Cornell
4. Minnesota

State Sioux Falls Region
1. North Dakota
2. Providence
3. Quinnipiac
4. Merrimack

Worcester Region
1. Michigan State
2. Dartmouth
3. Wisconsin
4. Connecticut

Michigan State’s Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings), UMass’ Michael Hrabal (Utah Mammoth) and the undrafted Josh Kotai of Augustana are the three finalists, the Hockey Commissioners Association announced Friday.

The American-born Augustine, picked 41st overall by the Red Wings in 2023, is 23-8-1 with a 2.08 goals-against average and .929 save percentage this season, earning him the Big Ten’s goalie of the year award for a second straight campaign. His Spartans team is guaranteed a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, starting next week.

The Czech-born Hrabal, selected 38th overall in 2023 by what were then the Arizona Coyotes in 2023, is 19-8-1 with a 1.98 ERA and .936 save percentage this season. He also was named Hockey East’s player of the year earlier this week.

UMass needs a win against Merrimack in a Hockey East semifinal on Friday to keep its NCAA tourney hopes alive.

Kotai, 23, is 20-11-4 with a 1.99 GAA and .938 save percentage this season. Augustana was eliminated from the CCHA conference championship last week, but still could get an NCAA tournament spot with some help on the out-of-town scoreboard this weekend.

The Richter winner will be announced April 10.

Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler won the award last year with Boston College.

Previous winners include Connor Hellebuyck, Thatcher Demko and Jeremy Swayman.

The talk quickly turned to specific numbers.

“I was thinking like 40 goals, and then my dad’s like ‘well, I think you can get 50,” Pickford, 19, recalled in a telephone interview. “So then I scratched 40 and we put 50 as the goal. It’s pretty crazy I’m close there, but I have to have a good finish if I want it.”

Pretty crazy might be an understatement, considering the first-year Tigers captain plays defence and wasn’t even selected in his first year of NHL Draft eligibility a couple of years ago before the Montreal Canadiens snapped him up in the third round in 2025.

The six-foot-one Pickford has a whopping 44 goals in 54 games, the fourth-most for a defenceman in a single season in CHL history and the most by a blue-liner since 1989.

Pickford would need six goals in his final two games, Friday and Saturday against the Red Deer Rebels, to tie Lawrence Sacharuk’s record of 50, set in 1971-72 with the Saskatoon Blades. Keep in mind that Sacharuk and those at Nos. 2 and 3 on the list (Greg Hawgood with 48 in 1987-88 and Bryan Fogarty with 47 in 1988-89) needed either 65 or 66 games to hit those totals.

If not for an injury that kept him out nearly a month earlier this season, Pickford likely would be in the record books already.

“I didn’t think his skating was maybe quite as quick as he needed (before this season). But he’s a way better skater this year than last year,” Tigers general manager/coach Willie Desjardins said. “He just has something inside of him where he wants to be a pro and he works at his game. You’ve got to give him credit. … He came in as a different player (this season).”

Pickford started giving the Tigers a huge boost after Desjardins acquired him in a trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds prior to the 2024-25 season.

He helped the Thunderbids win the WHL title and advance to the Memorial Cup final in 2023, but Pickford played a far less flashy role, scoring only eight goals in 121 career regular-season games with Seattle.

Desjardins is the first to admit he didn’t see this kind of explosion as a possibility when he made the trade. But he did feel there was untapped offensive potential.

“I talked to people and they said he had really good skill, way better skill than people were giving him credit for,” said Desjardins, a former head coach for the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings.

“I went more on what people had told me about him. The things I liked about him are how hard he competed and how hard he played.”

A 20-goal season in Pickford’s first year in Medicine Hat was followed by 13 goals in 18 playoff games en route to another WHL title and Memorial Cup runner-up showing in 2025. Pickford’s performance convinced the Canadiens to take him 81st overall after the disappointment of going uncalled in the 2024 draft.

“I kind of just took it day by day after (the 2024 draft) and just wanted to prove every team wrong,” Pickford said. “It was a huge motivator for me the rest of the summer, and going into the season, I had something to play for right away.”

This year, Pickford has taken his game to another level after a hard summer of work on a rink in a nearby barn under the watchful eye of his dad, a former junior player and Bryce’s longtime trainer. They focused heavily on fascia training — exercises and movements designed to work on the body’s connective tissues.

Despite not having Gavin McKenna as a teammate after the CHL’s most outstanding player transferred to Penn State University last summer, Pickford hasn’t missed a beat.

Without McKenna and several other key players from last year’s championship team, the Tigers are still tied for top spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with the Prince Albert Raiders.

“I think a lot of people thought we were going to lose a lot of guys and be a lower team in this league,” said Pickford, who is plus-53 this season. “But I think we just talked at the beginning of the year and it was like let’s just prove everybody wrong and (discussed) how good it would feel if we won without all those guys.”

Proving others wrong seems to be a theme of Pickford’s junior career. The Canadian junior team did not invite him to camp in December for the 2026 world juniors, where Canada won bronze.

“It’s just another thing I could use to fire me up in games,” said Pickford, who got a nice gift days before the world juniors when the Habs signed him to an entry-level deal.

“(The national junior team) obviously didn’t see something in me that they wanted. I didn’t get an invite, so I kind of keep in the back of my head game by game.”

Desjardins believes Pickford’s off-season paved the way for him to make a bigger impact, and noted he put in the work on and off the ice while maintaining his gruelling schedule at the family farm.

Pickford said farm life has helped him become the player he is.

“I think it teaches me a lot of life lessons,” he said. “Taking care of animals is a huge one before me. We do chores before we even eat breakfast because we want them to eat. Sometimes, if something goes wrong, it’s hours of work. I think it’s an important skill to have to get up and do stuff early in the morning. I really love the mornings.

“It’s been a lot of hard days, but looking back on it, I’m super grateful my dad grew us up on the farm because it teaches us what hard work looks like.”

Games to watch

Friday, March 20: Moncton Wildcats (48-10-2-2) at Charlottetown Islanders (33-21-2-6), 6 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. AT

The Wildcats are one point up on the Chicoutimi Sagueneens for first place in the QMJHL entering a season-ending home-and-home series with Charlottetown. It won’t be easy. The Islanders are 9-1 in their past 10.

Friday, March 20: Windsor Spitfires (43-15-6-2) at London Knights (39-22-4-1), 7 p.m. ET

Only one division title remains up for grabs in the OHL. The Spitfires can clinch the Midwest Division ahead of the Flint Firebirds with a win in their penultimate game of the season.

Saturday, March 21: Ohio State Buckeyes (14-20-2) at Michigan Wolverines (28-7-1) in Big Ten final, 8 p.m. ET

If the surprising Buckeyes pull off another upset, they’ll grab an automatic berth in the 16-team national championship and take an at-large spot away from a potential bubble team. The brackets for the NCAA tournament will be unveiled Sunday.

Saturday, March 21: Seattle Thunderbirds (28-27-6-4) at Portland Winterhawks (29-30-6-1), 9:05 p.m. ET / 6:05 p.m. PT

These two teams and the Victoria Royals enter the final weekend in a tight battle for the final two playoff spots in the WHL’s Western Conference.

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McKenna, Wyttenbach headline 10 finalists for Hobey Baker Award

Scout’s Analysis: Latest ranking of NHL’s 2026 draft class

The Penn State superstar was among the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to college hockey’s top player.

The ten finalists were announced on Wednesday and were selected by voting from all 63 Division I college hockey head coaches and online fan balloting.

In his first season with Penn State, McKenna won the Big Ten scoring title with 38 points in 24 games. His season-best performance came against Ohio State on Feb. 20, when he recorded one goal and seven assists for the most points in an NCAA game in 39 years.

McKenna, 18, was also named Big Ten freshman of the year earlier on Wednesday.

Other notable names among the 10 finalists include Calgary Flames prospect Ethan Wyttenbach and Boston Bruins prospect James Hagens.

Wyttenbach, who plays for Quinnipiac University, led the NCAA in scoring with 24 goals and 34 assists for 58 points in 38 games.

Here’s a full list of the 10 nominees:

Trey Augustine, Michigan State University 
James Hagens, Boston College
TJ Hughes, University of Michigan
Gavin McKenna, Penn State University; 
Max Plante, University of Minnesota Duluth 
Eric Pohlkamp, University of Denver
Hayden Stavroff, Dartmouth College; 
Charlie Stramel, Michigan State University; 
Felix Trudeau, Sacred Heart University;
Ethan Wyttenbach, Quinnipiac University.

The 10 finalists will be cut down to a top three on April 2, with the winner being announced on April 10.

Boyd Hillier, vice-president of the St. John’s Junior Hockey League, said the violent game on March 7 between the St. John’s Junior Caps and the Southern Shore Junior Breakers was a “black eye” on hockey in the region. The league has since handed out suspensions to 18 players and coaches worth a collective total of 53 games, Hillier said Saturday.

Video appearing to show footage from the night of roiling tangles of players shedding their gloves and throwing punches has raised eyebrows across the country.

“It’s just downright embarrassing,” Hillier said in an interview.

“Yes, there are going to be fights every now and then, but not this type,” he added. “We don’t want this in our league, so we had to try to come down hard on it.”

The match on March 7 was the third quarterfinal playoff game between the Caps and the Breakers, both of which are junior teams, whose players are mostly between 18 and 21. The Caps were up 2-0 when the fists began swinging, Hillier said.
The game had to be called off early in the third period because all four goalies had been tossed out for fighting, he said.

A game summary on the St. John’s Junior Hockey League website initially said referees doled out 568 minutes in penalties, but the total was since updated to 572. Breakers’ players were penalized 324 minutes and the Caps got 248.

By comparison, there was an average of 45 penalty minutes in the 15 games before March 7, according to tallies on the league’s website.

Hillier pointed at the Breakers, saying the team decided it “didn’t want to play hockey anymore and wanted to get physical.”

However, the Breakers disagree with his assessment. A post on the team’s Facebook page Friday said Hillier’s comments do not reflect the efforts or intentions of the coaches, players or organization.

“Our organization is also dismayed by the events that took place during (the game) and recognizes the impact that these actions, and the portrayal of them through media coverage, are having on the game of hockey in our province, as well as on the families and fans who support and enjoy the game,” the post said.

The post said the team has requested a meeting with the league’s executives.

Hillier said 12 players and coaches from the Breakers received suspensions totalling 45 games, while six caps players got suspensions totalling eight games. Three of four goalies got suspensions, he said, adding that the fourth — with the Caps — was found to be an unwilling participant in the ruckus.

“Some of these guys are going to sit out next year for the first five games in the year,” he said. “That’s almost one quarter of the schedule.”

The Breakers’ post said the team plans to appeal several suspensions, adding that some were “disproportionate based on the level of penalties assessed during the game.”

The team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In 2023, amateur hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador attracted national attention when the province’s governing body for the sport temporarily banned post-game handshakes, citing “issues” that had led to suspensions.

The 10th-ranked Nittany Lions lost 5-2 to the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines in a Big Ten men’s hockey semifinal on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

McKenna, in a battle to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NHL Draft, scored one goal to extend his point streak to nine games. He has 19 points during that stretch.

Despite the loss, Penn State is guaranteed an at-large spot in the 16-team NCAA national championship tournament later this month.

Garrett Schifsky scored two goals for Michigan.

Ohio State 3, Michigan State 2 (OT)

The unraked Buckeyes (14-20-2) are a potential bid stealer after topping the third-ranked Spartans in Lansing, Mich.

It’s the second win in a row over a likely tournament team for Ohio State, which beat Wisconsin in a Big Ten quarterfinal.

A road win over Michigan in the Big Ten final next week will send the Buckeyes to the NCAA tournament.

Felix Caron scored the overtime winner against the Spartans. Washington Capitals pick Jake Karabela had a goal and two assists

HOCKEY EAST QUARTERFINALS

UConn 5, Boston 3

A disappointing season for the Terriers ended with a road loss to UConn.

2026 NHL Draft lottery prospect Tynan Lawrence, who joined Boston mid-season from the USHL, led the Terriers with one goal and one assist.

All eyes will now turn to Boston high picks like Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders), Sacha Boisvert (Chicago Blackhawks) and Cole Hutson (Washington Capitals) to see if they sign with their respective NHL teams.

UConn, ranked 14th nationally, remains in the running for an at-large bid for the 16-team NCAA tournament, but likely needs at least one more win in the Hockey East final four next week in Boston.

San Jose Sharks pick Joey Muldowney and Jake Percival each had a goal and an assist for the Huskies.

UMass 4, Northeastern 1

Chicago Blackhawks first-round pick Vaclav Nestrasil had a goal and two assists to lead UMass to victory.

Arizona Coyotes second-round pick Michael Hrabel made 30 saves for UMass.

Like UConn, the No. 15 Minutemen are in the running for an at-large NCAA spot.

Merrimack 3, Providence 2 (OT)

Unraked Merrimack surprised No. 5 Providence on an overtime goal by Calgary Flames pick Trevor Hoskin.

Swedish goalie Max Lundgren made 34 saves for the winners.

ECAC QUARTERFINALS

Clarkson 4, Quinnipiac 3

Unranked Clarkson completed a stunning two-game sweep of national No. 7 Quinnipiac by rallying from a 3-1 deficit with three goals in 2:01 in the third period on Saturday.

Quinnipiac, led by Flames prospect Ethan Wyttenbach, is still guaranteed a spot in the national championship tournament.

But Clarkson can be a bid-stealer and eliminate an at-large spot if it wins the conference.

Cornell 4, Harvard 0

Ninth-ranked and tournament-bound Cornell forced a third and final game in the series with a shutout of Harvard.

Montreal Canadiens pick Alexis Cournoyer made 16 saves for the shutout.

Game 3 is Sunday at Cornell.

Dartmouth 4, Colgate 1

Tournament-bound Dartmouth, ranked 12th in the country, completed a sweep of Colgate.

Canadiens pick Emmett Croteau made 23 stops for Dartmouth.

Princeton 5, Union 2

Princeton is going to the ECAC semifinals in Lake Placid, N.Y., after sweeping Union.

Kai Daniells had a hat trick for Princeton.

CCHA SEMIFINALS

St. Thomas 2, Augustana 1

St. Thomas won a key game for two teams in the race for one of the final NCAA tournament at-large spots.

Alex Gaffney’s 18th goal of the year was the winner for St. Thomas.

Coyotes pick Carsen Musser made 23 saves for the Tommies.

Minnesota State 7, Michigan Tech 2

Minnesota State kept its tournament hopes alive with a blowout win.

Tristan Lemyre had two goals and one assist for Minnesota State, which hosts St. Thomas in the CCHA final next week..

NCHC semifinals

Minnesota-Duluth 5, North Dakota 1

Blackhawks pick Adam Gajan made 33 saves to give Minnesota-Duluth the road win over No. 2 North Dakota.

Both teams will be in the NCAA tournament.

Denver 2, Western Michigan 1 (OT)

New Jersey Devils pick Samu Salminen scored the overtime winner for Denver, while freshman goalie Johnny Hicks made 38 saves.

Both of these teams also will be in the NCAA tournament.

Denver will host Minnesota-Duluth in the NCHC final next week.

ATLANTIC HOCKEY SEMIFINALS

Bentley 4, Holy Cross 0

Bentley completed a best-of-three sweep with this win.

Freshman Owen Goodbrand scored two goals for Bentley, which will host the conference final next week with a spot in the NCAA tournament on the line.

Robert Morris 5, Sacred Heart 2

This series will go to a third and final game on Sunday.

Tanner Klimpke and Cameron Garvey each had two goals for Robert Morris.

Game 3 is Sunday at Sacred Heart.

The lottery prospect for this year’s NHL Draft made headlines at mid-season when he jumped to Boston University from Muskegon of the USHL.

After notching just one point in his first 10 games, the New Brunswick-born centre has four assists in his past seven, including a huge play Wednesday in a Hockey East first-round playoff game against Vermont.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the third period, Lawrence forced a turnover in a battle on the boards in the Vermont zone and then fed a great pass to New York Islanders first-round pick Cole Eiserman for the go-ahead goal in a 4-1 Terriers win.

“He’s got a motor on him,” Boston coach Jay Pandolfo told reporters after the game, per the Boston Hockey Blog. “He’s on pucks, he’s got a good stick (and) when he’s moving his feet, he’s hard to handle. I thought that was the type of play he’s going to make — create a turnover and make a nice pass to the slot. That was a huge play at a critical time for our team.”

Lawrence, 17, has taken a unique developmental path. He was playoff MVP in the USHL last season, resisting any temptation to go to Canadian major-junior hockey after a rule change allowing ex-CHLers to play in the NCAA starting this season — the QMJHL-leading Chicoutimi Sagueneens picked Lawrence 10th overall in 2024.

After an early-season injury this season, followed by 13 productive games with Muskegon, Lawrence decided to make the leap to a Boston U program he originally planned to join next season.

Lawrence feels he’s made progress after taking some time to adjust to a new level of play.

“I feel like it’s gotten a lot better,” he told reporters Wednesday. “I feel like I’ve gained a lot more confidence (and) adjusting to my teammates, the pace of play and building that chemistry with guys in the locker room. Just getting better as every game goes on.”

The Terriers will likely need more good play from Lawrence if they are to make a late run for an NCAA championship tournament spot. Boston, just one game over .500 in a disappointing season, is at UConn on Saturday in a Hockey East quarterfinal. The Terriers need to win their conference to make it into the 16-team national championship tournament.

Boston is also dealing with a weird situation with talented centre Sacha Boisvert, who did not play on Wednesday. Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier this month that the Chicago Blackhawks are planning to sign the first-round pick, who hasn’t lived up to expectations after transferring from North Dakota, following this NCAA season.

Pandolfo didn’t give a reason for Boisvert’s absence on Wednesday.

No matter how that situation unfolds, many scouting eyes will be on Lawrence to see if he can rise to the occasion again at the most important time of the season.

“Just growing up, I always tried to be the hardest worker,” he said. “Always move your feet, never take a shift off, never glide on the back check or something like that. I feel like it’s just been a part of me and (has kept) growing inside of me as I’ve gotten older. I feel like it’s one of the big parts of my game now.”

Race to the finish

With just over a week remaining in regular-season play, there are several races worth watching across the CHL.

• The Prince Albert Raiders and Medicine Hat Tigers are tied for top spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. Each team features an intriguing Canadian NHL team prospect — Tigers defenceman Bryce Pickford (Montreal Canadiens) is putting up historic numbers, while Raiders forward Braeden Cootes (Vancouver Canucks) will bid for a junior title after starting the season with a cup of coffee in the NHL and then being traded from Seattle to Prince Alberta in the WHL.

• Chicoutimi and the Moncton Wildcats have been close all year in the battle for top spot in the QMJHL. Heading into Thursday’s action, the Sagueneens had scored a ridiculous seven or more goals in each of their past five games. Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxim Masse of the Sagueneens took the lead in the QMJHL scoring race following a seven-point game against Charlottetown last week.

• The Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires look like they will take until the final weekend of the season to determine first place in the OHL’s West Division and likely the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Windsor suffered a huge blow when NHL Draft first-round prospect and towering winger Ethan Belchetz suffered a likely season-ending broken clavicle earlier this month.

Games to watch

Kamloops Blazers (29-22-7-5) at Kelowna Rockets (36-19-6-3), Friday, 10:05 p.m. ET / 7:05 p.m. PT

This game kicks off a home-and-home series between potential WHL first-round playoff foes. Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla scored his 40th of the season for the Memorial Cup host Rockets earlier this week.

Penn State Nittany Lions (21-12-2) at Michigan Wolverines (27-7-1), Saturday, 5 p.m. ET

Two national powerhouses square off in a Big Ten semifinal. Both teams will get berths in the NCAA national championship tournament. Canadiens prospect Michael Hage had four assists for Michigan on Wednesday in a 6-1 quarterfinal win over Notre Dame.

Brantford Bulldogs (44-9-8-2) at Soo Greyhounds (38-19-1-5), Sunday, 2:07 p.m. ET

Two OHL teams that are all-in. The Greyhounds, after acquiring star goalie Carter George from Owen Sound at the trade deadline, are trying to stave off the London Knights for a top-four spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Drummondville Voltigeurs (37-17-3-3) at Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (37-17-5-1), Sunday, 3 p.m. ET

These teams and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are in a tight battle for first place in the QMJHL’s Western Conference.

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It also served as a reminder about how important the NHL Draft is.   

Thirty-one of the 40 skaters who took to the ice for Team Canada and Team USA in the gold medal game were selected in the first round of the NHL Draft, and three of the four scratches were as well.

Just two years ago Macklin Celebrini was introduced as the first overall pick by the San Jose Sharks and he, at 19 years old, led the Olympic tournament in goals and finished second in points behind 2015 first overall pick Connor McDavid. Jack Hughes, the first overall pick in 2019, scored the golden goal, which was assisted on by Zach Werenski, the eighth overall pick in 2015.

Keep that in mind as we track the 2026 draft class. Will anyone who will be selected this June represent their country at the 2030 Olympics in France?

There was one draft eligible player who already represented his country at the Olympics, Latvian Alberts Smits. He turned 18 in December and was the youngest player to compete in the tournament. Four years ago Juraj Slafkovsky played for Slovakia at the Olympics in his draft year and captured the hearts of hockey fans in his country by scoring seven goals, being named tournament MVP, and winning a bronze medal. That performance certainly was one reason why Montreal took him first overall that season.

Though Smits plays a different position than Slafkovsky and wasn’t as dominant as he was, the Latvian defenceman turned a lot of heads and was seen in-person by several NHL general managers. Smits isn’t likely to end up as the first overall pick, but he’s putting himself in the conversation to be a top five selection.

This draft is top-heavy with defencemen. Keaton Verhoeff is still the leader of the pack, but he is being challenged by Smits, OHL Sault Ste. Marie’s Chase Reid, and WHLers Carson Carels, Daxon Rudolph and, to a lesser extent, Ryan Lin.

There remains a tight race for the No. 1 spot in this year’s draft. Last month’s No. 1 player, Ivar Stenberg, retains his position today as he continues to put up historic SHL numbers with Frolunda. But Gavin McKenna, who had an eight-point game last week, is back to resembling the player we saw in Medicine Hat last season. As scouts review everything in the coming months, this will be something to debate leading up to June.

This year’s first round projects to have a wide variety of skill sets for scouts to parse through. There are still more regular season games ahead, then playoffs and the world under-18 championship left for players to improve their draft status.

There are four months until the NHL Draft. And with that, here are our latest rankings:

No. 1: Ivar Stenberg, LW, 5-foot-11, 183 pounds, Frolunda (SHL)

Many wondered if he would experience a drop-off in production going back to the SHL after the world juniors. That has not been the case, as Stenberg continues to pace himself towards the best draft-eligible season in SHL history. That record is owned by Daniel Sedin with 42 points in 50 games, followed by brother Henrik with 34 points. At time of writing, Stenberg has 32 points in 36 games played. But Stenberg’s status as the No. 1-ranked player is not just because of his point production. It’s his swagger, compete and the way he’s played under pressure that keeps him there for now.

No. 2: Gavin McKenna, LW, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Penn State (NCAA)

Macklin Celebrini and Adam Fantilli are the most recent comparable to McKenna as far as players who went to college at this age. Three years ago, Celebrini had 32 goals and 64 points as a freshman at Boston University. Four years ago, Fantilli had 30 goals and 65 points as a freshman at Michigan. Both were Hobey Baker winners. Until recently, we hadn’t seen that level of production from McKenna, but the eight points he recorded in a Feb. 20 game against Ohio State set a school record and puts him on track to compete with those totals. More importantly, McKenna’s off-puck play and effort to be more responsible defensively have scouts excited.

No. 3: Keaton Verhoeff, RD, 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, North Dakota (NCAA)

Verhoeff has a high ceiling and possesses a variety of tools that scouts love. He has NHL size already, but still plenty of room to add strength, and there’s likely another small growth spurt ahead. His puck handles are good enough to evade oncoming forecheckers, make plays at the offensive blue line, and off the rush. There is some concern about his agility, but that is something that can be improved. Verhoeff has more runway than those above him because he’s a 2008 birthday — a midsummer birthday — which give him at least six months more of development time than either McKenna or Stenberg. 

No. 4: Chase Reid, RD, 6-foot-2, 188 pounds, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Reid brings a more dynamic game to the table than does Verhoeff, but that comes with some risk. Reid is excellent getting back on pucks and using his feet and elite passing ability to break them out. His fancy footwork allows him to walk the blue line and find lanes to get shots through, and he rarely passes up a shooting opportunity. His skating is amongst the best in this class, especially his speed and edge-work. 

No. 5: Caleb Malhotra, C, 6-foot-1, 182 pounds, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

It’s all in the details with Malhotra. You have to watch him closely to appreciate all the subtleties in his game, which surely comes from his great athleticism, but also because he’s been around the game at a high level his whole life. Malhotra displays an elite two-way game where responsibility trumps risk. He knows where to go on the ice, how to use his stick and body position to win and protect pucks, and once free, he’s a dual threat as a playmaker and scorer. He still has lots of room for physical growth, which contributes to his vast potential.  

No. 6: Alberts Smits, LD, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds Jukurit (Liiga)

Any player who competes at the Olympics in his draft-eligible season is surely one who turns heads. Smits has been doing that all year in Liiga play, but then went to the world juniors where Latvian coaches wore him out. He benefits from playing on a weak Liiga team, which has treated him to top pairing minutes all season long. The fact he also played so well at the Olympics for a weaker hockey nation in Latvia makes you wonder what he will develop into when he’s surrounded by elite talent. He has the confidence of a lion, NHL size and strength, and he proved he was able to keep pace against the best players in the world. His decision making and puck skills need work, but he looks like an NHL player right now.  

No. 7: Carson Carels, LD, 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

Exudes a confidence that permeates to whoever he’s playing with. He’s a field general out on the ice, taking charge of important situations. His family farming background speaks to the work ethic he displays on and off the ice. Carels continues to be leaned on in all key situations and has produced elite level offence in junior. While that production may not remain elite at the NHL level, he is defensively strong enough to maintain a top-pairing role. 

No. 8: Viggo Bjorck, RW, 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, Djurgardens (SHL)

There is no question he will be overlooked by a number of teams based on his size. But his hockey IQ, skill set, and defensive awareness should allow him to play centre down the road in the NHL. Bjorck’s size doesn’t impact the way he plays. He is not deterred to do what it takes to win puck battles, regardless of the size of the opposition. He uses his smarts to take routes to pucks that don’t leave him exposed. And when there is contact, he’s like Mitch Marner in that he will accept it, but rarely at full force. He is masterful at finding good ice either for himself or his teammates.  

No. 9: Tynan Lawrence, C, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Boston University (NCAA)

After scoring 17 points in 13 USHL games to start his season, Lawrence hasn’t been able to translate that level of offensive contribution to the college level yet. For the first time in this draft cycle, there is some doubt as to where he fits amongst the top centres in this draft class. Yes, there was plenty to like in the summer and the limited number of USHL games he played this year, but the college transition has proven to be a challenge. This isn’t entirely unexpected because of his age. College hockey is not easy and although chances are still being earned, the pure production expected from him has simply not followed. Should he get the chance to get back with Canada’s U18 team, he will be looking to regain his status as one of, if not the top, centres this class has to offer.  

No. 10: Oscar Hemming, LW, 6-foot-4, 193 pounds, Boston College (NCAA)

The wait was worth it for scouts. The expectation for this player was that he was going to carry over his four-goal, six-point effort from the Hlinka-Gretzky into the regular season and continue to grow and develop. After a long layoff, Hemming has settled in nicely at Boston College, playing on a line with Bruins prospects James Hagens and Andre Gasseau. Hemming has put up two shots per game and has eight points in his 14 games played to this point. He exhibits power forward characteristics with how uses his frame to bump opponents and with his ability to drive the net. 

No. 11: Daxon Rudolph, RD, 6-foot-3, 206 pounds, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

While his draft class peers Verhoeff, Carels, Reid and Smits were getting world junior reps, Rudolph kept on going with Prince Albert. He’s played 31 games since finding out he wasn’t going to be on Canada’s world junior team. He went without a point in seven of those, but in the other 24 Rudolph put up 16 goals and 39 points. He brings zest and flair to the table and no doubt leans to the offensive side. There are times where offence is too much of a focus that it detracts from the defensive side, but that will shift with maturity.  

No. 12: Adam Novotny, LW, 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

From the second he showed up in Peterborough, Novotny has impressed coaches and players alike. He is a team-first player, who works tirelessly on his game both in the gym and on the ice. He plays a hard and honest game. In OHL competition, his strength allows him to clear space and produce top-level numbers. He rarely passes up a shooting opportunity and doesn’t need much time to really rip a puck. He looks like a pro, with intangibles that play all day. I’m not sure if the offence will follow him to NHL, but he’s a safe pick regardless. 

No. 13: Oliver Suvanto, C, 6-foot-3, 207 pounds, Tappara (Liiga)

As one of the younger players in this draft class, there’s plenty of room for Suvanto to grow. It’s hard to believe that he’s maintained a serviceable spot in Tappara’s lineup all season at just 17 years old. It’s even more impressive that Tappara is the top club in Liiga. Suvanto is a power forward not so much for applying himself physically to intimidate opponents, but more because he understands how to use his body to be an effective cycle player who’s good along the wall and good at protecting pucks to extend plays. He shoots the puck well, but doesn’t shoot enough, with just 42 shots in 43 games to date. There is some playmaking ability here, but that should also get even better as his stick skills continue to develop. 

No. 14: Marcus Nordmark, RW, 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, Djurgardens (Sweden J20)

His 12-point Hlinka tournament immediately engaged scouts and that springboard has lead to huge success at all levels of play this season. The international success is important in that it backs up his point-and-a-half per game numbers in the J20 league, where evaluation isn’t always easy. Most recently at the Five Nations tournament, he again performed at a top level, getting points in all four games for a seven-point event. Nordmark possesses top-notch puck-handling ability, he’s got deception in his game and he can get pucks to the net with speed and accuracy. He pays attention to his defensive game and can be relied on in a number of situations.

No. 15: Ryan Lin, RD, 5-foot-11, 177 pounds, Vancouver Giants (WHL)  

There are three similar-sized, elite-skating defencemen in the first round conversation of this draft. Lin tops the list that includes Xavier Villeneuve and Tommy Bleyl from the QMJHL. Lin is the most refined of the lot. He’s a dynamic skater, a highly effective puck-mover and is more than capable at defending. He has, however, been out of the lineup for over a month now and with Vancouver out of the playoff mix, he should have a few games before the end of the regular season to get ready to play for Canada at the U18 worlds. That test will go a long way in determining where he will wind up in this draft class.  

No. 16: Ethan Belchetz, LW, 6-foot-5, 228 pounds, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

There are so many ways in which he can impact the game, but at times it almost looks too easy. His hands are so good that they look out of place on a player this big. There’s no denying his elite shooting ability and the propensity to play a mean, power-forward game on demand. He’s not a speedster but gets to his spot mostly on time. For Belchetz, it’s about identifying early in a game what’s working and what’s not and then playing to the strengths present in that game and sticking with it.

No. 17: Nikita Klepov, LW, 6-foot, 180 pounds, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

It’s been quite the breakout season for Klepov, who continues to produce top-end offence for Saginaw. He has more than doubled his point totals from USHL Sioux City last year, having surpassed the 30-goal and 81-point plateaus. Klepov can transport pucks and change pace on opponents when necessary. His puck touch is excellent and so is his ability to find open lanes to distribute. There’s plenty of creativity in his game. 

No. 18: Ilia Morozov, C, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Miami (NCAA)

NHL Central Scouting boosted this player significantly in its January release, moving him up to the No. 8 spot among North American skaters after having been a ‘B’ ranked player back in October. Either he was under viewed at the start, or he has experienced steady growth throughout the season. I think it’s the latter. Oftentimes this is the case when young players enter the college ranks. While he has seen plenty of opportunity all season long, his confidence has grown and he is now a go-to in the Miami offensive scheme. Morozov gets after it most every shift and if he fails to produce, the tight and aggressive forechecking will no doubt create opportunities if not for himself than for his teammates.  

No. 19: J.P. Hurlbert, LW, 5-foot-11, 176 pounds, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

As a player who is extremely confident in his abilities, he can be guilty of passing up the simple play to try and execute a more difficult one. It’s easy to see why because he has an array of offensive tools. Hurlbert’s decision to leave the USNTDP to play for Kamloops was the right move at the right time. The development program is experiencing a down year, while Kamloops is always in the playoff mix. Head coach Shaun Clouston has a solid reputation for developing players whose games transition well to the pros. For Hurlbert, keeping the offensive game intact, while becoming a more responsible defensive player has been key. 

No. 20: Xavier Villeneuve, LD, 5-foot-11, 172 pounds, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

It’s like having an extra forward when he’s on the ice. At any given moment, Villeneuve will take off and create havoc with his puck carrying skills. And if he turns it over or makes a mistake, he will get on his horse and be the first player back to correct the error. His competitive spirit is not only infectious, but it makes opponents aware that he’s a player who doesn’t shy away from physical contact, open-ice or along the wall. His season has been limited to just 35 points in 36 games and for that reason scouts are concerned about NHL durability, especially because of his size.  

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No. 21: William Hakansson, LD, 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, Lulea (SHL)   

One of my favourite players in this draft class, Hakansson has a tremendous level of self awareness. He is a two-way defenceman whom I expect to add layers of offence as he matures and gains more experience. Currently, he defends well, pinning defenders low in the defensive zone and guarding the net-front with vigour. Once he has the puck, he makes smart decisions, whether waiting for breakout lanes to open or forcing the issue by transporting the puck. His all around game is solid and combined with a big frame, there’s plenty of value in this type of player. His offensive upside hasn’t even been completely unlocked yet.  

No. 22: Juho Piiparinen, RD, 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, Tappara (Liiga)

Since the world juniors, Piiparinen has played games in both the U20 and Mestis leagues as Tappara continues to rule the roost in Liiga. This move has allowed him to play big minutes as opposed to getting inconsistent ice time when playing at the highest level. It’s also given him confidence to add more on the offensive end, although his projection is not as a big-time point getter, but more of a complementary, safe and sound partner. This should not be viewed as a bad thing, but his true value is defending, playing simple, moving pucks accurately and efficiently and eventually eating big minutes. 

No. 23: Wyatt Cullen, LW, 6-foot, 172 pounds, USNTDP (USHL)

Of all the players currently outside of the top 20, Cullen will be the most fun to track to see if he can maintain healthy status through the World U18’s. The program has struggled mightily in league play and against college competition. The U18 tournament is the crowning jewel for the USNTDP so if he can lead the charge and right the ship during that event, Cullen has the chance to significantly raise his draft stock. As always, NHL bloodlines instantly add value, especially someone whose father (Matt Cullen) played over 1,500 NHL games.

No. 24: Alexander Command, C, 6-foot-1, 183 pounds, Orebro (Sweden J20)

He’s become a hot topic in the scouting world over the past month because he’s shown he has more than just a “B” game. And while the defensive foundation and high level of compete have not left his game, he’s proving that he can also produce at an elite level in the J20 loop. So much so that he’s earned SHL games as well. If his two-way game remains in place and the offence continues to peak, he will also be fascinating to track as we move closer to the draft.  

No. 25: Liam Ruck, RW, 6-foot, 176 pounds, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

At time of writing, his 84 points are second-most amongst all draft eligible players in the CHL. Oddly enough, the departures of McKenna and Cayden Lindstrom have opened up more opportunities for Ruck than he may have anticipated a year ago at this time. The fact Medicine Hat hasn’t missed a beat after losing those two players tells you a lot about Ruck (and brother Markus) and the game he brings to the Tigers on a nightly basis. He doesn’t dazzle you with individual skill, but he does make plays and his quick decision making allows him to pace the game as he wants. He’s represented Canada on a number of occasions. He’s won a WHL title, played in a Memorial Cup and is out to prove the Tigers are worthy as a back-to-back WHL title contenders. 

No. 26: Mathis Preston, RW, 5-foot-11, 177 pounds, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

Preston looked to be re-energized after a trade from Spokane to Vancouver in early January. He got into two games with his new team, scoring an OT game-winner and adding three points, before suffering a knee injury in the middle of that second game. He’s been out of the lineup for over a month and remains week-to-week. Like Lin, Canada would love to have Preston available for the U18 worlds, and for a guy who’s had a roller-coaster of a season, the exposure would surely help. At his best, Preston brings great puck-handling skills and speed to the table, he’s strong on his skates, as he leans to the offensive side. The question is: how elite is his offence, and when it’s not present, will he check well enough to be able to maintain minutes in an NHL lineup as a top two-line player?

No. 27: Egor Shilov, C, 6-foot, 177 pounds, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

One of the most dynamic power play producers in this draft class, Shilov is slippery holding pucks along the wall. He darts away from defenders at the last second, leaving open-ice ahead of him and with that extra time he’s a dual threat to find open teammates or use his excellent stick and puck skills and quick release to get it to the net himself. There is some frustration watching his game in that maximum effort isn’t always present, but he’s inspired with the puck on his stick and is a threat every time he possesses it.

No. 28: Maddox Dagenais, C, 6-foot-4, 196 pounds, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

Continues to steadily rise. Dagenais benefits from being the son of a former NHLer (Pierre), but is carving his own path as a power forward. His last 10-game segment saw him score seven goals and 16 points. Dagenais has a shoot-first mentality, with a wicked shot that is both hard and accurate. Big, scoring centres are at the top of the food chain in the NHL and Dagenais certainly fits that bill.    

No. 29: Nikita Shcherbakov, LD, 6-foot-5, 187 pounds, Ufa (Russia)

Always a fascinating study, this player looks every bit the part of an NHL player. His size goes without question, but his stick skills are elite for a player his size. The fact he didn’t produce a goal in 13 MHL games is mind-boggling. He’s currently on a run of VHL games where he’s playing second pairing minutes and all of a sudden you see a three-goal game mixed in with a few assists and one wonders why he even saw time in the MHL at all this season. So it goes with Russian players, where so many factors off the rink influence where and when a player plays. The cat is out of the bag on this guy, though, and he may end up going a lot higher than where this ranking has him. A player to watch in the coming months.

No. 30: Simas Ignatavicius, RW, 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, Geneva (SUI)

A dual US/Lithuanian citizen, Ignatavicius has quietly gone about his business representing Lithuania internationally and plying his trade in the Swiss league professionally. He is a bit of an unknown, and trying to get a handle on him in comparison to the rest of the draft class has to be done in a vacuum. He has size, is willing to go in on the forecheck, he’s smart and selective in terms of positioning and he skates well. His puck handles are more than adequate and he has a history of producing in low level international play. With all of that said, a team will have to be confident everything will translate against better competition, and ultimately at the NHL level. He would be best served to find a spot in North America against competition his age next season, in order to hasten his development.

No. 31: Brooks Rogowski, C, 6-foot-7, 235 pounds, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

This is a player who needs to grow into his body. While he’s not awkward in moving around, he could stand to be more fluid and agile in his movements. Surely this will come with increased strength and the necessary time needed to catch up to his body. For the most part, he plays a simple, straight line game. He will go to the net, win board battles and generally compete consistently. He could stand to be harder on pucks and on his skates. A more bullish approach where he strikes fear in opponents is an element that also needs to develop.  No doubt, the club that takes him will have to be patient. Think Dean Letourneau, Boston’s first-rounder from 2024. 

No. 32: Tobias Trejbal, G, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds Youngstown (USHL)

Right-catching goalies always provide intrigue at the draft. We saw it last year when Josh Ravensbergen emerged as the top goalie when he was selected by San Jose with the 30th pick. I feel like Trejbal will be picked in the same area of the draft. He’s similar in size and stature to Ravensbergen, but looks to be more polished and refined. Trejbal moves well from post-to-post and does a great job squaring up to shooters and directing rebounds away from trouble. Shots at him stick and he rarely shows panic in his game. He is a major reason why Youngstown is the top team in the USHL and he has a presence in each of the three major goalie stat categories.

The Mounties’ announcement comes less than a week after the provincial judiciary released court documents showing the other two accused, both 15 years old, had been formally charged. The police force says its investigation is continuing, but did not explain why there would be no charges against the other boys arrested earlier this month.

As for the 15-year-olds, both have been charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault with a weapon, which police have described as a mini hockey stick. The charges stem from alleged attacks on three victims on Oct. 3, somewhere in Colchester County, the municipality north of the Halifax region.

As well, one of the 15-year-olds has been charged with assault with a weapon — described as urine — following an alleged attack on one of the three victims between Oct. 1, 2025, and Dec. 30, 2025, in the Truro, N.S., area.

None of the allegations has been tested in court. The identities of the accused and the victims are protected from publication under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Police have confirmed those involved are members of a boys hockey team based in the area around Truro, which is in Colchester County.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Marc Rose issued a statement saying investigators believe there may be victims who have yet to come forward. “We want anyone who’s been a victim of assault under the guise of team initiation or bonding to know they’ll be heard and supported,” Rose said.

“Our investigators use a trauma-informed approach, and you can speak with police at any time without needing to immediately decide whether to participate in the full investigative or court process.”

Both 15-year-olds are scheduled to appear in provincial youth court in Truro on April 14. Meanwhile, they have been ordered by the court not to contact three people, and both are prohibited from entering a public dressing room unless they are with an adult.

On Feb. 5, the organization that governs hockey in the province said it first learned about an allegation involving a minor on Jan. 30. That’s when police say a youth reported being assaulted during a private team gathering in October.

Hockey Nova Scotia has said it immediately referred the matter to the RCMP. As well, the hockey organization confirmed that a youth team in the Truro area had been suspended.

The Mounties have said they collected statements from multiple witnesses, which led to new allegations indicating other offences had occurred at different locations.

The Penn State University star put all his talent on display against Ohio State on Friday, tallying a goal and seven assists and shattering the school’s previous single-game point record of five.

In fact, he broke the record in just two periods after notching six points, while Penn State matched a program record of 11 goals in a game.

McKenna, who’s one of the top candidates to be selected first overall in the upcoming NHL draft, is finally starting to show his talent at the collegiate level after a slow start to his career.

With the seven points, McKenna now sits at 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 27 games and at eight goals and 15 assists in 11 games since the mid-season break.

The 18-year-old phenom made waves across the hockey world after committing to Penn State prior to this season, leaving the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, where he was utterly dominant.

Last season with the Tigers, McKenna totalled 129 points (41 goals, 88 assists) in just 56 games, after recording 97 points the year before as a 16-year-old.

But his performance on Friday even surpassed anything he did with the Tigers. His best output in the WHL was a three-goal, four-assist game against the Red Deer Rebels in March 2025.

The forward also suited up for Team Canada at the World Juniors tournament this year, where he recorded four goals and 10 assists in seven contests.

McKenna continues to participate in all Penn State athletic activities as he faces a misdemeanour simple assault charge.

The alleged assault is reported to have occurred Jan. 31 in State College, Pa. McKenna’s case stemming from the alleged assault is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 11 in Centre County, Pa.

Gadowsky spoke to reporters about McKenna’s status for the first time since the 18-year-old was charged and confirmed that the forward will continue to play while he goes through the legal process, according to video from StateCollege.com’s Joel Haas.

No. 5 Penn State is set to play No. 2 Michigan this weekend.

“It’s an ongoing legal thing, so (it is) inappropriate for me to comment on it,” Gadowsky added.

McKenna’s case stemming from an alleged assault is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 11 in Centre County, Pa.

The alleged assault is reported to have occurred Jan. 31 in State College, Pa., with the victim allegedly being punched and suffering two jaw fractures that required his jaw to be wired shut.

Last week, Pennsylvania’s district attorney’s office said it had withdrawn a previous felony aggravated assault charge against the Whitehorse native.

The felony aggravated assault charge was dropped after the district attorney’s office said Friday there was insufficient evidence, noting investigators determined there was no intent to cause serious bodily injury after reviewing video of the alleged incident.

McKenna, who is also facing harassment and disorderly conduct charges, is widely regarded as one of the top prospects for the upcoming NHL draft, along with Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg and North Dakota defenceman Keaton Verhoeff.

— with files from The Canadian Press

The documents, released by the Nova Scotia judiciary, confirm that two of the accused, whose identities are protected from publication, were formally charged Tuesday.

The documents include sworn charging sheets that indicate both youths were 14 at the time of the alleged offences and have since turned 15. And police have confirmed those involved are members of a boys hockey team based in the area around Truro, N.S., north of Halifax. 

The first accused has been charged with three criminal offences involving alleged attacks on three victims on Oct. 3, somewhere in Colchester County, which includes Truro.

The charges include two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault with a weapon, which police described as a mini hockey stick.

The second accused has been charged with the same offences related to the incident on Oct. 3.

As well, the second youth has been charged with assault with a weapon — described as urine —  following an alleged attack on one of the three victims between Oct. 1, 2025, and Dec. 30, 2025, in the Truro, N.S., area.

Both 15-year-olds are scheduled to appear in provincial youth court in Truro on April 14.

The RCMP confirmed Tuesday they had yet to swear any other charging sheets before the courts.

All four youths involved were released on conditions after they were arrested earlier this month.

The two who have been formally charged have been ordered not to contact three people, and both are prohibited from entering a public dressing room unless they are with an adult.

On Feb. 5, the provincial hockey governing body said it first learned about an allegation involving a minor on Jan. 30. That’s when police say a youth reported being assaulted during a private team gathering in October.

Hockey Nova Scotia has said it immediately referred the matter to the RCMP. As well, the hockey organization confirmed a youth team in the Truro area had been suspended.

The Mounties in Colchester County said they collected statements from multiple witnesses, which led to new allegations indicating other offences had occurred at different locations involving more victims. 

Officers with specialized training used a trauma‑informed approach as the investigation moved forward, the RCMP said.

Investigators say survivors and other witnesses can speak with police without having to decide if they want to participate in the full investigation or the court process.