The Frozen Four will take place this weekend in Las Vegas, and will afford NHL prospects the opportunity to compete for college hockey’s top prize. With University of Michigan forward Michael Hage (MTL) reportedly fully recovered from injury, it appears that most of the participants in this event have been given the green light. Two notable exceptions to this are University of Wisconsin d-men Zach Schulz (NYI) and Logan Hensler (OTT). Schulz underwent surgery in December to repair a fractured fibula, and his return to game action remains tenuous. Hensler, a first-round pick in 2025, suffered a season-ending lower body injury in late January, coming at a time when the Badgers were searching to re-discover their winning ways. Obviously they have done so despite missing these players.
Hage will rejoin an ultra-talented forward group for the Wolverines. Not only does this group feature high draft picks Will Horcoff (PIT), Jayden Perron (CAR) & Malcolm Spence (NYR), it also contains coveted free agents TJ Hughes and Joshua Eernisse. In fact, Hughes may join Hage in Montreal at the conclusion of the Wolverines’ season, as he has repeatedly been tied to the Habs in the NHL rumor mill.
On the other end of the NHL prospect pipeline sits the University of North Dakota’s shutdown D corps. Leading the charge for that group is first-round pick EJ Emery (NYR) and 2026 draft-eligible player Keaton Verhoeff (2nd-ranked North American skater for 2026 draft). With great size & elite mobility, both players have been described as “smothering” when it comes to an opponent’s would-be scoring opportunities. The Fighting Hawks have yet to be scored upon in the NCAA tournament.
North Dakota is far from a one-trick pony, however. The Fighting Hawks also possess an impressive forward group, led by Cole Reschny (CGY) and Will Zellers (BOS). Reschny was named the NCHC Rookie of the Year, and has 35 points (6G 29A) in 35 games this season.
Joining Reschny and Zellers among forward prospects to watch out west are Wisconsin’s Quinn Finley (NYI) and the University of Denver’s Kristian Epperson (LAK). Finley has 33 points (17G 16A) in 35 games this season, including the game’s first goal in the Badgers’ regional final OT win against Michigan State. Epperson has recorded 19 points (11G 8A) in 38 games this season for the Pioneers, his rookie year in the college ranks.
Last but not least of this year’s top prospects at the Frozen Four is Epperson’s Denver teammate, d-man Eric Pohlkamp (SJS). Pohlkamp, who along with UM’s Hughes is a Hobey Baker Award finalist, has 39 points (18G 21A) in 41 games this season. Also, he logged almost 32 minutes of ice-time in the Pioneers’ double-overtime tournament win versus the University of Minnesota-Duluth.