The NCAA tournament commences this weekend with each of the 16 teams competing in their respective regions. Among those pursuing a national championship will be three of the eight youngest college players this season, all of whom are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. The leader of this group is Penn State forward and projected #1 pick Gavin McKenna, who was recently named a top 10 candidate for the Hobey Baker Award. McKenna is the sixth-youngest player in college hockey, and most likely will be an NHL player at this time next year.
Another potential top 5 pick at this summer’s draft is North Dakota d-man Keaton Verhoeff, who sits right behind McKenna as the second-ranked prospect among North American skaters. In addition to his elite offensive skill and cannon for a shot, Verhoeff uses his exceptional size (6’4″ 212 LBS.) and near-flawless defensive technique to shut down top opponents on a nightly basis. Verhoeff is the fourth-youngest player in college hockey.
Nestled between McKenna and Verhoeff as the NCAA’s fifth-youngest player is University of Michigan freshman forward Adam Valentini. Valentini is the 109th-ranked prospect per NHL Central Scouting. However, word is this low ranking is in response to his de-commitment from Kitchener in the OHL this past summer, and his subsequent decision to play for the Wolverines. Whether there is any truth to that assertion, the fact is he is routinely listed as a second-round pick this summer.
The players discussed above are tournament-bound, but are by no means the only draft-eligible talent in the NCAA this season. The player on everyone’s lips is Boston University forward Tynan Lawrence, ranked #7 by Central Scouting and a projected top 10 pick. He is joined as college hockey’s second-youngest player by University of Miami (OH) forward Ilia Morozov. Morozov sits right behind Lawrence as the 8th-ranked North American skater, and also is a projected first-round pick. Edging out Lawrence and Morozov for the season’s youngest NCAA player is Boston College forward Oscar Hemming (#11). His August 13, 2008 birthday is 10 days junior to Lawrence and Morozov. Like Lawrence, Hemming left his junior team mid-season to join the college ranks.
Rounding out the list of first-year draft prospects in the NCAA are Arizona State University d-man Lincoln Kuehne (#60) and UMass d-man Landon Nycz (#28). Kuehne and Nycz are the 7th and 8th youngest NCAA players this season, respectively.