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CHL to NCAA Recruiting Megathread

Today was the 2025 CHL Import Draft- lots more picks made than usual due to the increase in import spots from 2 to 3.

Here's some of the NCAA commits made: (asterisk * indicates 2025 enrollment)

2nd to Brantford Bulldogs, Czech F Adam Benak, not committed yet but rumored to have suitors in Hockey East, MIN 2025 4th round pick

28th Calgary Hitmen Russian F Andrei Molgachyov, UConn commit

34th Portland Winterhawks, F Eric Nilson, Michigan State commit, ANA 2025 2nd round *

35th Saginaw Spirit, F Nikita Klepov, Michigan State commit

44th Kitchener Rangers, Swiss G Christian Kirsch, UMass commit, SJS 2024 4th round pick.

60th Medicine Hat Tigers, F Yaroslav Bryzgalov, Merrimack commit

98th Penticton Vees, F Roberts Naudins, Harvard commit

110th to Prince George Cougars, G Alexander Levshin, Clarkson commit

116th Victoria Royals, F Frantisek Netusil, Western Michigan commit

140th to Moncton Wildcats, F Kuzma Voronin, Maine commit

172th Brantford Bulldogs, Moldovan D Alexander Karmanov, Penn State commit, 7 FOOT TALL!!!!!!

178th Kitchener Rangers, F Heikki Ruohonen, Harvard commit*

for the obvious question of why pick players who are committed: in case they defer a year or leave school early like a Powell or Jugnauth. you can trade for another teams import player in season as well if they don't report. if i missed anyone, let me know.

In other updates:

Jackson Parsons signs ELC with Ottawa Senators, was Clarkson commit
 
06 D Marcus Kearsey, captain of the Charlottetown Islanders, commits to Northeastern for 2026-27.

06 F Luka Shcherbyna of the Wenatchee Wild announces commitment to Colgate for 2026-2027. This season has 22 goals and 27 assists in 63 games, notably including a 4 goal game. In Sharks territory, we call this a rooster trick 😛

Of the first rounders from the CHL, two have signed their ELCs- Lynden Lakovic, Washington Capitals pick, and Jake O'Brien, Seattle Kraken pick.

CHL signings of Commits-
06 D Ethan Weber to Penticton Vees, Penn State commit pushing back his arrival to 2026. Vees got his rights in the expansion draft.
07 G Arseni Radkov, UMass commit and recent Habs 3rd round pick signs with Blaisville-Boisbrand Armada. He was drafted 33rd in the Import Draft the other day.

I have decided I will begin the conference-by-conference breakdown of CHL 2025 recruiting classes after The Decision, starting with independents, then AHA, CCHA, ECAC, NCHC, B1G, and Hockey East.

As for the Decision, as reported it will be between Michigan State and Penn State. McKenna visited both last week, Penn State is offering more money but people don't think it is likely to be what makes a difference. Michigan reportedly offered a similar amount of money but he didn't visit them. A Penn State reporter did have one interesting note yesterday- his girlfriend is committed to Syracuse Women's hockey this season, which is closer to Penn State (4 hours v 7 hours) and plays in the same conference as Penn State's Women's team. Might mean nothing in the long run though.
 
05 F Teydon Trembecky of Victoria Royals commits to Michigan Tech. Great infusion of firepower, even if he won't have a Cole Reschny setting him up on the regular like last season.

We will see when the year begins, but like Tech Hockey Guide says in his article, this could be a much more high-scoring team for the Huskies, and I'd guess the whole of the CCHA.

Jeff Marek expects the official announcement of McKenna to Penn State comes down tomorrow
 
victorybellrings.com

Penn State prepared to give generational talent Gavin McKenna the big bucks

Generational hockey talent Gavin McKenna is expected to sign with Penn State men's hockey. The left winger from Whitehorse, Canada is projected to be the No. 1
victorybellrings.com victorybellrings.com

A Penn State sports news page is reporting McKenna was offered around $700,000 in NIL compensation. Penn is all in on McKenna and just set an insane bar for future hockey NIL deals.
 
MilkUniversity said:
victorybellrings.com

Penn State prepared to give generational talent Gavin McKenna the big bucks

Generational hockey talent Gavin McKenna is expected to sign with Penn State men's hockey. The left winger from Whitehorse, Canada is projected to be the No. 1
victorybellrings.com victorybellrings.com

A Penn State sports news page is reporting McKenna was offered around $700,000 in NIL compensation. Penn is all in on McKenna and just set an insane bar for future hockey NIL deals.
Click to expand...

And it blew Michigan State's offer of between 200-300k out of the water.
 
Also reported widely is two locations he had Zoom calls with, DU and Michigan. Ultimately did not visit those. There's lots of interesting fallout and reactions throughout the hockey world, I'll give some of the highlights later this week. And hopefully get to that CHL reaction thing I promised weeks ago...

World Junior Summer Showcase is the next event on the prospects trail. Team USA just released their roster and there's a general report of who will be on Team Canada.

One piece of the world juniors that has been in contention for both Canada and USA–less so for US lately when they had back to back gold, but very relevant for Canada after two early exits for a country that considers anything but gold a failure–is how each roster is usually unwilling to invite players from CHL for US and NCAA for Canada. Among many other baffling decisions in last year's selection camp roster, people were questioning the lack of Michael Hage. Some players get around it if they're exceptional like a Celebrini, but usually it is a high bar. Same thing on the US, bias towards NCAA over CHL, especially NTDP guys. With how strong the NTDP guys were with the McGroarty/Smith era, it wasn't a big drawback, but with a weakening NTDP crop it might become relevant again. The hope is that this change will force them to disregard that bias in a more significant way.

USA roster includes CHL players from last season:
Kristian Epperson- Saginaw Spirit, DU commit, former NTDP
AJ Spellacy- Windsor Spitfires
Henry Brzustewicz- London Knights
Blake Fiddler- Edmonton Oil Kings

Also the following players set to join CHL teams from junior A:
Patrick Quinlan, NTDP U18->Sarnia Sting, Notre Dame commit 2026
Aidan Park, Green Bay->Calgary Hitmen, Michigan commit 2026
Jacob Kvasnicka, NTDP U18s->Penticton Vees, Minnesota commit 2026
 
Few more draft picks off the table, both signed by Vancouver Canucks:

F Braeden Cootes, Seattle Thunderbirds
G Aleksei Medvedev, London Knights

One thing on Gavin McKenna and why Penn State was willing to shell all that out that I haven't seen spoken about as much– in the AD politics of it all, which I know is a point of contention for many different hockey programs, Penn State hired former Boston College AD Pat Kraft. The big sport at BC is the hockey team, so he knows his way around a hockey program more than other college sports execs might. He said on previous interviews that he'd be willing to shell out to get a top prospect in any program if they became available (i think the example he used was fencing).

Just to highlight that, how often does the university's official press announcement of a commitment include a comment from the AD?

“We are so thrilled to have Gavin join our Hockey Valley family and become part of a special group of young men who represent everything great about Penn State. This team is built on character, work ethic and pride in wearing the Blue & White, and Gavin is a perfect fit,” stated Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Pat Kraft. “He’s one of the most exciting young talents in the game and reflects the level of student-athletes we’re bringing to Penn State across all sports. His commitment is a testament to the national reputation Guy Gadowsky and his staff have built, and we know he’ll thrive in the culture of excellence that surrounds our program. We can’t wait to see him compete alongside this incredible group and help push our program to even greater heights.”
Click to expand...

Another piece of news: the CHL/NHL agreement that prevents U20 draft picks from going to the AHL appears to be getting a change. Scott Wheeler has a thread on it here, but the salient point is this:

Your initial thought might be that moving from 20 to 19 hurts the CHL, but my sense is that CHL actually wants to move the age now (after long fighting to hold it) because more kids will be inclined to stay with their CHL clubs at 18 over NCAA if they can go to the AHL at 19.
Click to expand...

Also, seems there are just still plenty of CHL kids who aren't interested in going back to school.

Frank Seravalli has finer details on it-

Sources say a new provision in the CBA will allow each #NHL team to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the #AHL per season.
One per organization per season and 18-year-olds are ineligible.
Begins in 2026-27 season.
Click to expand...

Among other things that CHL is doing to keep players- Drummondville Voltigeurs have announced significant renovations planned for their arena.

some college commits joining CHL:
F Egor Barabanov (Penn State) to sign w Saginaw Spirit, was enrolling in this season initially, but understandable pushing arrival back a season
G Matt Minchak (Colgate), free agent signed with Kingston Frontenacs
D Dryden Allen (Michigan State) to Flint Firebirds.
F Aiden Grossklaus (Minnesota State) to Wenatchee Wild, once again dipping into the Minnesota high school hockey cult. Trade acquisition from Penticton Vees.
 
Pat Kraft had a cup of coffee at BC, made a terrible basketball hire and left for PSU. He was seen at a few hockey games. I would not say he knows his way around a hockey program, but clearly he saw value in giving McKenna a big rev share check.
 
cinnamoroll said:
Also, seems there are just still plenty of CHL kids who aren't interested in going back to school.
Click to expand...
It would be interesting to know McKenna's class schedule for the Fall semester. Just because CHL kids are going to NCAA doesn't mean that they actual have interest in the education part. I would also bet Mckenna disappears from campus shortly after the season is finished for Penn State.
 
Ditra said:
It would be interesting to know McKenna's class schedule for the Fall semester. Just because CHL kids are going to NCAA doesn't mean that they actual have interest in the education part. I would also bet Mckenna disappears from campus shortly after the season is finished for Penn State.
Click to expand...
His schedule consists of 10% basket weaving and 90% hockey.
 
Ditra said:
It would be interesting to know McKenna's class schedule for the Fall semester. Just because CHL kids are going to NCAA doesn't mean that they actual have interest in the education part. I would also bet Mckenna disappears from campus shortly after the season is finished for Penn State.
Click to expand...
for the high end prospects that’s usually been the case. however for the majority of the CHL guys coming in, the overages and guys down the lineup, a lot of them are very invested in the education side of things, especially with lower potential of a pro career. a lot would’ve ended up in usports otherwise. i know at least one player for sure who is like that in SJS draft pick Nate Misskey, sharks director of player development mentioned getting an education as a good part of his motivation to attend UML instead of going to the AHL or his overage year with Victoria, and he’s certainly not the only one. even if he goes pro before he graduates, a lot of players finish their schooling later on.

CHL does have their own academic programs and are actively stepping up the resources there. one notable exception in a high level NHL prospect that is publicly known as a good student is Michael Misa- he just won the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year award.
 
cinnamoroll said:
for the high end prospects that’s usually been the case. however for the majority of the CHL guys coming in, the overages and guys down the lineup, a lot of them are very invested in the education side of things, especially with lower potential of a pro career. a lot would’ve ended up in usports otherwise. i know at least one player for sure who is like that in SJS draft pick Nate Misskey, sharks director of player development mentioned getting an education as a good part of his motivation to attend UML instead of going to the AHL or his overage year with Victoria, and he’s certainly not the only one. even if he goes pro before he graduates, a lot of players finish their schooling later on.

CHL does have their own academic programs and are actively stepping up the resources there. one notable exception in a high level NHL prospect that is publicly known as a good student is Michael Misa- he just won the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year award.
Click to expand...
That is correct, Most guys are invested in the education. You can’t be a knucklehead otherwise you simply don’t play with GPA requirements. The 1st round guys like McKenna and the two boys going to North Dakota etc.. they are not that invested or not nearly as invested when these boys are gonna be playing in the NHL the following year. Not to say they aren’t good students I’m sure they are but the goal is to get them ready for the NHL.
 
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