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CHL to NCAA Recruiting Megathread

08 F Cole Zurawski commits to Notre Dame, point per game draft eligible Owen Sound Attack

07 F Torkel Jennersjö commits to UMass, plays for BLB Armada, also draft eligible, Swedish
 
05 F Talon Brigley commits to Sacred Heart, captain of the Red Deer Rebels

06 D Ty Henry commits to St Thomas, plays for Erie Otters but has been out with injury so far all season. 2024 6th round pick to Chicago

06 D Linden Burrett commits to UAF, plays for Prince Albert Raiders

The WHL and OHL have begun announcing their own version of the QMJHL Prospects Showcase, where league-wide draft eligibles can show their skills. Rosters have been rolled out gradually, I'll post more about it when it comes closer.

I mentioned a week ago that Baie Comeau had brought in a goalie from the USHL in Colgate commit 06 Samuel Caulfield. Baie Comeau dug themselves quite a hole in the standings, but he has had two straight spectacular games where he kept the other team to one goals, saved 30/31 and 29/30, including a win over the wagon Armada. The team and fans have praised him a lot. The CHL has a Protector of the Week award, they awarded it to him after his first week in the league.

I'm late on the other weekly awards...

NCHC Rookie of the Week- Jan Spunar, NoDak
NCHC Goalie of the Week- Quentin Miller, DU
 
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Max Burkholder is expected to be out for the season for CC. McMahon reports that pending eligibility confirmation, they will add D Mats Lindgren for the 2nd half. WHL veteran, spent most of last season in the ECHL, hasn't played yet this season.

OA F Ben Pickell commits to Robert Morris, plays for the Sarnia Sting
 
QMJHL trade period has opened, allowing rostered players not OA or import to be traded. A few big ones already

Quickest on it is Chicoutimi, who made multiple big acquisitions, including the two that included commits
Sherbrooke sends 06 F Mavrick Lachance (Merrimack) to Chicoutimi for 4 high draft picks- 2026 1st and 3rd round, a 2027 4th round, 2028 2nd round pick.
Baie Comeau sends their injured-all-season captain Alexis Bernier to Chicoutimi for 2027 1st, 2nd, 4th round picks and 2028 4th and 5th, plus the rights to affiliate player 09 F Léo-Gabriel Gosselin (RPI).

I love how wacky junior trades can get with the numbers of draft picks. sometimes theres 7 in them for one guy, and the player who would be picked with the asset you traded probably just began middle school.
 
07 F Cash Koch commits to UNH, plays for Tri-City Americans.

06 G AJ Reyelts (Penticton Vees, UMD commit) is cut from Team USA for World Juniors. Still need some cuts for skaters afaict

Canada made some cuts- two OHL forwards and Penn State's Jackson Smith on defense. In the event of a surprise loan of Sam Dickinson from the Sharks, they will need to cut one more guy on defense- probably Keaton Verhoeff. I doubt the Sharks are sending him though. Another forward cut would be needed if Berkly Catton is 1. healthy 2. sent by the Kraken, and the already needed cut at goalie hasn't been made officially. Everyone knows who it is though, even if it makes me sad. Still don't know why they refuse to bring 3 goalies like you are allowed to do.

I'm probably doing a mini series of standout alumni from each CHL team in the NCAA, so stay tuned. One part of it may or may not be featured in a podcast shortly...
 
05 F Ryden Evers commits to Clarkson, Penticton Vees alternate captain, the first WHL Vees player to hit 20 goals. 21 goals, 19 assists in 32 games
 
07 F Owen Corkish commits to St Thomas, plays for Prince Albert Raiders
06 F Ihnat Pazii commits to St Lawrence, plays for Flint Firebirds, from Ukraine
06 D Max Dirracolo commits to St Lawrence, plays for Kitchener Rangers

QMJHL trades:
BLB acquires 06 D Mathieu Taillefer (UMass) from Halifax.
Sherbrooke acquires 06 Brogan McNeil (Alaska) from Shawinigan
 
07 D Brayden Klimpke commits to NoDak, plays for Saskatoon Blades. Joins fellow teammate F Cooper Williams who committed earlier this season. Projected arrival is 27-28, 2026 draft eligible, wears an A for the blades. He is the younger brother of Robert Morris captain Tanner Klimpke. Tanner scored the game tying goal at the Ralph last season when RMU took them to OT, told Brayden it was his favorite rink he's ever played at.

Wondering if we end up hearing more about concrete arrivals, I know the CHL teams would prefer a more significant commitment or at least a range, even if it is caveated by potential changes.

Henry Brzustewicz has been cut from US WJC, more cuts to come...
 
05 D Lucas Moore commits to Niagara, plays for Oshawa Generals after being traded from Hamilton/Brantford where he spent his whole career. Great pickup.

wjc preview by end of the day as long as i don't lose power before i finish

happy holidays folks
 
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2026 WJC Preview:

On each team, I'll first list the current NCAA players. Italicized are former CHLers in NCAA, but they're all on Team Canada. I'll then list any commits on the final rosters

Note- some of the euro kids will use this as a convenient time to move from a euro league to a North American league. Later on I mention a BCHL player Max Hense, and he did this last year- moved to the BCHL from Germany in January 2025 after the tournament, just got his scholarship offer to SLU. A few kids have already signed with their new teams in the CHL or elsewhere and will be suddenly more accessible to scouts, so they might get on schools radar in the second half of the season. Most teams have a few guys in the CHL as import picks, except for Sweden (and USA and Canada obviously...) I can list all of those if people are interested. They often mention during broadcasts who plays in North America, especially re: ice size.

Denmark-
Not a lot to talk about here... Favorites to get sent back down to Division 1A. Particularly weak team from the Danes
Andrew Bjergstad plays in NAHL and his sister Caroline is a goalie for RPI?

Finland-
Heikki Ruohonen, Harvard

Switzerland-
Technically, there are none... but
Christian Kirsch, OHL Kitchener Rangers, decommitted from UMass recently, likely fielding offers

Leon Muggli currently plays in the AHL and has signed his ELC

Germany-
Max Hense, BCHL Trail Smoke Eaters, St Lawrence commit
Dustin Willhöft, WHL Saskatoon Blades, BC Commit

Czechia-
Václav Nestrašil, UMass

Vashek Blanár, U20 Nationell HV71 U20, UMass commit

Slovakia-
Luka Radivojevič, BC
Tobias Pitka, Northern Michigan

Michal Capos, WHL Wenatchee Wild, Western Michigan commit

Latvia-
Mikus Vecvanags, QMJHL Newfoundland Regiment, Maine commit
Rüdolfs Běrkalns, USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks, BC commit
Roberts Naudiņš, Shattuck St Mary's 18U (WHL Penticton Vees for 2026-27), Harvard commit for 2028, 2027 draft eligible

Projected 1st round pick D Alberts Šmits is playing in Liiga this year and might become the highest-drafted Latvian of all time

Sweden-
Sascha Boumedienne, BU
Wilson Björck, Colorado College
Eric Nilson, Michigan State

Canada-
Gavin McKenna, Penn State
Porter Martone, Michigan State
Michael Hage and Jack Ivankovic, Michigan
Keaton Verhoeff and Cole Reschny, NoDak

Ethan MacKenzie, WHL Edmonton Oil Kings, NoDak commit
Definite targets for NCAA recruiting- G Joshua Ravensbergen (SJS 1st round pick 2025) and D Carson Carels (2026 draft eligible, projected 1st round) both play for WHL Prince George Cougars

Some of the guys you might want schools to target on Canada already signed their ELC (plus one USA guy), many have varying amounts of NHL experience too. Misa, Parekh, and Brunicke are all expected to return to the NHL after the tournament.

USA-
Nicholas Kempf, Notre Dame
Teddy Stiga and James Hagens, BC
Cole Hutson, Cole Eiserman, and Kamil Bednarik, BU
LJ Mooney and Brodie Ziemer, Minnesota
Logan Hensler and Luke Osburn, Wisco
Adam Kleber and Max Plante, UMD
Will Horcoff, Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen, Cole McKinney, and Asher Barnett, Michigan
Shane Vansaghi and Ryker Lee, Michigan State
Brendan McMorrow, DU
EJ Emery and Will Zellers, NoDak

D Chase Reid, OHL Soo Greyhounds, Michigan State commit (2026 draft eligible, projected top 10)
G Caleb Heil, USHL Madison Capitals, NoDak
G Brady Knowling, NTDP U18, Minnesota
AJ Spellacy plays in the OHL but has already signed his ELC
 
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WJC preview and predictions:

The gold medal favorites are clearly Canada and Sweden. Canada has one of their most talented rosters in a few years and a lot to prove. Sweden always cruises through the prelims and then underperforms when there is a medal on the line, so there's a lot on the line for them. For the first time in a while, Canada's goaltending is a strength.

The US will try for the threepeat but it will be hard. The past two teams that won gold were outstanding, and the one area that is an obvious downgrade from both those teams is the goaltending. The US will need one of the 3 guys to grab the net if they hope to win, or try to outscore their problems, which is a tall task against the really good teams. However, there is a lot to like on the rest of the roster.
 
Catching up on a few things after the forum was down for a day and a half (you are welcome, btw)

NCAA D3 will be allowing CHL players starting next season. Joins the precedent set from D1 and ACHA

07 F Peter Legostaev commits to Union, playing for Gatineau Olympiques of QMJHL, was playing in the CCHL when Gatineau gave him a tryout in november and has since received a contract after 8 points in 9 games.

QMJHL updates:
No commits being traded but the biggest move is the top goalie on the market Lucas Beckman goes to Chicoutimi from Baie Comeau. Outbid Newfoundland

as a consequence theres a few other signings in the Q:
Sherbrooke signs 08 G Parker Stockseth, UMass commit

One more overage player returning from college- another ASU players, D Austin Zemlak only got into 5 games w Sun Devils. Traded to Edmonton, who might be losing Adam Jecho after he was injured before WJC even started ;;
 
An NCAA freshman having a hard time cracking their lineup in the first half of their freshman year has gone to major junior. The interesting thing with this one is that he never played CHL hockey, played for the Madison Capitols. 06 D Charlie Michaud signs with Penticton Vees after playing 6 games with Miami. Helps that he doesn't take up an overage spot.

OHL and WHL holiday roster freezes are done, so we have some bigger trades.

07 F Tyler Hopkins is traded from Kingston to Guelph. Beyond being a great player, indications are he was planning to go the NCAA route as early as next season. Being in Guelph might make him reconsider since they are hosting the Memorial Cup next year, like how Mazden Leslie did when traded to Kelowna but he's even younger than Leslie. He's one of the better two-way centers in the OHL and was drafted in the 3rd round by Toronto this past draft.

07 F Poul Anderson traded to Red Deer by Edmonton, Maine commit.
 
Last night, Mathis Langevin had his first collegiate start, 4-2 win over Ferris State in the 3rd place game for the Great Lakes Invitational. 28 saves on 30 shots.

Post game press conference with him and HC Anthony Noreen was interesting. he talked about how the playoff/mem cup run last season helped a lot in terms of preparing for his first game. When asked about his journey he mentioned a year ago he was considering leaving hockey and pursuing a career as a policeman, specifically after the team he was at before Acadie-Bathurst was going to send him down (he was traded at least 3 times before he got to Rimouski). Kinda crazy how the year had changed things. Noreen mentioned that Langevin's playoff run was definitely part of what got him noticed, talked about how their other CHL players have helped out massively for a roster that needed 21 new players. Also pointed out the knowledge gap in the USA side of things on how significant the Memorial Cup is to CHL players.

QMJHL trade: Baie Comeau sends 07 D Alexis Mathieu and 07 F Ryan Dwyer (RPI) to Newfoundland for 09 F Matys St-Gelais (UMass) and two 08s, one D and one affiliate F.

OHL trade: Niagara sents Flint their captain, an affiliate, two picks for Chase Hull (Penn State) and a bunch of picks.
 
Halifax signs D Brenden Espenell, Merrimack commit playing w Alberni Valley

Interesting article from EP on the Hemmings, Oscar just played his first 2 games with BC and older brother Emil is currently at WJC with Finland after being sent back to OHL by Dallas. While the dispute never let Oscar actually play with Kitchener, the Hemmings have nothing but great things to say about the org.

"I'm super grateful for the Kitchener Rangers, and the way the teammates have handled him and taken care of him. Like, I just want to hug all of them to say thank you for how they've treated him,” Emil Hemming said. “And of course, you're always mad at the team back home and what they're trying to do my brother. You know, that's all about money and what they are trying to do. And now he gets to play, and I couldn't be happier."
Click to expand...

a bit of a bombshell one here- projected #1 overall QMJHL draft pick Zaac Charbonneau signs his tender with Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.
 
BC freshman 06 F Gavin Cornforth is leaving BC to join QMJHL Moncton Wildcats. Has 3 assists in 18 games, averages 8:40 TOI. Moncton drafted him in the 6th round 2022.

Nearly forgot to mention on Dwyer- his dad is the Newfoundland coach/GM.
 
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