The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) has been a storied league for years. Conisting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), and teh Quebec Maritime Hockey League (QMJHL), all three have supplied the NHL with some elite players. Now future NHLer's have a chance to get noticed through college hockey in a move that few saw coming. Some of he best prospects now play in the college scene and thsi may help their draft stock.
How this came to be
The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) originally did not want players from the CHL to participate in their hockey programs to further their hockey careers. However, in November 2024, they passed a rule that allowed players with previoous experience in the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL to make the leap to college hockey. This would open up the doors for both the players and the leagues themselves. So far, 20 players who have connections to the CHL are on rosters for the teams in the frozen four and those teams include Denver, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.
Which prospects are currently in the NCAA?
First and foremost the most celebrated prospect in this year's draft is Gavin McKenna, who played this season with Penn State. he made the jump from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL and became the first big name to make the jump. McKenna is expected by many to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and he did not hurt his chances this past season. For Penn State, he posted 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in 35 games, including a four point effort (3 goals, one assist) in a 7-2 win at Wisconsin. Pen State finished the season with a 21-14-2 record.
Keaton Verhoeff is a freshman defenseman playing for North Dakota. He was second in Central Scouting midterm rankings and is expected to go in the top three picks. he committed to North Dakota after spending last season with Victoria of the WHL. This season, Verhoeff had six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 34 games. North Dakota sits in first place in Division 1 with a 17-6-1 record.
Verhoeff's teammate in Victoria was Cole Reschny, who is also turning heads as he competes in his first NCAA season as a member of North Dakota also. They give North Dakota a one-two punch this season with loads of offense. Reschny had 35 points on six goals and 29 assists during his rookie campaign. He is one of the few players who transferred to the NCAA who has already been picked in the NHL Draft, being picked by the Calgary Flames with the 18th pick in 2025.
Most of the players who moved over from the CHL will be on the ice for the national semifinals on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena as Wisconsin faces North Dakota (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN+). That gme will be followed by Denver against Michigan (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN+). The winners from each game will face off in the all important NCAA championship game on Saturday, which can be found here (5:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+).
Goaltender Jan Spunar (six shutouts) came to North Dakota after two seasons with Portland of the WHL. Denver goaltender Johnny HIcks (14-0-1) has been impressive since making his debut after five seasons with Victoria. Former Winnipeg, Wenatchee, and Calgary (WHL) goaltender Daniel Hauser is now between the pipes for Wisconsin and is 29-7-2. Michigan goaltender Jack Ivankovic (selected by the Nashville Predators in round two in 2025) played two seasons in Mississauga and Brampton before committing to Michigan and has 25 wins.