The 2026 NHL Draft has looked like the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes for at least a couple of years.
Keaton Verhoeff might have something to say about that, though.
The six-foot-four defenceman from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., already has added to his resume this summer, being named captain for Canada’s under-18 team and then notching a goal and an assist in his team’s 5-3 win over Finland at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Monday in Czechia.
Verhoeff also was named Canada’s player of the game in his team’s tournament opener and helped the country win gold at the world under-18 championship in the spring with one goal and four assists in five games.
Like McKenna, who is off to Penn State University this season, Verhoeff has taken advantage of the NCAA rule change allowing CHL players to play college hockey starting this year. He announced his commitment to North Dakota after his season ended with the WHL’s Victoria Royals.
“I’m super competitive, so it’s always in the back of my mind,” the personable Verhoeff, 17, said in an interview from Canada’s under-18 camp earlier this summer when asked if being selected first overall next year is a thought.
“It’s good to have a guy to chase down. I think for me, it’s going to be about the season and focusing on what I can do to help the team. But I think if I do the right things and put my best effort in at the gym, at practice and in games, I think there’s obviously a chance. There’s nothing said and done. For me, I think it’s just going to be going in every day with that mindset of trying to chase him down a bit and close that gap a little bit.”
It’s early, of course, but Verhoeff certainly hasn’t hurt his chances of making potential teams think about who they’d take at No. 1 with his work this summer.
With McKenna, a forward, and Verhoeff both moving to college from the WHL — albeit in different conferences and playing different positions — comparing the two will be one of the numerous NCAA storylines for hockey fans to follow this season.
The 17-year-olds will be two of the youngest players in the NCAA, which traditionally is older than Canadian major-junior hockey. That was one of the selling points for Verhoeff, who is a cousin of NHL brothers Kirby (Montreal Canadiens) and Colton Dach (Chicago Blackhawks).
“It was a really tough decision for me,” said Verhoeff, who had 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 63 games for Victoria in his lone full season in the WHL.
“Victoria was the place that first originally believed in me and drafted me (fourth overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft). They’re a great organization, it was nothing against them. It was just the opportunity that I was going to be able to get with the people (at North Dakota), and obviously the great facilities as well. I just felt like going to North Dakota was the right next step for me, just being able to play against older people, to kind of have that experience against older and stronger guys to be able to push me to be ready for that next level as soon as possible.”
North Dakota head coach Dane Jackson, in an interview with Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald earlier this summer, admitted he was skeptical of bringing in Verhoeff this season when the idea was first raised to him by assistant coach Dillon Simpson.
“When he mentioned to me there was a kid who was an ’08 (birthday) and eligible to play college hockey, my mind went right away to … ‘This does not seem like a very good idea with how hard college hockey is,’” Jackson told Schlossman.
His thoughts changed when he watched several Royals games on video and then chatted with Verhoeff.
“When you talk to him, you realize the presence, sharpness, poise and professionalism,” Jackson told Schlossman. “It reminds you of (former UND star and current Ottawa Senator) Jake Sanderson and guys like that. Then it starts to become, ‘OK, yep, this kid can do it.’”
Along with the chance to play against older players, much has been made about the off-ice facilities being a key recruiting tool for the NCAA.
Verhoeff raves about the setup in Grand Forks, home of the eight-time national champions.
“It’s unreal, probably some of the nicest I’ve ever been in in my life,” he said. “There’s a full rink, we have the entire facility for ourselves, and a massive gym with all the equipment you can think of. (There’s a) shooting area. Everything you need to develop as a player. If you like to be at the rink, that’s the place you want to be at. I know for me that was a huge part of my decision. You’re able to get access to that rink 24-7. It’s huge for me to be able to go in on a Sunday and go get a workout in or go get a bike in.”
Also exciting for Verhoeff is the chance to remain a teammate of Cole Reschny.
Both Victoria stars committed to North Dakota in May. Reschny, a centre, was picked in the first round (18th overall) by the Calgary Flames in this year’s draft.
“Going with Cole was one of the big deciding factors,” Verhoeff said. “He’s an unbelievable person, unbelievable player, one of the guys I can lean on and learn from as well. He’s super helpful away and at the rink (and) he’s a great leader.”
If Verhoeff can get off to a good start this season, there’s a chance he can team up with McKenna over the Christmas holidays.
McKenna was a member of last year’s Canadian team at the world junior championship, and figures to play a more prominent role on this year’s squad in Minnesota. Reschny was invited to play for Canada at this month’s World Junior Summer Showcase. Verhoeff would love to get consideration, too.
“Obviously, (the world junior has) been a dream of mine forever,” he said. “I’m going to try to work towards it. In the end, whatever the decision is will be good for me. I’m just going to try to do my best at the start of the season to prove that I can maybe make that team and show I’m a good candidate for it.”
