Here’s a look at 6 transitions in men’s college hockey this season in the Canadian Hockey League

January 8, 2026 Karsyn Larsen Sports 0

The NCAA will now allow former Canadian Hockey League players to join U.S. college teams in 2025-26 after a rule change allowed former NCAA major junior players to participate. This new rule opens the door for more CHL prospects to develop their skills against Division I talent while attending US colleges.

As a result, talent has flowed from Canadian junior leagues to DI men’s hockey programs across the country. Here’s a look at the CHL’s top picks and where they landed in the NCAA.

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1. LW Gavin McKenna – Penn State

What can be said about McKenna that hasn’t already been said? He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft before stepping onto NCAA ice at age 17. His incredible skating, incredible passing and unparalleled creativity make him one of the best prospects the NHL has seen in years.

McKenna comes to Penn State last year from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, where he led the way with 129 points (41G, 88A) in 56 games. McKenna is a direct contender for the Hobey Baker Award and was instrumental in the Nittany Lions finishing No. 5 in the preseason USCHO rankings.

đź“Š See more: USCHO Rankings

2. D Keaton Verhoeff – North Dakota

North Dakota's Keaton Verhoeff

Verhoeff is the top defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft, projected to go in the top three in most draft picks, and some have said he could compete with McKenna for the No. 1 spot. The 6-foot-4 defenseman from Fort Saskatchewan, Canada is a right-handed defenseman with NHL-caliber shooting, elite hockey sense and incredible mobility for his size.

Verhoeff joined UND from the WHL’s Victoria Royals, where he became just the third 16-year-old defenseman in WHL history to score 16+ goals in a year (21). Verhoeff adds to an already loaded Fighting Hawks blue line, and he will be a serious contender for the NCAA’s top defenseman this season.

3. Roger McQueen-Providence College

Roger McQueen of Providence College

Roger McQueen has joined Providence as the highest draft pick in program history after the Anaheim Ducks selected him 10th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-5 center doesn’t fit the typical mold of forwards his size, who rely on size and physicality. Instead, McQueen moves the puck quickly, plays well with the handle and is a solid skater with a nose for the net and elite scoring touch.

McQueen came to Providence College from the WHL’s Brandon White Kings, where he has 86 points (35G, 51A) in 127 career games. His power puck control and finishing make him a must-watch prospect, and he should improve his strength and physicality as he transitions to the college game.

4. C Cayden Lindstrom-Michigan State

Kaiden Lindstrom of Michigan State

Kaiden Lindstrom is one of the CHL’s top two prospects coming to East Lansing along with Porter Martone. Lindstrom was selected fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Draft. He’s a big-framed, high-powered forward who can burn defenders on the rush or burn the bullpen through the middle based on his speed and size.

Lindstrom has been sidelined for the Medicine Hat Tigers for the 2024-25 season with a back injury, but spent plenty of time with the Blue Jackets while rehabbing in Columbus. Now fully recovered, he’s gearing up for a big comeback against Big Ten power Michigan State. His ferocious hitting and aggressive style of play should bode well at the collegiate level as he continues to develop strength and skill in the Big Ten.

5. RW Porter Martone—Michigan State

Porter Martone of Michigan

Porter Marton joins Lindstrom at Michigan as another promising prospect the Spartans hope can replace Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard, who signed with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers this summer. The 6-foot-3 RW from Peterborough, Ontario came to Michigan from the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads, where he had 98 points (37G, 61A) in 57 games last season.

Martone, a 2025 draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, is another big forward like McQueen. His height gives him an advantage on the boards, and his excellent passing and decision-making are the primary standouts of his game, but he’s also a very skilled puck handler and has excellent hands and scoring ability even when he’s not giving it to a teammate. The Flyers may move him to the outside wing in the future, so we could see Marton fill the upper-tier LW position vacated by Isaac Howard’s old position.

HOBEY BAKER: Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard for the 2024-25 season

6. D Jackson Smith-Penn State

Penn State's Jackson Smith

Jackson Smith, another top pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, went 14th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. Smith joins Gavin McKenna and the Nittany Lions as an excellent two-way defenseman with excellent skating, puck-handling skills and creativity. While Smith’s passing is the main strength of his game, he’s not afraid to rush in and connect when the opportunity presents itself.

Smith, too, has a 6-foot-3 frame and uses his puck-handling skills to win defensive zone battles and excel in possession and in transition. He had 54 points (11G, 43A) in 68 games last season from the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. It will be fun to watch him take on the Big Ten’s speed and power talent this year.




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