Keaton Verhoeff

Keaton Verhoeff
Verhoeff with North Dakota in 2026
Born (2008-06-19) June 19, 2008
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NCAA team North Dakota Fighting Hawks
NHL draft 9th overall, 2026
San Jose Sharks

Keaton Verhoeff (born June 19, 2008) is a Canadian college ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He previously played two seasons for the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was drafted ninth overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2026 NHL entry draft.[1]

Playing career

Junior

Verhoeff had originally started playing ice hockey as a goaltender, and switched to defence when he was 12. He was drafted by the Victoria Royals fourth overall in the 2023 Western Hockey League (WHL) draft.[2]

On December 5, 2023, Verhoeff made his WHL debut with the Royals.[3] He would play in 11 more games with the club, scoring two assists. He would also be held scoreless in four playoff games.

Verhoeff entered his first full WHL season with high expectations. After leaving the team early in the season to represent Canada at the 2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, Verhoeff returned and impressed.[4] Verhoeff's play would lead to being named the WHL Rookie of the Week in mid-December 2024, as well as being named a finalist for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for the WHL's top rookie.[5][6] In total, Verhoeff would finish his with 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 63 games, setting the franchise record for goals by a defenseman, as well as becoming the third 16-year-old defenceman in WHL history to score more than 16 goals in a season.[7] He also added a goal and nine assists in 10 playoff games.

Collegiate

After the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced in November 2024 that they would allow Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players to join college ice hockey starting in 2025–26, many speculated whether Verhoeff would be one to take advantage of the new opportunity. On May 30, 2025, Verhoeff, alongside Royals teammate Cole Reschny, announced their commitment to the University of North Dakota.[8]

In his first collegiate game against St. Thomas, Verhoeff score the game-winning goal in a 6-2 victory. In his first 10 games, he would score four goals and two assists. His first multi-point performance came a few games later, with two assists against Bemidji State. Verhoeff would help the Fighting Hawks to the top seed in the 2026 NCHC Tournament, but after defeating Omaha in two games in the first round, Verhoeff and the Fighting Hawks would be upset by Minnesota Duluth. Despite the loss, their stellar regular season performance led to an at-large bid as the top seed in the Sioux Falls Region in the NCAA tournament, and the second overall seed. Thanks in part to Verhoeff's defense, North Dakota would advance to the Frozen Four without conceding a goal. However, they would fall to Wisconsin, ending their season. At season's end, Verhoeff was named to the All-NCHC Rookie Team.[9]

International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place2026 United States
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place2025 United States
Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Bronze medal – third place2025 Czechia/Slovakia
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Gold medal – first place2024 Canada

Verhoeff has represented Canada on the international stage, playing for the team during the 2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, 2025 World U18 Championships, where he won gold both times, and the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.[10][11][12] He captained Canada White in 2024, and served as an alternate captain at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where Canada earned bronze.[13]

In December 2025, he was selected to represent Canada at the 2026 World Junior Championships.[14] During the tournament he recorded four assists in five games and won a bronze medal.[15]

Personal life

Verhoeff is also a cousin of current National Hockey League (NHL) forwards, Kirby and Colton Dach.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2023–24 Victoria Royals WHL 120222 40002
2024–25 Victoria Royals WHL 6321244514 1119102
2025–26 University of North Dakota NCHC 366142029 —————
NCAA totals 366142029 —————

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2024 Canada White U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 51452
2025 Canada U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 51452
2025 Canada HG18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 51340
2026 Canada WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 50440
2026 Canada U18 6th 50442
Junior totals 25319226

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
College
All-NCHC Rookie Team 2026 [9]

References

  1. ↑ Ellis, Steven (August 1, 2025). "Keaton Verhoeff, Ryan Lin highlight top NHL Draft prospects on Canada's 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster". Daily Faceoff. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  2. ↑ Dheensaw, Cleve (May 12, 2023). "Royals select dynamic goalie-turned-defenceman fourth overall in WHL draft". Times Colonist. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  3. ↑ Trozzo, Tony (December 7, 2023). "Keaton Verhoeff Shines in WHL Debut". Victoria Royals. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ Zanotto, Remy (October 10, 2024). "Keaton Verhoeff to Represent Canada at 2024 World Under-17 Challenge". Victoria Royals. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  5. ↑ Zanotto, Remy (December 16, 2024). "Keaton Verhoeff Named WHL Rookie of the Week". Victoria Royals. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ Zanotto, Remy (April 3, 2025). "Keaton Verhoeff Named Finalist for Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year". Victoria Royals. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ Zanotto, Remy (May 1, 2025). "Victoria Royals Announce Team Awards Recipients". Victoria Royals. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ Moon, Eric (May 30, 2025). "UND Hockey receives two commitments from highly-touted NHL prospects". valleynewslive.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Weisman, Michael (March 9, 2026). "NCHC Reveals 2025-26 All-Rookie Team". nchchockey.com. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ Zanotto, Remy (October 10, 2024). "Keaton Verhoeff to Represent Canada at 2024 World Under-17 Challenge". Victoria Royals. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  11. ↑ Trozzo, Troy (April 28, 2025). "Victoria Royals' Reschny, Verhoeff suit up for Team Canada at U18 Worlds". Sooke News Mirror. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Verhoeff fronts Canada's roster for the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup". FCHockey. August 3, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  13. ↑ Bukauskas, Cory (August 8, 2025). "Verhoeff, DuPont, Rudolph to Captain Canada at 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup". Western Hockey League. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Canada returns three players to club teams, trims world juniors roster". Sportsnet. December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  15. ↑ Aykroyd, Lucas (January 5, 2026). "Canada ends medal drought with bronze". IIHF.com. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Can Keaton Verhoeff 'chase down' Gavin McKenna for top pick at 2026 NHL Draft?". Sportsnet. August 12, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
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