General | 11/3/2025 11:40:29 AM

For Justin Graf, hockey has always been a family affair.

Growing up just outside Boston, he watched his older brother Collin rise through the ranks the hard way, moving from junior hockey in the NCDC to Union College, then to Quinnipiac, and eventually to the San Jose Sharks of the NHL.

Now 18, Justin is pursuing a dream that runs parallel to his brother’s but remains distinctly his own.

Like many brothers in hockey, Justin and Collin share a close bond on and off the ice. They stay in constant contact and watch as many of each other’s games as possible, offering advice on areas for improvement while recognizing what each is doing well.

For Justin, that guidance has become a foundation for his development. Collin’s journey as an undrafted free agent showed him that nothing is out of reach when the effort never stops.

“It just goes to show that getting drafted or how good you are in juniors isn’t the end of the world,” Justin said. “If you keep working and keep grinding, you can pass people and get to where you want to be.”

That message has stayed with the younger Graf as he builds his own identity with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL.

When Justin’s name was called during the 2025 USHL Phase II Draft, it marked an important milestone in his journey.

“I was excited,” he recalled. “I had talked to [Mark Carlson] a couple of times before, and it seemed like a great spot. I knew a little about the team already, so when I saw that I had been picked by Cedar Rapids, I got a call right away and they seemed pumped, so it was good.”

At 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Graf has quickly proven that he belongs at the junior level. Primarily playing left wing on the third line alongside Jackson Fox and Brayden Scuderi, he has fit seamlessly into the RoughRiders’ hard-nosed style of play.

“What makes our line good is that we all move the puck,” Graf said of his line. “We can skate fast, and we all have a good hockey IQ, especially in the o-zone, we can keep teams pinned down and make plays in there.”

The production has followed naturally. Through 13 games, Graf has recorded six goals and six assists for 12 points, the second-highest total on Cedar Rapids’ roster. His numbers are hard to ignore as a re-entry candidate in the 2026 NHL Draft.

That scoring touch did not happen by accident.

Graf, who tallied 13 goals and 55 points with The Rivers School last season, knew the demands of a USHL schedule would require a summer of preparation. He trained with Glen Tucker, Director of the Shoot To Score Shooting Academy, professionally known as “Dr. Shot.”

“I worked a ton on my shot over the summer with [him],” Graf said. “He has a mini synthetic rink in Massachusetts that is as close to ice as you can get. That really helped me a lot.”

So far, the young forward has been efficient with his shot selection. Graf has taken just 18 shots on goal this season, but six have found the back of the net, making him one of Cedar Rapids’ most dangerous offensive contributors.

His two-way play has also earned him minutes on both the power play and penalty kill, where his relentless forechecking has made it difficult for opponents to exit their zone.

Graf’s strong start is also drawing attention at the next level. A Merrimack commit, he remains in close contact with the Warriors’ staff as they discuss his potential timeline to join the program.

“When I committed, the plan was always to go when I was ready to come in and be an impact player,” he said. “I am sure we will have a chat about that and decide as a group as the season goes whether they think I am ready to go in.”

If his offensive surge continues, that conversation may happen sooner rather than later, and his play could also attract interest from NHL clubs.

While Graf did not appear on Central Scouting’s Preliminary Watch List last month, his early-season performance could earn him a spot in future rankings.

Regardless of outside attention, the young forward remains focused on progress rather than projections. He approaches each day with the goal of steady improvement, keeping his attention on development instead of rankings.