Men's Ice Hockey | 10/7/2026 11:11:30 AM

The next wave of United States Hockey League (USHL) alumni are making their marks on college hockey. There are 140 former USHL  players on 2026–27 NCAA Division I men’s hockey rosters, representing 28% of the pack.  Several have already contributed on the scoresheet and in net, while others, including top NHL draft picks Jack Hextall (Youngstown Phantoms), Casey Mutryn (NTDP), and Blake Zielinski (Des Moines Buccaneers), are still awaiting their season debuts. 

Landon Hafele, F, Arizona State — Green Bay Gamblers (2025-26), NTDP (2023-25)
NHL Rights: Winnipeg Jets

Hafele has opened his college career with three assists in two games for Arizona State. He arrived following a 42-point season with Green Bay, recording 15 goals and 27 assists in 52 regular-season games. Before joining the Gamblers, he spent two seasons with the NTDP, where he had 17 points in 60 USHL games.

Carl Axelsson, G, Minnesota Duluth — Muskegon Lumberjacks (2025-26), Sioux Falls Stampede (2024-25)
NHL Rights: Utah Mammoth

Axelsson began his NCAA career with a shutout, stopping all 13 shots he faced in his first appearance for Minnesota Duluth. The former Muskegon goaltender posted a .916 save percentage, 2.48 goals-against average, and a 28-14-1-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record with the Eastern Conference champion Lumberjacks in 2025–26. He played a handful of games for the Stampede upon coming to the U.S. from Sweden, earning the majority of his starts with the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

Matous Jan Kucharcik, F, Miami (Ohio) — Youngstown Phantoms (2025-26)
NHL Rights: Buffalo Sabres

Kucharcik recorded a goal and an assist through his first two games for Miami. The Youngstown alum finished his 2025–26 USHL season with nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 35 regular-season appearances.

Carter Murphy, D, Minnesota Duluth — Youngstown Phantoms (2024-26)

Murphy contributed two assists in his first two games for Minnesota Duluth. He brings 119 games of USHL regular-season experience over two full seasons with Youngstown, including a 43-point campaign in 2025–26 when he recorded six goals and 37 assists. 

About the USHL

The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 315 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and nine of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).

Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 90% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).