Seven 18U players selected in NCDC Draft

May 21, 2025

Seven players from the Ohio Blue Jackets 18U team have been selected in the NCDC Phase II Draft, led by Cohen Hoening going in the 1st round (6th overall) to the Rocks Springs Grizzlies. Hoening led the 18U team in scoring with 44 goals and 71 points in 60 games played.

In round 2, a pair of longtime 2006 forwards saw their names called as Zachary Wolf (pick 41) was taken by the Rockets HC while Luke Hall was taken 48th overall by the Ogden Mustangs. Wolf boasted a 19-27-46 line in 60 games this season while Hall scored 15 points in just 11 games before losing the rest of his season to injury.

Also being drafted were forward Drew Huffnagle (Ogden - Round 4, pick 100), goaltender J.D. Low (Rock Springs – Round 7, pick 156), defenseman Lucas Goodfellow (Grand Junction – Round 10, pick 207) and goaltender Tyler Haley (Boston Dogs – Round 10, pick 211).

After missing the first half of the season recovering from injury, Huffnagle had a strong finish, scoring 12 points in 14 games played while playing an integral role for the team at both the MidAm Districts and National Tournament. Low (30-10-0, 2.05 GAA, .929 %) and Haley (13-5-0, 1.50 GAA, .932 %) were a dominating goaltending tandem this season while Goodfellow was the team's top scoring defenseman with 8 goals and 32 points in 60 games.

In 2024-25, the 18U squad made program history by advancing to the National Semifinal. The Mid Am District champions finished the season with a 46-19-0 record.

The National Collegiate Development Conference (“NCDC”) is the United States Premier Hockey League's top junior hockey level, with more than 1,000 alumni In college hockey every season. Phase II of the 2025 Draft was for players born in the years 2005 to 2007 and are for more near-term player procurement goals, as these older players are typically closer to stepping into a full junior career. A total of 316 players were selected over 35 rounds.