Everything you need to know about Keaton Verhoeff

Keaton Verhoeff is one of the most hyped young hockey players in the world. Many insiders had expected him to be selected within the top five picks of the 2026 NHL Draft, and he was ultimately selected by the San Jose Sharks with the 9th overall pick. Born in 2008 in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, defenseman Verhoeff made an impact on every team he played for throughout his draft year. So, who is he really? Below is everything you need to know about Keaton Verhoeff.

Keaton Verhoeff: Early Life

Keaton Verhoeff was born on June 19, 2008, in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, to Ryan Verhoeff and Jennifer McEwen. Ryan is a former hockey goaltender, as was Keaton’s grandfather.
Keaton also started out as a goaltender, but switched to defense when he was 12 after making a pros and cons list comparing the two positions. He began playing for his hometown team, where he quickly showed strong development and progress.

Keaton Verhoeff: Youth Career

Verhoeff eventually moved to Kelowna, British Columbia, to attend Rink Hockey Academy. The team’s head coach was Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, and the Iginla family became Verhoeff’s billet family.
Playing U15 AAA hockey during the 2022–2023 season, Verhoeff recorded 27 goals and 60 assists for 87 points in 60 games.
The following season, he registered seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points in 22 games. He also made his WHL debut with the Victoria Royals, tallying two assists in 12 games.
During the 2024–2025 season, Verhoeff scored 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 63 games, setting a franchise record for points by a defenseman.
On May 30, 2025, he committed to the University of North Dakota to play NCAA hockey.

International career

Keaton Verhoeff has represented Team Canada at the U17, U18, and U20 levels.
In 2024 and 2025, Verhoeff won gold medals with Team Canada at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the IIHF World U18 Championships.
In December 2025, Verhoeff competed in the World Junior Championships, where he recorded four assists in five games as Canada earned a bronze medal.

Keaton Verhoeff: NHL Career

Analysts and scouts had projected Verhoeff as a top-three or top-five pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, with some even floating him as a possible number-one selection, alongside prospects such as Gavin McKenna (drafted 1st overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs) and Ivar Stenberg (drafted 2nd overall by the San Jose Sharks). Verhoeff was ultimately selected 9th by the San Jose Sharks. His size, mobility, and high hockey IQ were among the traits that impressed scouts and drew attention from several NHL franchises.

Personal Life

Keaton Verhoeff is cousins with NHL players Colton Dach and Kirby Dach on his mother’s side. There is currently no public information about him having a girlfriend.