Keaton Verhoeff is an 18-year-old right-shooting defenceman at the University of North Dakota, selected ninth overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2026 NHL Draft. He played goal until he was about 11, set a Victoria Royals franchise record for goals by a defenceman at 16, skipped his final junior season to play college hockey a year early, and returns to North Dakota as a sophomore this autumn.
| Current team | University of North Dakota, NCAA — sophomore, No. 18 |
| Position | Defence |
| Shoots | Right |
| Born | 19 June 2008, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta |
| Height / weight | 6’4″ (193 cm) / 214 lbs |
| Drafted | 2026, first round, 9th overall, San Jose Sharks |
| Contract status | Unsigned. San Jose holds his rights until 1 June 2030, extended while he plays NCAA hockey |
Was Keaton Verhoeff really a goaltender?
Yes, until he was about 11 or 12, and the whole family plays the position — his father, his grandfather and his uncles are all goalies. He switched to defence after being cut from a tryout, and what changed his mind was roller hockey.
“I just wanted to be able to impact the game more,” Verhoeff told TSN. “You could be out there every shift.” He described the instinct that gave it away: “If we were playing a 3-on-3 game, I’d be jumping out trying to make a play.”
Four years after leaving the crease he scored 21 goals as a 16-year-old defenceman — the third-highest total ever by a defenceman aged 16 or under in WHL history, and the most since 1985.
What are Keaton Verhoeff’s career stats?
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | RINK Hockey Academy U18 | CSSHL | 22 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 12 |
| 2023-24 | Victoria Royals | WHL | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024-25 | Victoria Royals | WHL | 63 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 14 |
| 2025-26 | University of North Dakota | NCAA | 36 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 29 |
The 21 goals in 2024-25 are a Victoria Royals franchise record for a defenceman, and he was a finalist for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL rookie of the year — an award won by Landon DuPont.
His freshman year at North Dakota produced 20 points, the 14th-highest total ever recorded by a defenceman aged under 18 in NCAA hockey. He was the second-youngest player in college hockey that season, made the All-NCHC Rookie Team, finished tied fourth nationally in goals among rookie defencemen, and was named NCHC defenceman of the week in January after a five-point weekend against Arizona State. North Dakota won the Penrose Cup as conference champions and lost the Frozen Four semi-final to Wisconsin.
He also made the NCHC’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete list, which requires a 3.5 grade average.
Why did Keaton Verhoeff go to college instead of finishing junior?
Deliberately, and his reasoning is unusually clear about what he wanted from it. “If you’re 17 playing against 24- and 25-year-olds, when you’re 19 or 20, what are you going to be able to do?” he told NHL.com. “When I’m 18 or 19 years old, maybe I’ll be able to play against 29, 30 year olds.”
He graduated high school a year early to make it possible: “It was always my plan to be done with school a year early, to have my draft year off.” On choosing the school: “When I came to North Dakota, it just felt right. It felt like home.”
Who did Keaton Verhoeff live with growing up?
Jarome Iginla. While attending RINK Hockey Academy in Kelowna, Verhoeff was billeted with the Hall of Famer’s family, alongside Iginla’s son Joe, a teammate of the same age.
His mother, Jennifer McEwen, described the arrangement to the Grand Forks Herald: “I said to Jarome, ‘I think you can have him as long as his school will transfer no problem.'” And afterwards: “Not only did Keaton learn so much about being a good human, Jarome taught him such good habits.”
Verhoeff’s own view was more practical: “He can teach you things other guys, who didn’t play as many years in the NHL, can’t.”
Is Keaton Verhoeff related to Kirby Dach?
Yes — Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens and his brother Colton are Verhoeff’s cousins. “Growing up with them, being competitive with them… they’ve pushed me so much,” he said on draft night.
His sister Macy is pursuing a dance career in London. His mother is Jennifer McEwen and his father is James Verhoeff.
What has Keaton Verhoeff done for Canada?
Five tournaments, four medals:
- 2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge — gold as captain of Canada White, five points in five games, tournament all-star defenceman
- 2025 U18 World Championship — gold
- 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup — bronze, four points in five games
- 2026 World Junior Championship — bronze, four assists in five games
- 2026 U18 World Championship — quarter-final exit, four assists in five games
The U17 gold-medal game was against Canada Red and a defenceman named Carson Carels. Fourteen months later the two were defence partners at the World Juniors; this season they are teammates at North Dakota. “I’m pumped — it’s going to be awesome,” Verhoeff said. “We work well together. He can skate, he can defend, he can create on the offensive side, too.”
What did San Jose say about drafting Keaton Verhoeff?
He was the second of two first-round picks San Jose used in 2026, after taking Ivar Stenberg second overall. Macklin Celebrini rang him on the night: “It was pretty cool. Macklin called me too, and welcomed me to the organization… it was incredible.”
North Dakota head coach Dane Jackson’s assessment is the one that recurs: “He’s very mature, very grounded, but has a quiet confidence to him.”
He stands 193 cm tall, or 6’4″, and weighs 215 lbs — one of the biggest defensemen in his draft class. His size is the centerpiece of every scouting profile written about him.
Yes. Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens and Colton Dach are his cousins on his mother’s side.
Yes, until he was 12. His father Ryan and his grandfather were both goaltenders. He switched to defense and went on to set the Victoria Royals franchise record for goals by a defenseman, with 21 as a rookie.
He plays for the University of North Dakota in the NCAA. He previously played for the Victoria Royals in the WHL, and his NHL rights belong to the San Jose Sharks.
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