Current and Former NAHL Players Selected in Every Round of 2026 NHL Draft

Nine players with North American Hockey League (NAHL) ties were selected in the 2026 NHL Draft, which was held at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York from June 26-27, 2026.

For the 2025-26 season, the League of Opportunity had two players drafted in the annual 2026 NHL Draft. 

Playing a full season for the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, Mikhail Cherepanov was taken in the seventh round, 219th overall, by the Dallas Stars. The 6-foot-2 defenseman from Russia was dominant from the blue line, earning recognition as a young ‘08 player in the League of Opportunity. Cherepanov is etching his name in NAHL record books as the first full-season skater to be drafted directly from the NAHL since 2018. This season, the blueliner laced up for 56 games with the Mountain Kings. He scored five goals and made 26 assists in his rookie season. His 31 points on the year were one of the highest amongst rookie skaters, earning him a spot on the 2025-26 All-Rookie Team. In addition, Cherepanov was selected as a Top Prospect on the Selects White roster at the 2026 Top Prospects Tournament. His work on the ice helped the Selects White defeat the USNTDP on day one of the annual event. In addition to earning awards, Cherepanov secured a Division I commitment to Lake Superior State University during his year with New Hampshire.

Head coach of the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, Cam Robichaud, dives into detail on why Cherepanov is deserving of being drafted.

"As an organization, we are ecstatic for Misha and his family. He's a young player who came into the league and had a worker's mentality. He transitioned from the midget level to the North American Hockey League in full stride. He had an opportunity at the halfway point of the season to kind of take over as our top-pairing defender on the left side, and he took it and ran with it from a production, physicality, and maturity standpoint. I think the North American Hockey League helped prepare him to become a more well-rounded, more mature player, and he is obviously seeing dividends from that, being drafted as a 2008 birth year player with two years of eligibility left. To see his name called to a program as prominent as the Dallas Stars, we as an organization are super happy and excited for him. We wish him the best moving forward, and we're looking forward to where the future takes him."

Also taken in the seventh round of the NHL Draft and coming from the same hometown of Yekaterinburg, Russia, Artem Prima from the Minot Minotauros was drafted 211th overall by the Utah Mammoths. The ‘08 forward played with the Tauros for the first-half of the 2025-26 season. The 6-foot lefty played in 28 contests, tallying eight goals and 18 assists for Minot. The 18-year-old averaged nearly a point per game during his time in the Central Division, recording 26 points for the Tauros. In addition, he scored a game-winning goal and power-play tally during his time with Minot.

Head coach of the Minot Minotauros, Cody Campbell, went into detail on why the town of Minot is thrilled for Prima. 

“The entire Minot Minotauros organization, fan base, and community is thrilled about Artem being selected in the NHL Draft today. We could not be happier that Artem’s effort and play are being rewarded by being drafted today. As an organization, we are proud to have played a role in his development process as a player and maturation as a young man. We wish him nothing but the best as he continues to pursue his goal of playing in the National Hockey League.”

Seven more players with NAHL ties were taken in the 2026 NHL Draft. Starting things off on Friday night and drafted in the first round, former Bismarck Bobcat Chase Reid, was taken seventh overall by the Seattle Kraken. The 18-year-old from Michigan has become one of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft thanks to his work from the blue line. The former Bobcat ranks second overall in the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings. He played with Bismarck last season in 18 games, tallying six goals and six assists. His dominance from the blue line continued in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds. This year, Reid earned the honor of representing the United States at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. His ability as a two-way defenseman was evident at the annual event, as the blueliner recorded four points, scoring two goals and making two assists as the youngest member of Team USA.

Head coach of the Bismarck Bobcats, Garrett Roth, dived into detail on why Reid is deserving of this opportunity. 

“Chase has continued to stay humble, work hard and be where his feet are. He came to Bismarck wanting to get better and prove himself. He did that with a great attitude and a confidence that 16 year olds don't often possess. What he has accomplished is a testament to his faith and will to battle through adversity and whatever life throws at you. In sports, he is a true inspiration for players that are not on the fast track but can still achieve their dreams.”

Moving into the second round, former St. Cloud Norsemen Timofei Runtso was taken 57th overall by the Montreal Canadiens. Runtso was projected as a potential second-round pick, and the California native heard his name called on day two of the NHL Draft. The Miami University commit played a full season in the League of Opportunity for the Norsemen during his 2024-25 campaign. The 6-foot-2 blueliner laced up in 53 games for the Minnesota-based team. During his rookie season, the California native scored eight goals while making 19 assists for St. Cloud. One of his best contests last year was a three-point night against the Watertown Shamrocks. Runtso tallied two goals while making an assist in the 4-3 overtime victory. One of his tallies was the overtime game-winner for the Norsemen. His ability from the blue line in his rookie season earned him the honor as a Top Prospect for the Selects Gold roster at the 2025 Top Prospects Tournament. The awards and recognition did not stop there, as Runtso also went home with the NAHL Central Division’s Rookie of the Year title.

Head coach of the St. Cloud Norsemen, Joe Exter, went into detail on what it means to see Runtso rewarded for his dedication.

“Tim was rewarded today for all the work and sacrifice he has made over the last two seasons. He has many strong qualities, his biggest one is his self belief.  This strength will carry him throughout his hockey journey. Tim is a great example of how the NAHL environment challenges and develops young players to be ready for their next challenge. Tim took advantage of his opportunity with us and used it as a stepping stone to achieve a life long dream of being drafted.”

​In the third round of the NHL Draft, former New Hampshire Mountain King, Charlie Morrison, was drafted 77th overall by the New York Rangers. Morrison played a handful of games in the League of Opportunity during the 2023-24 season and got a taste of what junior hockey is all about with the East Division team.

​Heading into the fourth round, former Austin Bruin netminder Carl Axelsson was drafted by the Utah Mammoths 115th overall. The 19-year-old from Sweden dominated in the crease for the Bruins, spotlighting a 1.74 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in his 19 games played during the regular season. The 6-foot-4 ‘06 goaltender secured 14 wins and a staggering six shutouts in his regular season run.

Head coach of the Austin Bruins, Steve Howard, shares what it means to see Axelsson be drafted.

“We are thrilled to see Carl get drafted to the NHL. Since day one in Austin, his elite work ethic, character, and relentless drive have set him apart. He is a phenomenal teammate and a fierce competitor who never stops grinding. Today is a great day for Carl, his family, and everyone who has supported him along the way.”

​In the fifth round of the NHL Draft, former Minnesota Wilderness blueliner Luken Huff was selected 148th overall by the Seattle Kraken. The ‘06 St. Thomas commit joined the Wilderness following his high school season with Wayzata. The 6-foot-3 righty laced up in 11 games for the Midwest Division team, getting his first taste of junior hockey.

In the sixth round of the NHL Draft, former Anchorage Wolverines netminder, Roberto Henriquez was selected 170th overall by the Boston Bruins. The 6-foot-1 goaltender from Slovakia played 24 games for the Wolverines in his rookie season. Henriquez was drafted by Anchorage in the 2024 NAHL Entry Draft in the ninth round, 312th overall. In his debut year, the 18-year-old featured a 2.49 goals-against average and .923 save percentage for the Alaska-based team. Henriquez is a Boston College commit and will be close to the Boston Bruins during his collegiate career.

Rounding out the final NAHL player with ties taken in the NHL Draft, former Lone Star Brahmas goaltender Ryan Cameron was taken 212th overall in the seventh round by the Edmonton Oilers. Cameron made a splash in his rookie season in the NAHL. The ‘07 netminder recorded a staggering 1.24 goals-against average and .948 save percentage in his rookie season of junior hockey. He produced nine shutouts in the regular season, recording 21 wins in net for the Brahmas. With his dominance in the blue paint, he earned call-ups with the USNTDP throughout the 2024-25 campaign and was named to the Selects Gold roster at the 2025 Top Prospects Tournament. Cameron backstopped the Brahmas in their full postseason run, helping his team make it to the Robertson Cup championship game. The Pennsylvania native recorded eight wins in his 10 playoff games, notching three shutouts in that span.

Cameron earned a plethora of awards in his rookie season. He was named as the Rookie and Goaltender of the Year, to the All-Rookie Team, All-South Division Team, and as the South Division’s Rookie of the Year. In addition, he notched NAHL records in the process. He now holds the NAHL’s best goals-against average (1.24) and best save percentage (.948).

Head coach of the Lone Star Brahmas, Dan Wildfong, went into detail on what it means to see Cameron be drafted.

“We as an organization are obviously very proud of him. This could not have happened to a nicer guy that works his tail off. I can not say enough about his character and the way handles himself on and off the ice. He’s a pro already.”