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10 things learned from 2025 NHL Scouting Combine

Young collegian in high demand William Horcoff was the youngest player in college hockey this season and the most requested player at the combine. The freshman center (6-5, 190) interviewed with 31 NHL teams this week, the most of any player at the event. He had 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 18 games […]

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Young collegian in high demand

William Horcoff was the youngest player in college hockey this season and the most requested player at the combine.

The freshman center (6-5, 190) interviewed with 31 NHL teams this week, the most of any player at the event. He had 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 18 games with the University of Michigan after his arrival in December. Horcoff, the son of former NHL forward Shawn Horcoff, had 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 28 games with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team to begin the season. He turned 18 on Jan. 23.

“The other team doesn’t care that I was the youngest player,” Horcoff said. “They’re still going to play me hard, if not even harder. I was more just focusing on what I could do to have an impact.

“I feel I used my size and strength to win pucks and my physicality to play that hard, mean, game that you need to win.”

Shawn Horcoff, the assistant GM of the Detroit Red Wings, played 1,008 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks. Detroit has the No. 13 pick in the draft.

“My dad told me that if you want it, you’ve got to put everything into it, and I want it really bad,” said Horcoff, No. 24 in Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters. “Just make sure you’re not going to bed knowing you could have done more because if you can’t do that, you’re not going to maximize your potential and be the best player you can be in five years. That’s the best advice he’s given me.”

First to finish

Malte Vass was the first player on the floor to complete the array of fitness tests at the combine. The defenseman with Farjestad in Sweden’s junior division is No. 17 in Central Scouting’s final ranking of International skaters.

“Fun,” Vass said of being the first one. “It was tough, it was intensive.”

Vass felt the VO2 Max bike test that measures endurance was the toughest and that the various jumping tests were a bit easier. The 18-year-old didn’t go into the testing blindly. Jack Berglund, a forward chosen by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round (No. 51) of the 2024 NHL Draft, shared some insights. Vass and Berglund have been teammates on Farjestad’s junior team the past three seasons.

“I learned a lot about myself,” he said. “Meeting all the teams, it’s been a fun week, but it was tough.”

Vass, considered a stay-at-home defenseman, had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 40 games with his junior team and no points in five games in the Swedish Hockey League this season. He plans to attend Boston University in Hockey East 2025-26.

“I think it’s a really good school, and I think it’s the best way for me,” Vass said. “I think it’s better to play college to get to the NHL.”

What’s in a number?

There’s a story behind Schaefer wearing jersey No. 48. It has to do with current Flyers general manager and former NHL forward Daniel Brière.

“The reason my brother wore 48 was because of Danny Briere,” said Schaefer, whose brother Johnny is nine years older. “Johnny grew up wearing 48 and watching him. Briere was at a tyke (under-7) hockey tournament in Buffalo, coaching one of the teams, and he came into the room where my brother was and spoke to everyone about life lessons and hockey. The thing my brother took away from that was just how great a person Briere was … that he took the time to talk to him and sign people’s jerseys, hats, whatever they had. It really made an impression on him, and he instantly was Johnny’s favorite player.

“It’s because of that, I also started wearing 48.”

To his surprise, Schaefer was given workout shirt 48 at the combine.

Briere appreciates the sentiment and thinks very highly of Matthew not only as a player, but a person.

“His interaction with people is very different than most,” Briere said. “It feels like you’re talking to a 30-year-old already. He’s very mature beyond his years. It’s hard to believe he’s only 17. It’s his energy. After you talk to him, you come away feeling good. He’s an impressive young man.

“Some team is going to get a very good player. There’s not much not to like about this kid.”



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College Sports

MSU Hockey News – The Only Colors

As you enjoy the holiday weekend of summer sun, we at TOC thought you may need a little ice break to cool off. With the NHL draft completed, let’s take a look at current and future Spartans that were drafted as well as some other news around Munn. Speaking of the NHL draft, MSU became […]

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As you enjoy the holiday weekend of summer sun, we at TOC thought you may need a little ice break to cool off. With the NHL draft completed, let’s take a look at current and future Spartans that were drafted as well as some other news around Munn.

Speaking of the NHL draft, MSU became one of only 4 schools to have a player drafted in the NFL, NHL, and NBA 2025 drafts. Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin were the other schools, making it a B1G exclusive club. Way to go, MSU athletes.

MSU had two future players drafted in the first round. Ryker Lee is an incoming freshman forward who was drafted No. 26 by the Nashville Predators. Mason West was drafted No. 29 by the Chicago Blackhawks who traded up to get the forward. West will be joining the Spartans for the 26-27 season. He’s a dual athlete who is also a quarterback and was recruited by some smaller D1 schools to play football. The bigger coup is that MSU took him right out of Minnesota to play hockey which has many Gopher fans upset.

Drafted No. 45 in round two was Eric Nilson, center. He just committed last month and has an NHL pedigree as he hopes to follow his father’s 10 year NHL career. Nilson will be playing for MSU this fall and was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks.

At No. 48, current Spartan Shane Vansaghi was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers. We may be seeing Shane reunite on the ice one day with Karsen Dorwart who made his NHL debut with Philly in late March.

2026-27 incoming defenseman Brady Peddle went no. 91 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The final draft pick was Max Heise, a forward who will also be in East Lansing for the 26-27 season. He went at pick no. 150 to the San Jose Sharks.

There are a lot of NHL draft picks on the current and future rosters that just goes to prove that MSU Hockey is brewing something special for some years to come.

In some other hockey news, Gavin McKenna, everyone’s top pick in next year’s NHL Draft, visited East Lansing on Monday. He was in Happy Valley on Sunday and people have speculated that PSU is the favorite to land the generational talent. People should not be sleeping on Sparty. I think MSU has a real solid chance to land McKenna as MSU is locked and loaded for a run next season and McKenna could very well be a one and done. Pairing up with Lindstrom (who was his teammate with the Medicine Hat Tigers), Howard, and Augustine may just be too good to pass up. Not to mention, being coached by Nightingale and learning the team is greater than the individual may all be too enticing for the most growth and success to come out of one season. His decision could come over the weekend, so stay tuned.

Lastly, I want to congratulate former Spartan, Duncan Keith on his election to the NHL Hall of Fame. This writer here is a huge Blackhawks guy. Jeremy Roenick, Tony Amonte, Chris Chelios and Eddie Belfour were my hockey heroes growing up. So of course, I watched a lot of Blackhawk hockey during their title runs in the 2010’s. Duncan Keith was an essential part of those title runs. Showtime Patrick Kane and the consistent leadership of Jonathan Toews are what many will remember from those runs. Those cups would never be raised in Chicago without Keith and Seabrook defending. Keith was crazy durable, could lead a beautiful stretch pass, push the blue line and get back and play physical. Congrats to you! I love seeing the MSU to Chicago line continue with Levshunov and now West. Of course I’m still pulling for that trade with Tampa or for Howard to not sign and join the Hawks. I mean, I can dream right?

Enjoy the holiday weekend, stay cool, let’s sign McKenna, and Go Green!



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Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech

Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech Home » NCAA » Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech […]

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Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech