“I Was a Goalie Till I Was 12”: Keaton Verhoeff on NCAA Move, Carey Price, 2026 NHL Draft Hopes
Keaton Verhoeff (Kevin Light/Victoria Royals)
At 17 years old, Keaton Verhoeff is already charting a path that stands out among his peers. A right-shot defenseman who spent last season with the WHL’s Victoria Royals, he chose an uncommon route by shifting to the NCAA and joining the University of North Dakota’s program. The move placed him in one of college hockey’s most competitive settings, surrounded by older players and a schedule built around development, structure, and preparation.
The transition also arrived at a significant moment in his career, with Verhoeff emerging as one of the leading names for the 2026 NHL Draft. His season at North Dakota offers a chance to build on the foundation he formed in junior hockey while adjusting to the demands of the NCHC.
The move from the WHL to the NCAA came with a significant shift in routine and environment for Verhoeff. His schedule changed immediately, and the differences between junior hockey and college life became clear as soon as he settled into the program. With fewer midweek games and a more structured training environment, his day-to-day life took on a new rhythm.
Before describing that change, he outlined the contrast in travel and game flow.
“One of the major parts is just having that different style of schedule, having games on Fridays and Saturdays rather than being on the road every a Tuesday and traveling, playing on a Wednesday and coming back and playing at home on Friday,” said Verhoeff to RG.
This shift allowed him more dedicated time for development, both on the ice and in strength training. The reduction in travel opened up opportunities that simply were not available during the WHL schedule, giving him more control over his preparation.
That additional time became useful as he adjusted to a league with older competition and different demands.
“It just kind of gives me a little bit more of an opportunity to become a little stronger in the gym, become a little more skilled,” added the young defenseman. “I’d say it just gives me a little bit more of an opportunity to develop my body and my skill to hopefully use that time to jump to the next level next year.”
The NCAA environment emphasized physical readiness and skill refinement, and he used the additional training windows to adapt to the new style of play. Still, none of this means the NCAA has been a breeze. The league hits hard, plays smart, and punishes hesitation.
However, Verhoeff’s start in the WHL included early exposure to the Dub at age 15, which helped ease the adjustment period to college hockey.
“When I jumped into the WHL, I played twelve games my 15-year-old year; so that kind of gave me a little bit of an adjustment,” said Verhoeff. “But I think coming into the NCAA this year was it’s definitely there’s a there’s a big difference in offensive production. I mean, we play in North Dakota, play in the tough NCHC division. It’s hard, it’s physical, it’s defense orientated and gritty, I’d say.”
The step up in intensity and competition level stood out immediately, and the style of play required different habits and decision-making. The games feel like mini-playoff series every weekend, and he’s learning there’s no such thing as an “easy shift.” The grind forces him to elevate his thinking as much as his skating.
Even so, he’s found confidence in his strengths. He knows what got him here, and he’s doubling down on those tools while building new ones.
“Just being able to use those same skills that I used in junior, we just developed them a bit more,” continued Verhoeff. “Just use my shot, my size. But having guys around me that are 24\25 years old… it’s fun to play with those guys.”
His grin widens when he talks about playing with older teammates. There’s admiration in it, but also excitement — like he enjoys proving he belongs with them. He thrives on being pushed by people who’ve carved out real experience.
The presence of older teammates created a noticeable difference in practice tempo, physical battles, and overall pace of play. Those older opponents and teammates brought a level of experience that affected every area of the game.
“Playing against older guys, they have that experience,” explained Verhoeff. “They know where their sticks need to be and they know their positioning. It makes it that much tougher.”
Hearing him say it, you can tell he doesn’t view it as a complaint — he sees it as an invitation. The older competition forces him to sharpen all the details that separate good defensemen from elite ones.
None of the adjustments happens alone, though. Verhoeff goes out of his way to credit the people around him who have shaped this transition.
“I think having a great coaching staff around me to be able to support me and even having my amazing teammates as well around me. We have really solid defense, both on the right side. And then having those older guys just around me to be able to learn from them.”
He lights up when he talks about the UND environment. It isn’t just a team — it’s a culture that lifts everyone up. You get the sense he truly values the mix of mentorship and accountability.
And the learning doesn’t stop when practice ends. He observes teammates like a student studying film.
Starting as a Goalie and Idolizing Carey Price
Most people don’t realize Verhoeff didn’t grow up dreaming of being a defenseman. His first hockey hero wasn’t a blueliner — it was a goaltender. And not just any goaltender: Carey Price. This twist sheds light on how he reads plays, understands threats, and anticipates decisions before they occur..
Long before he was clearing pucks in the D-zone, he was trying to stop them.
“I was a goalie till I was 12, and I was a huge Carey Price fan (laughs). So, I grew up liking the Habs for a long time, cheering for Montreal,” explained the Alberta-native. “When I turned 15, my friends were all Oilers fans, and so I jumped ship over to being an Oilers fan since then.”
He laughs when he tells the story, because you can see how different his path could have been. But you can also tell the goalie instincts never fully left. That background is evident in subtle, yet meaningful aspects of his game.
From seeing rushes develop to understanding shot angles, his goalie years gave him a built-in sense of danger that most defensemen have to learn later.
“I think it helps me in some areas of the game,” said Verhoeff. “When you watch the game from the goalie’s point of view, in the crease, it kind of gives you a bit of a different perspective on the game.”
Viewing the game from the net allowed him to understand spacing, timing, and shooting angles from a different vantage point. That different perspective is a huge advantage — one that makes him more patient, more aware, and more precise in the chaos of defensive play.
The benefit becomes even clearer when he breaks down shot blocking and odd-man rushes. His reads are part instinct, part memory.
“Another thing’s probably just helping me block shots. Being able to watch a shooter and try to realize when he’s shooting,” the young defenseman explained. “Like coming down on 2 on 1 and things like that, knowing where a shooter’s stick is positioned or if he’s a passing threat or if he’s a shooting threat.”
His vision of the game comes in layers — not just the puck, but the posture, the stick angle, the weight shift. Those are goalie things, carried into a defenseman’s body. His goalie instincts contributed to earlier recognition of dangerous moments in the defensive zone.
During his youth, Verhoeff received instruction from notable coaches, including Jarome Iginla. That coaching environment emphasized studying details and learning from professional examples. He recalled one of the lessons passed down during that period.
“I remember in my first year or my second year of U15, I played in Kelowna and my coach was Jarome Iginla there,” recalled Verhoeff. “One of the things he said was just watching as many hockey games and take a look at each individual defenseman. I would watch what they were doing around the ice, just their habits and details that you can pick up and take into your own game.”
He noted that focusing on these habits helped him understand what separated effective defensemen from others. He also explained that these observations became a regular part of his development.
As he grew older, he continued following NHL defensemen whose styles aligned with his own objectives. These players served as reference points for how a modern defenseman could influence the game. He identified two particular players who made a strong impression on him.
“I’ve loved watching Miro Heiskanen. He’s an amazing, smooth-skating defenseman that’s on the bigger side that can really move the puck well,” said Verhoeff. “And then Victor Hedman has been a big inspiration as well. He’s a big, strong defenseman that defends well and then can also turn the puck into offense and create chances in the offensive zone.”
Preparing for the Draft and Embracing Pressure
Verhoeff has entered his draft year as one of the highest-touted prospects in his class.
He doesn’t hide from the fact that he’s living out a dream he’s had since childhood. The NHL Draft isn’t some far-off idea — it’s the next major checkpoint. And he’s completely honest about how much this moment means to him.
“It’s something that I have wanted for so long to be in the position I’m at right now, to have a chance to compete to be drafted and to compete for a championship this year,” he admitted. “It’s something that I’ve looked forward to for my entire life.”
To be ranked among the best of a draft class comes with a certain amount of pressure that most 17-year-olds aren’t necessarily equipped with. Not only does Verhoeff welcome the opportunity to face pressure on any given night, he, much like the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, relishes it.
“We have a saying here, too: Pressure is a privilege. It’s all over our dressing room and all over our rink,” he added. “It’s something that we don’t take for granted.”
It’s rare to hear a young player articulate that so clearly. He doesn’t just play through pressure; he uses it. It’s one of the reasons the young, right-shot defensemen has quickly risen through the ranks and is seen as a surefire top-5 pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft.
Verhoeff’s name has been right up there with Gavin McKenna as one of the most talented players to come out of a very top-heavy draft class.
For Verhoeff, he’s just happy to be part of the conversation.
“To have my name even in the conversation is, is pretty special. Gavin’s a great player,” said Verhoeff. “He’s so skilled – the most skilled player in the draft, for sure. Just to have my name in that conversation is pretty special.”
There’s no ego in his voice — only respect. But there’s also confidence in knowing he belongs in that conversation.
Still, he keeps the focus narrow. The draft is the reward; the work is the priority.
“I’m just making sure I come to the rink every day trying to get 1% better.”
The season continues to give Verhoeff steady opportunities to expand his game, shaped by the pace of the NCHC, the presence of older teammates, and the structure built into each week.
With the 2026 NHL Draft on the horizon, he stays focused on the steps that lie between now and the offseason. The progress he makes throughout this stretch helps set the direction for the months ahead as he prepares for the next stage of his career.
