Recruits 2026 and Beyond

Time for a new thread. I’m bullish on the guys we have in the pipeline. These are the players who could come in 2026-27.
1. Pelletier—good year in the USHL this season, will look to dominate next season. Hopefully will play on the first line/PP. Could have come this year but another year of juniors first is even better assuming he eventually matriculates.
2. Sandruck—physical checking forward who is Pelletier’s teammate on Lincoln. I’ll be watching to see if he has more of an offensive role next season.
3. Tuminaro—big defenseman who was injured all of last season. He was on NHL central scouting lists but never got a chance to prove himself. While he probably won’t be drafted because of it, he has a chance to break out next season and get drafted as an overager.
4. Dec—extremely high scoring forward for St. Andrews, should play in the OHL next year. Smaller guy who seems very skilled.
5. Major—Charlie’s brother, who is hopefully on a similar development path. Like Charlie, Henry didn’t put up many points as a forward in his first year with the Chicago Steel, but if all goes according to plan he will break out next season like Charlie did.
6. Marmulak—forward who was named rookie of the year this season on his QMJHL team.
7. Wehmann—Fisher’s and Ryan’s teammate on the Penticton Vees this season. He had solid numbers as a middle six forward and will likely have a bigger role next season against better competition: the Vees are moving from the BCHL to WHL.

Then we have a bunch of recruits who haven’t played much/any junior hockey yet but look promising. I think all of them will be in the CHL or USHL next season (well, except for DiPlacido, who has another year at St. Andrews but who has already played games in the OHL on the side). These guys seem more likely to come in fall of 2027 or later.

Good breakdown, thank you.

Trotsky
Good breakdown, thank you.

Ditto

I wonder if any were committed pre-coaching switch

underskill
I wonder if any were committed pre-coaching switch

If you check Chris Heisenberg’s spreadsheet, it lists when players committed. Casey was announced as the new head coach in June 2024.

Harvard picked up their first commitment from the CHL, Alex Huang of the QMJHL, ‘06 defenseman ranked #77 by NHL Central Scouting for this year’s draft.

BearLover
Harvard picked up their first commitment from the CHL, Alex Huang of the QMJHL, ‘06 defenseman ranked #77 by NHL Central Scouting for this year’s draft.

Unless of course the Trump administration is able to follow through with not allowing foreign students to attend Harvard.

Jim Hyla

BearLover
Harvard picked up their first commitment from the CHL, Alex Huang of the QMJHL, ‘06 defenseman ranked #77 by NHL Central Scouting for this year’s draft.

Unless of course the Trump administration is able to follow through with not allowing foreign students to attend Harvard.

That could eventually impact all colleges-doubt he will stop at Harvard

fastforward

Jim Hyla

BearLover
Harvard picked up their first commitment from the CHL, Alex Huang of the QMJHL, ‘06 defenseman ranked #77 by NHL Central Scouting for this year’s draft.

Unless of course the Trump administration is able to follow through with not allowing foreign students to attend Harvard.

That could eventually impact all colleges-doubt he will stop at Harvard

i'm crying and throwing up

Henri Ament to the WHL

[chl.ca]

Now we should have a recruit in each CHL league next year, with Marmulak in the Q and Dec in the OHL. On Dec, I am very excited to see what he can do this season. He had good production with St. Andrews and was a point a game in a small OHL sample size.

Edit: Whoops didn’t realize Penticton had jumped to the WHL so I guess we already had Louis Wehmann in the league.

Alexis Cournoyer goes to Montreal in the fifth round, 145 overall.

chimpfood
Alexis Cournoyer goes to Montreal in the fifth round, 145 overall.

AHHHHHH

chimpfood
Alexis Cournoyer goes to Montreal in the fifth round, 145 overall.

I believe he's our 1st drafted goalie since Leneveu

DiGiulian didn't get drafted though, right?

stereax
DiGiulian didn't get drafted though, right?

Correct. In all likelihood, he is deeply disappointed not to have had his name called during the draft. Nevertheless, he will have more control over his post-college employment opportunities as an undrafted free agent.

Incentive to play his absolute best.

They all always have that anyway. Nobody in D1 is dogging it based on their draft status. They need to prove to coach they deserve premium minutes, to their draft team they are developing, and they'd never have reached this level without the neurotic thirst to achieve it takes decades of therapy to unkink.

Oh... great...

The new CBA changes the time teams have drafted players’ rights before signing them (4 years for drafted at 18, 3 years drafted at 19, etc).

These changes are expected to be effective starting with the 2027 draft class. Players drafted prior to 2027 will be subject to the existing rules/timelines

stereax
Oh... great...

The new CBA changes the time teams have drafted players’ rights before signing them (4 years for drafted at 18, 3 years drafted at 19, etc).

These changes are expected to be effective starting with the 2027 draft class. Players drafted prior to 2027 will be subject to the existing rules/timelines

There was talk that there may be an exception if a player is in college, in which case their rights would expire X days after graduating. Did that end up not making it into the CBA?

This change seems to hurt most the teams with a lot of good but not great draft picks (guys who might want to stay 3 or 4 years). It also means college teams should rush drafted players to college whether they’re ready or not.

BearLover

stereax
Oh... great...

The new CBA changes the time teams have drafted players’ rights before signing them (4 years for drafted at 18, 3 years drafted at 19, etc).

These changes are expected to be effective starting with the 2027 draft class. Players drafted prior to 2027 will be subject to the existing rules/timelines

There was talk that there may be an exception if a player is in college, in which case their rights would expire X days after graduating. Did that end up not making it into the CBA?

This change seems to hurt most the teams with a lot of good but not great draft picks (guys who might want to stay 3 or 4 years). It also means college teams should rush drafted players to college whether they’re ready or not.

If they’re “not ready” for college, what is the benefit of rushing them to come in? I’d rather have a guy who’s “ready” even if it’s for only 2 or 3 years.

scoop85

BearLover

stereax
Oh... great...

The new CBA changes the time teams have drafted players’ rights before signing them (4 years for drafted at 18, 3 years drafted at 19, etc).

These changes are expected to be effective starting with the 2027 draft class. Players drafted prior to 2027 will be subject to the existing rules/timelines

There was talk that there may be an exception if a player is in college, in which case their rights would expire X days after graduating. Did that end up not making it into the CBA?

This change seems to hurt most the teams with a lot of good but not great draft picks (guys who might want to stay 3 or 4 years). It also means college teams should rush drafted players to college whether they’re ready or not.

If they’re “not ready” for college, what is the benefit of rushing them to come in? I’d rather have a guy who’s “ready” even if it’s for only 2 or 3 years.

Fair enough—I think though that it’s rarely black and white, and if a player is anywhere close to being able to make the lineup (probably true of most draft picks) they’ll be brought in immediately event if a year of juniors would be better for their growth.

Ok so as per this what I understood is true:

Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft

• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.

• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.

• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey

stereax
Ok so as per this what I understood is true:

Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft

• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.

• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.

• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey

So the exception I was referring to above made it into the CBA after all. I.e. I don’t think the new rule changes much of anything for college hockey.

BearLover

stereax
Ok so as per this what I understood is true:

Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft

• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.

• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.

• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey

So the exception I was referring to above made it into the CBA after all. I.e. I don’t think the new rule changes much of anything for college hockey.

changes nothing - except I think it used to be Aug. 1 now says "30 days" - and I also don't know what it means to inform anyone they're leaving college hockey if they're a senior.

adamw

BearLover

stereax
Ok so as per this what I understood is true:

Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft

• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.

• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.

• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey

So the exception I was referring to above made it into the CBA after all. I.e. I don’t think the new rule changes much of anything for college hockey.

changes nothing - except I think it used to be Aug. 1 now says "30 days" - and I also don't know what it means to inform anyone they're leaving college hockey if they're a senior.

Perhaps that is written if a player leaves before graduating.

marty

adamw

BearLover

stereax
Ok so as per this what I understood is true:

Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft

• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.

• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.

• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey

So the exception I was referring to above made it into the CBA after all. I.e. I don’t think the new rule changes much of anything for college hockey.

changes nothing - except I think it used to be Aug. 1 now says "30 days" - and I also don't know what it means to inform anyone they're leaving college hockey if they're a senior.

Perhaps that is written if a player leaves before graduating.

or if they graduate but have eligibility remaining

Fwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:

Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0

ithacat
Fwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:

Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0

Quinnipiac’s and Clarkson’s numbers are low because their strategy, at least for next season, was to load up on CHL overagers who could immediately come to college the following season. So these teams are recruiting heavily from the CHL, but less so younger players who are still a few years away from matriculating. Clarkson had a bunch of decommitments from the coaching change so I can give them a pass, but Q’s strategy seems to have been to kick most of their longtime recruits to the curb (either tell them they no longer have a roster spot, or send them back to juniors for another year) in favor of bringing in 7 CHL overagers. These kids were likely lined up to come to Q this summer until the CHL players became eligible, and a few months later those kids were told to kick rocks. Quinnipiac is surely not the only team doing this, but they’re probably the only team in the ECAC doing this.

BearLover

ithacat
Fwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:

Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0

Quinnipiac’s and Clarkson’s numbers are low because their strategy, at least for next season, was to load up on CHL overagers who could immediately come to college the following season. So these teams are recruiting heavily from the CHL, but less so younger players who are still a few years away from matriculating. Clarkson had a bunch of decommitments from the coaching change so I can give them a pass, but Q’s strategy seems to have been to kick most of their longtime recruits to the curb (either tell them they no longer have a roster spot, or send them back to juniors for another year) in favor of bringing in 7 CHL overagers. These kids were likely lined up to come to Q this summer until the CHL players became eligible, and a few months later those kids were told to kick rocks. Quinnipiac is surely not the only team doing this, but they’re probably the only team in the ECAC doing this.

RPI's Jack Ziliotto left Trail (BCHL) for Sudbury (OHL) and played 28 regular season games (5 goals, 9 assists) and 4 more in the playoffs there. I wrote Chris about this, and he stated that he was not going to make the change. I will write to him again since there are a lot of changes (e.g., Klassek and Lemieux will be in Troy).

I also expect Chemrouk to play for Victoria (QMJHL) and Dwyer for Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) where they were after Stanstead's season ended. Neither got much ice time in the Q.

ithacat
Fwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:

Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0

But I was told Cornell was going to have problems recruiting from the CHL...

Genuine question tho, can you break it down by league? It feels like most of our recruits stem from the Q, would be interested to know if other ECAC teams are pulling from the O and W or if we're all mostly dealing with the closest league.

stereax

ithacat
Fwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:

Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0

But I was told Cornell was going to have problems recruiting from the CHL...

I wasn’t one of the people who said that. But for what it’s worth, most of these kids were recruited prior to going to the CHL. They then went to the CHL where before they would have gone to the BCHL or USHL.

stereax

ithacat
Fwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:

(Q/O/W)
Cornell - 7 (3-2-2)
Harvard - 6 (2-3-1)
Colgate - 3 (0-2-1)
Clarkson, QU - 2 (1-1-0) (0-1-1)
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1 (Q), (W), (W)
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0

But I was told Cornell was going to have problems recruiting from the CHL...

Genuine question tho, can you break it down by league? It feels like most of our recruits stem from the Q, would be interested to know if other ECAC teams are pulling from the O and W or if we're all mostly dealing with the closest league.

Updated. I don't know if there's any discussion around changing the territorial rights for the CHL.

BearLover
Q’s strategy seems to have been to kick most of their longtime recruits to the curb (either tell them they no longer have a roster spot, or send them back to juniors for another year) in favor of bringing in 7 CHL overagers. These kids were likely lined up to come to Q this summer until the CHL players became eligible, and a few months later those kids were told to kick rocks. Quinnipiac is surely not the only team doing this, but they’re probably the only team in the ECAC doing this.

Hopefully it damages Pecknold's reputation for future recruiting.

New forward recruit, Declan Wotton, a 6’1 200 lb 16 year old from Maine. Drafted by Fargo of the USHL and Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL

[www.instagram.com]

scoop85
New forward recruit, Declan Wotton, a 6’1 200 lb 16 year old from Maine. Drafted by Fargo of the USHL and Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL

[www.instagram.com]

Looks good judging by Neutral Zone reviews although only 3.75 *'s.

A little disconcerting to me that Cornell is working on the supposedly 2027-entering class while RPI still needs two for this fall after two recent decommits. (One there is a rumor about.)

ursusminor
A little disconcerting to me that Cornell is working on the supposedly 2027-entering class while RPI still needs two for this fall after two recent decommits. (One there is a rumor about.)

He's 16. He might be 2030-entering.

Trotsky

ursusminor
A little disconcerting to me that Cornell is working on the supposedly 2027-entering class while RPI still needs two for this fall after two recent decommits. (One there is a rumor about.)

He's 16. He might be 2030-entering.

That's why I wrote "supposedly".

The Cornell Big Red have received a commitment from Charlie Puglisi!

The ’08 born Forward from NY had 19 points in 28 GP during the 2024-25 season for The Winchendon School.

[x.com]

Good to see a local lad (Latham) stay home.

Favorite sons fleeing to the CHL or rivals is always irritating, even though yeah get outta dodge the second you can, I feel ya.

Trotsky
Good to see a local lad (Latham) stay home.

Favorite sons fleeing to the CHL or rivals is always irritating, even though yeah get outta dodge the second you can, I feel ya.

I don't know about the "staying home" part. If he were really doing that, he'd be a Union or RPI commit as Latham is a suburb of Albany

Commits born during the Obama presidency aren't freaking me out at all.

Trotsky
Commits born during the Obama presidency aren't freaking me out at all.

People stopped being born after like, 2007. 2009??? That kid's still in diapers

stereax
People stopped being born after like, 2007

Which is odd, given all 20-year olds think they invented sex.

Glad to see so many New York guys staying in NY and committing to Cornell!
It make us have a “homegrown” feel, at least in my opinion

A short free evaluation on Neutral Zone of Puglisi. [neutralzone.com] He has been evaluated several other times .

Charlie Puglisi (F, R, 5’9, 152, The Winchendon School, 04/16/2008, Cornell)

Puglisi played 28 games with The Winchendon School, recording six goals and 19 points. In 2028, he will go to play at Cornell.

Puglisi was evaluated by NZ scouts at the NYSAHA Spring Selection Camp.

“Puglisi has shown some physical growth in his frame. He was displaying his stride and speed to create scoring chances. He was also showing his puck skills off the rush as he was driving wide around defenders or slipping through holes to the net for opportunities. While Puglisi was not lighting up the scoresheet, he was involved offensively consistently.”

Chicago played their first game of the season today, major tallied an assist and Tuminaro was +1. Exciting that hockey is starting back up.

The Heisenberg list has a couple names I don’t remember seeing before. One is Nolan Long who is playing for Saint Andrews this year. Presumably he is Aidan Long’s brother because they have the same birthplace. There is also Declan Wotton who is a 16 year old (may birthday) in the Q who scored in his first game.

chimpfood
The Heisenberg list has a couple names I don’t remember seeing before. One is Nolan Long who is playing for Saint Andrews this year. Presumably he is Aidan Long’s brother because they have the same birthplace. There is also Declan Wotton who is a 16 year old (may birthday) in the Q who scored in his first game.

Nice. Wotton's on the Drakkar, which are a better team in the Q. I'll have to keep an eye out for him.