University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: College Hockey Inc.
Record Showing for Minutemen at 2026 NHL Entry Draft
June 27, 2026 | Hockey
Five selections are a program record under the current seven-round format
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Five members of the 2026-27 University of Massachusetts hockey team were selected in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday, a program record for selections in one draft. In total, four incoming freshman and rising sophomore Landon Nycz were all picked, with Tobias Trejbal as UMass' first pick and the first goaltender selected in the draft, which was held in Buffalo, N.Y.
Trejbal went in the second round (42nd overall) to the Calgary Flames, freshman defenseman Samu Alalauri was selected in the third round (66th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks, freshman forward Egor Barabanov was picked in the fourth round (100th overall) by the Flames, sophomore defenseman Landon Nycz went in the fourth round (107th overall) to the St. Louis Blues and freshman forward Jasper Kuhta was selected in the seventh round (197th overall) by the Dallas Stars.
There have been 50 NHL Draft selections in program history, with 25 coming in the last 10 years under head coach Greg Carvel.
In total, the 2026-27 roster now features 12 NHL Draft picks, with five returning players and three other incoming freshmen who were selected in past drafts.
Returning:
In Trejbal's lone season in the United States Hockey League (USHL), Trejbal was named to the league's All-Rookie Team, First All-Star Team and the USHL Goaltender of the year after posting a league-best 2.12 goals-against average over 42 regular season games with the Youngstown Phantoms to go along with a .916 save percentage, a 30-9-3 record and three shutouts. In postseason play, Trejbal had a 1.66 GAA and an .896 save percentage over four games. Prior to coming to North America, Trejbal played for HC Litvínov in his native Czechia in addition to seeing action at the U18 national team level. Over nine games with Team Czechia, he has registered a 2.31 GAA, a .910 save percentage, a record of 5-4-0 and two shutouts.
Alalauri has played for the Pelicans in his native Finland at the U16, U18 and U20 levels in SM-sarja. With the U20 squad he has registered 32 points on eight goals and 24 assists over 79 games in the past two seasons, earning the Toni Lyndman Award as Defenseman of the Year in both 2024-25 and 2025-26. Alalauri has represented Finland in international play at the U16, U17 and U18 levels, wearing an "A" for the squad at the Under 18 World Junior Championship in 2025-26. At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he logged four points (1g, 3a) over five games.
In 2025-26 with Saginaw, Barabanov amassed 95 points in 72 games on 29 goals and 66 assists. He came to the Ontario Hockey League after spending two full seasons in the United States Hockey League, playing for both the Sioux Falls Stampede (2022-24) and the Madison Captiols (2024-25).??Over the course of 135 career USHL games, Barabanov logged 58 points on 20 goals and 38 assists.
During his freshman season, Nycz appeared in 35 of 36 games and recorded three points on a goal and two assists while blocking 16 shots for a defense that finished ninth nationally in allowing just 2.31 goals per game. Prior to UMass, Nycz spent two seasons playing for the Waterloo Black Hawks and the Sioux City Musketeers, seeing action in 112 USHL games and recording 41 points on nine goals and 32 assists. In 2024-25 with Sioux City, he logged 10 points (3g, 7a) in 25 games. Nycz played 2022-23 with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies at the 15U level. He also was a member of Compuware 14U AAA and Victory Honda 13U AAA.?
Kuhta played this past season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the Ottawa 67's, putting up 63 points on 32 goals and 31 assists during the regular season and seven points (2g, 5a) over nine postseason contests. He has represented Finland in international play at both the U19 and U20 levels, a total of 34 games. At the 2026 World Junior Championships, he logged eight points on two goals and six assists over seven games.
Trejbal went in the second round (42nd overall) to the Calgary Flames, freshman defenseman Samu Alalauri was selected in the third round (66th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks, freshman forward Egor Barabanov was picked in the fourth round (100th overall) by the Flames, sophomore defenseman Landon Nycz went in the fourth round (107th overall) to the St. Louis Blues and freshman forward Jasper Kuhta was selected in the seventh round (197th overall) by the Dallas Stars.
There have been 50 NHL Draft selections in program history, with 25 coming in the last 10 years under head coach Greg Carvel.
In total, the 2026-27 roster now features 12 NHL Draft picks, with five returning players and three other incoming freshmen who were selected in past drafts.
Returning:
- Cam O'Neill by Ottawa in the fifth round (143rd overall) in 2022
- Larry Keenan by Detroit in the fourth round (117th overall) in 2023
- Václav Nestrašil by Chicago in the first round (25th overall) in 2025
- Francesco Dell'Elce by Colorado in the third round (77th overall) in 2025
- Max Curran by Colorado in the fifth round (161st overall) in 2024
- Maxin Massé by Anaheim in the third round (66th overall) in 2024
- Melvin Novotny by Buffalo in the seventh round (195th overall) in 2025
Trejbal becomes the second-highest goaltender selected in program history, not far behind Michael Hrabal, who went 38th overall to Utah and signed with the Mammoth after a sensational 2025-26 season for the Minutemen. Trejbal was the first of 32 goaltenders to be selected in this weekend's draft.Tobias Trejbal ?? Calgary Flames
— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) June 27, 2026
With the 42nd overall pick in the @NHL Draft, the @NHLFlames select Trejbal ??#NewMass x #Flagship ?? pic.twitter.com/jDaGRWh2sI
In Trejbal's lone season in the United States Hockey League (USHL), Trejbal was named to the league's All-Rookie Team, First All-Star Team and the USHL Goaltender of the year after posting a league-best 2.12 goals-against average over 42 regular season games with the Youngstown Phantoms to go along with a .916 save percentage, a 30-9-3 record and three shutouts. In postseason play, Trejbal had a 1.66 GAA and an .896 save percentage over four games. Prior to coming to North America, Trejbal played for HC Litvínov in his native Czechia in addition to seeing action at the U18 national team level. Over nine games with Team Czechia, he has registered a 2.31 GAA, a .910 save percentage, a record of 5-4-0 and two shutouts.
In picking Alalauri, Chicago selected a UMass product for a second straight year after Nestrašil went in the first round last season.Samu Alalauri ?? Chicago Blackhawks
— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) June 27, 2026
With the 66th overall pick in the @NHL Draft, the @NHLBlackhawks select Alalauri??#NewMass x #Flagship ?? pic.twitter.com/RYJhPM4qly
Alalauri has played for the Pelicans in his native Finland at the U16, U18 and U20 levels in SM-sarja. With the U20 squad he has registered 32 points on eight goals and 24 assists over 79 games in the past two seasons, earning the Toni Lyndman Award as Defenseman of the Year in both 2024-25 and 2025-26. Alalauri has represented Finland in international play at the U16, U17 and U18 levels, wearing an "A" for the squad at the Under 18 World Junior Championship in 2025-26. At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he logged four points (1g, 3a) over five games.
Barabonov became the second UMass Minuteman selected by the Flames, going in the fourth round. He was the third UMass player picked by Calgary in the last four years, with Trejbal, along with Aydar Suniev in 2023.Egor Barabanov ?? Calgary Flames
— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) June 27, 2026
With the 100th overall pick in the @NHL Draft, the @NHLFlames select Barabanov??#NewMass x #Flagship ?? pic.twitter.com/3jmmUDX9WS
In 2025-26 with Saginaw, Barabanov amassed 95 points in 72 games on 29 goals and 66 assists. He came to the Ontario Hockey League after spending two full seasons in the United States Hockey League, playing for both the Sioux Falls Stampede (2022-24) and the Madison Captiols (2024-25).??Over the course of 135 career USHL games, Barabanov logged 58 points on 20 goals and 38 assists.
Following a strong rookie campaign at UMass, Nycz became the seventh player under Carvel selected following their freshman seasons, as he went in the fourth round to St. Louis. The selection came six years after former Minuteman Matthew Kessell was picked in the fifth round by the Blues.Landon Nycz ?? St. Louis Blues
— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) June 27, 2026
With the 107th overall pick in the @NHL Draft, the @StLouisBlues select Nycz??#NewMass x #Flagship ?? pic.twitter.com/GH43biOj8r
During his freshman season, Nycz appeared in 35 of 36 games and recorded three points on a goal and two assists while blocking 16 shots for a defense that finished ninth nationally in allowing just 2.31 goals per game. Prior to UMass, Nycz spent two seasons playing for the Waterloo Black Hawks and the Sioux City Musketeers, seeing action in 112 USHL games and recording 41 points on nine goals and 32 assists. In 2024-25 with Sioux City, he logged 10 points (3g, 7a) in 25 games. Nycz played 2022-23 with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies at the 15U level. He also was a member of Compuware 14U AAA and Victory Honda 13U AAA.?
Kuhta rounded out UMass' selections in becoming the first-ever UMass player drafted by Dallas.Jasper Kuhta ?? Dallas Stars
— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) June 27, 2026
With the 197th overall pick in the @NHL Draft, the @DallasStars select Kuhta??#NewMass x #Flagship ?? pic.twitter.com/YaidbtUW5Q
Kuhta played this past season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the Ottawa 67's, putting up 63 points on 32 goals and 31 assists during the regular season and seven points (2g, 5a) over nine postseason contests. He has represented Finland in international play at both the U19 and U20 levels, a total of 34 games. At the 2026 World Junior Championships, he logged eight points on two goals and six assists over seven games.
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