Five CHL Commitments That Nobody is Talking About, But You Should Know About

Introduction

November 7th, 2024, the college hockey landscape changed forever. CHL players were now NCAA eligible, and one of the greatest recruiting onslaught quickly ensued.  Now, after one of the most anticipated offseasons in college hockey history, the excitement on campuses all over the nation is really starting to ramp up. Simply put, October can’t come soon enough. 

Highlighted by one of the most highly touted prospects of the 2020s, Gaven McKenna led the way of what was a fantastic CHL group of talent. However, his name wouldn’t be the first to make headlines, as Malcolm Spence would formally announce his commitment to the University of Michigan on May 12th. From there, the floodgates were swept open. North Dakota followed up quickly, signing a pair of Victoria Royals teammates in Cole Reschny - who would soon get drafted 18th overall by the Calgary Flames - and Keaton Verhoeff, a big, powerful offensive defenseman who is currently projected to get drafted in the top 10 of the upcoming 2026 Draft. 

Jack Ivankovic: Michigan. Cayden Lindstrom: Michigan State. Jackson Smith: Penn State. Name after name, but the day that truly changed college hockey would come July 7th, aired live on ESPN for the entire, not just hockey world, but sports world to see. The final two schools had become well known: a Big Ten battle between Michigan State and Penn State, with the Nittany Lions coming out on top and landing the Yukon-born sensation; dramatically possibly the greatest recruitment battle we have ever seen. 

The summer was wrapped up with two bombshells following McKenna’s commitment: Philadelphia’s 6th overall pick Porter Martone packed his bags to Michigan State, teaming up with Lindstrom to help MSU defend their Big Ten title, and Roger McQueen shocking the hockey world and heading east to Providence. Martone’s availability in the recruiting circuit was well known. All season he had been rumored to Big Ten schools like MSU, Michigan and Penn State. So, it was no surprise that Adam Nightingale and company dealt with the loss of Isaac Howard to the NHL by signing possibly the best remaining player who was still undecided. However, McQueen’s plans of heading south of the border were secretive, and the buzz around him potentially making the jump to college was slim to none. In fact, it was well known that at the NHL combine in early June, McQueen was clear on his plans to return to Brandon (WHL) for the following season, after a severe spine injury ended his following season very prematurely. 

So, as the anticipation boils, the commotion comes to an end, and the quiet before the madness ensues, I’m going to do my part and tell you about some players that fell past the headlines. Here are five CHL commitments that nobody is talking about, but you should know about.

#5. Beau Jelsma, Providence College, 18 years old

Jelsma has been one of the most slept on players in the entire CHL for the past three seasons now. After getting passed on in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Drafts, Beau finished out his final season in the OHL playing for the Barrie Colts, racking up 52 points in 57 games; rounding out an impressive five seasons in Barrie in which he was the captain for his final two seasons, and amassed a total of 115 goals and 241 total points in 259 career games.

A native of London, Ontario, Jelsma has been overlooked due to his 5’10” frame and lack of elite burst in his skating, which has made it hard for NHL scouts to see his game translating to the pros. However, Jelsma does his best work outside of transition and within the blue lines. Using his edgework and anticipation, Jelsma is tenacious on pucks and hounds opposing puck carriers. He’s not afraid to get into the dirty areas around the ice, cleaning up any loose pucks that he can. This makes Jelsma an extremely intriguing player to watch heading into next season, as his play style is able to take on a lesser role, while still being able to produce and put up good numbers. When he can create time and space for himself, his wrist shot is lethal, which could be a very useful asset as Providence looks to replace the left flank spot on their power play that was once owned by Trevor Connelly.

#4. Justin Poirier, University of Maine, 18 years old

Poirier was one of my favorite prospects in the 2024 Draft, and as an overager he was selected in the 5th round of the 2025 Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. Standing at 5”8” and weighing in around 160 pounds, it’s no secret that Poirier’s fight for success in Juniors, and gaining recognition by NHL front offices has been nothing short of an uphill battle. Like Jelsma, Poirier doesn’t possess game breaking speed, or elite edgework, but to call him a lackluster skater would be an insult to his game. 

Poirier’s game is centered around his creativity, and nose for the net. Creating time and space is not an issue for him, as his hands border elite, and he’s comfortable with the puck in all situations all over the ice. Off the rush, he’s great at attacking the triangle of defenders, making them miss with ease. To sum it up, Poirier’s combination of stickhandling and a rocket release of a shot will make him one of the Black Bears’ main offensive threats heading into the 2025-26 season, alongside Miguel Marques and Josh Nadeau. In just three seasons for Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the QMJHL, Poirier was able to notch an impressive 122 goals in just 181 games, which just goes to show how potent of a scoring threat Poirier is from anywhere in the offensive zone. One-timers, catch and shoot, creating his own shot, below the dots, above the dots, you name it, Poirier can do it.

#3. Alexandre Blais, University of Connecticut, 19 years old

Blais, a member of the Memorial Cup-hosting Rimouski Oceanic, has been a standout playmaker for the past 3 seasons. Notching 53 assists last season in 60 games, Blais was nearly at an assist per game average. Unlike the previous two players mentioned on this list, Blais was selected as an 18-year old as a Draft eligible in 2024, 100th overall in the 4th round by the Anaheim Ducks.

What allows Blais to be so successful isn’t his skating, shot, or stickhandling, but his IQ and ability to think the game. Blais is great at always being able to make the right decisions with the puck on his stick, and he doesn’t lack confidence in order to look off passes in an attempt to create something more dangerous. His every move is carefully calculated, and under extreme duress he never really seems to get fazed. On a UConn team that is bouncing back from a very tough loss in the Regional Finals to Penn State, Blais could join in alongside two of the best returning players in the country in Joey Muldowney and Jake Richard, and make an immediate impact. Especially given the fact that the Huskies have one of the most physically gifted centers in the nation in Ethan Whitcomb, whose size could help balance out Blais who will be playing as an undersized winger.

#2. Diego Buttazzoni, UMass-Lowell, 19 years old

After tearing it up during the WHL playoffs this past season, Buttazzoni made the move to the NCAA, and will be most likely headlining a very intriguing UMass-Lowell team. During the regular season, Buttazzoni played well, tallying 38 goals, beating out his 2023-24 mark by 9 in 4 less games. In total, he racked up 77 points in 63 games - again beating out his 2024 total by a staggering 22 points. But, Buttazzoni didn’t stop there. He continued his upward trajectory into the playoffs where he would thrive, putting up 27 points in 18 games, he really helped propel the Winterhawks to a deep run.

Fueled by his high end awareness and ability to find the soft spots in the defense, Buttazzoni is a master of the give and go, and being able to limit his touches so that the puck is off his stick just as quickly as it’s off it. His knack for the net legit may be one of the best heading into college hockey next season. He’s simply fantastic at evading defenders, and almost always somehow finding a way to get the puck on his stick and in the back of the net. His positioning around the net is also fantastic despite his size disadvantage, using his strong lower half to anchor himself on his edges in order to get in prime position for rebounds and deflections. The one downside of Buttazzoni’s game is that at times he has a hard time creating offense. But, that shouldn’t be a problem on a team that will be built upon moving the puck faster than you can move your feet. If given the right opportunities, Buttazzoni has the natural scoring ability to put up similar numbers this season to a player like Cole Eiserman or Ryan Kirwan did last season.

#1. Julius Sumpf, Providence College, 20 years old

A speedy German centermen, Sumpf was possibly the most overlooked and underappreciated player in the CHL last season. Playing alongside Caleb Desnoyers - the 5th overall pick to Utah in this past year’s Draft - Sumpf and his production was heavily overshadowed by all the eyes that were on Desnoyers. However, even with that, Sumpf quietly put together a fantastic season, largely in part due to his great transition game and overall offensive instincts.

In 58 games with Moncton in the QMJHL, Sumpf put up 26 goals and 39 assists good for a total of 65 points. On the power play, Sumpf is lethal from the right flank position. He tore up the World Juniors on an extremely sub par Germany team, recording 7 points in 5 games, with both of his goals coming off of set plays from the point, down to the halfwall, where he would pick the puck up and wire it past the goaltender. All in all, he’s a very dynamic player. He makes smart decisions, but his skill is what allows him to go off script and keep defenders guessing. At his size, he’s able to generate speed a lot faster than most players at his age, and  maintain his pace through long, fluid strides that help him weave in and out of traffic on the ice. Creating time and space for both himself and his teammates. Joining a team like Providence, who have been making a huge push in the recruiting world recently, will be great for Sumpf and his development. He will be a very good addition to their top six, alongside other incoming CHL players like Roger McQueen and Beau Jelsma (who I touched on earlier in this article).

Other Notable Names

To conclude my list, naturally, I had to give a small list of some players that could also easily be considered as one of the top five most overlooked CHL recruits heading into the 2025-26 college season. Additionally, I feel like these players could have similar impacts on their teams as the five players I believe I previously mentioned will have. Kocha Delic of Miami University in Ohio played his entire OHL career for the Sudbury Wolves, and is most known for his hands and creative thinking in game. Slightly undersized, Delic doesn’t lack in strength although he is 5’11”, weighing in at a rock solid near 200-pounds. His smooth edgework and fluidity around the ice will be a nice addition to the Miami forward core as they look to have their first winning season since 2014-15.

A pair of Bowling Green Falcons also shouldn’t be overlooked. Ty Higgins, a defenseman out of the QMJHL, and Connor Levis, a forward also out of the WHL, will be joining one of the best overall recruiting classes in the country for this upcoming season. The undrafted Higgins had a career year in the Q, leading all defenseman in points with 67, while Levis was just under a point per game at 56 total points. Levis is a great skater and plays a hardworking two-way game. An excellent compliment to all the skill the BGSU is bringing in this season, and could be the difference late in the season if they make a push towards a conference title.

Finally, Austin Elliott, former London Knights goalie and memorial cup champion, could have a legit chance at being the best goaltender in Hockey East next season. After two solid seasons with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL, Elliott fell off the roster and onto waivers after a rocky start to the season, despite winning all three games that he had started in prior. After clearing WHL waivers, he would get his final shot in the OHL with the London Knights after he had been picked up by the Barrie Colts and immediately traded. From there Elliott would snatch the starting job and run with it; posting a .924 save percentage and giving up 2.10 goals per game on average throughout the 33 games that he played - not to mention winning 32 of them in the process.

To say that these players aren’t set up for prime success at the collegiate level would be a supreme understatement. Elliott will have solid competition for the starting goaltender spot at Lowell. But, out of the three goalies that could potentially start for the RiverHawks, Elliott is the only one with significant experience, let alone success at the major junior level. Higgins and Levis are being put in strikingly similar positions given the fact that they are on the same team; with the both of them being possibly the most talented players in their position groups, with really only one to two players each that could challenge them for that title. Out of all of these names, Delic might be thrown most directly into the leading role on his team. Being the only player on the Miami roster to have put up over a point per game for an entire season at any junior hockey level, Delic brings a level of confidence, experience and skill that is exactly what the RedHawks need to create a much needed spark throughout their program.