With collegiate programs across the country preparing to open their 2025-26 seasons in just a few weeks, it’s time for the first College Hockey Poll of the new year — featuring five Kings prospects at three different universities ranked in the Top 10.
No. 1 – Western Michigan
After an incredible late season run, featuring some thrilling playoff victories, the reigning National Champions will start things off from the lead position. That’s not always an automatic in college hockey because of roster turnover, etc. However, the Broncos are primed to repeat with a cast of characters led by the Kings No. 1 goalie prospect in Hampton Slukynsky. Joining ‘Hammer’ on WMU’s roster once again will be his brother Grant, one of the team’s top point producers last season. He also attended Kings Development Camp back in July as a free agent invitee, and remains very much on the team’s radar for a possible contract next summer.
No. 4 – Denver University
The champs from two years ago — and Western Michigan’s current biggest rival — featured two Kings prospects last season. With Jared Wright graduating to the AHL, things were thought to be changing. However, DU has added two additional LA draftees, now giving them three total for the 2025-26 season. Forwards Kristian Epperson and Brendan McMorrow have joined the Pioneers from the OHL and USHL respectively. Although summer school commitments prevented them duo from attending Dev Camp in LA, both players were able to participate in USA Hockey’s World Junior evaluation camp.
Epperson, a third-round selection of the Kings, will be intriguing to keep an eye on. He’s coming over to the NCAA after playing one season of OHL hockey. With Saginaw last year, the left winger recorded 80 points (27G, 53A) in 58 regular-season games. Perhaps more impressive, he never went more than two consecutive games without recording at least one point. How will those skills transfer over to the college game?
Additionally, returning for his sophomore campaign is forward James Reeder (note: he prefers to be called Jay). He was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft and then quickly earned the trust of DU’s coaching staff, playing most of his freshman year on the team’s second line — something pretty unheard of on an NCAA championship contending team. To show just how good he was last season, Reeder won DU’s Barry Sharp Freshman of the Year Award.
No. 6 – Boston College
As reported over the summer, Ryan Conmy left UNH and is taking his talents to BC for his junior year. One of the true highlights at Dev Camp the past few years, he was up to his old tricks again when in LA a few months ago:
Based on comments like what he told Mayor’s Manor back in July — “Winning is the most fun part of hockey; I think everyone would agree with that. So, being able to do that and showing up to the rink every day with a lot of like-minded guys should be super fun.” — it’s clear that the 20-year-old winger was looking for a place to take his game to the next level. Boston College remains one of college hockey’s elite programs. His usage will be something to track as the year progresses. He’s going from being one of the top forwards on his former team onto a roster loaded with killers. He put up consistent goals and points the past two seasons. How will he fare with the Eagles?
Unranked Schools
Although their programs didn’t make the Top 25 cut in this year’s preseason poll, Jack Sparkes and Caeden Herrington are two additional Kings prospects plying their trades while attending college. The former could conceivably rise in the rankings this season, as Clarkson began last year on the outside looking in before making a late push and ultimately falling to Cornell in the ECAC tournament final.
Sparkes, a 6-foot-8 defenseman who isn’t known for his scoring touch, did notch his first college goal last October.
In the preseason poll reference above. Clarkson was one of two schools to just barely miss out on the Top 20 by a few votes. Thus, if they get off to a hot start, they could be ranked before Christmas.
Meanwhile, Herrington would be considered a longshot to see a Top 20 ranking sometime soon. He’s headed to Vermont for his freshman year, a school predicted to finish last in the highly competitive Hockey East standings (according to that conference’s preseason coach’s poll). A solid defenseman, standing 6-foot-2 at 204 lbs., Herrington piled up 34 points (16G, 18A) in 56 regular season games in the USHL last season.
Our initial scouting report on him during Draft weekend read: “High character, leader. Really good skater. Bomb of a shot, led USHL in goals by a defenseman. Transitions pucks well and will jump in the play to add offense. Good defensive stick, defends well with feet and has some snarl.”
True to form, the right-shot blueliner was one of the very few prospects to get a puck past Carter Geroge in one of the Dev Camp scrimmages.
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