SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The 2026 NHL Draft now in the rearview mirror, the University of Notre Dame hockey program saw an unprecedented number of current and committed individuals selected. As the final name was called Saturday afternoon, five individuals with Irish ties had heard their name called over the course of the two-day event. Incoming freshman centerman Beckham Edwards was the first on the list to hear his name called, selected 143rd overall by the Detroit Red Wings (fifth round). Future Irish stars and committed skaters to join Edwards include Eric Frossard, André Mondoux, Cole Zurawski, and Parker Trottier.
“As a program we are proud to have five current and future Fighting Irish go in the NHL Draft,” Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach Brock Sheahan said. “It is a dream come true for these young men, and something to be truly proud of. Our goal is to continue to add the right kind of people and talent, and build our depth through recruiting. Today shows that we are on the right track. They know that being drafted is just a step in the process of playing in the NHL one day. The work to get there continues day in and day out. We are excited to help them develop into the type of players, and people that will have long term success on and off the ice.”
The 2026 draftees extend the University’s streak to 23 consecutive drafts in which a current or future student-athlete was selected by an NHL organization, dating back to Victor Oreskovich in the second round of the 2004 Draft.
Edwards is set to lace up his skates for the Irish in 2026-27 after a two-year stint in the Ontario Hockey League where he skated in 126 games with the Sarnia Sting and put up 90 points off 44 goals and 46 assists. The rookie is one of four Irish freshmen this coming season and currently the lone draftee of his class.
Frossard, a fifth round selection by the Anaheim Ducks, joined Edwards as part of the 2026 Draft class, hearing his name called just three spots later at 146 overall. A London, Ontario native, Frossard currently plays defense for the Guelph Storm of the OHL and totaled 14 points in 51 games played last season.
“The draft was an awesome experience for me and my family,” Frossard said on his experience in Buffalo. “Being drafted is a dream come true and could not have happened without my family. It is an honor to be selected by a great organization like the Ducks. I am looking forward to continuing to grow as a person and player.”
The sixth round opened with Mondoux’s selection by the New York Rangers at 162nd overall. The Ontario blueliner spent parts of the last two seasons with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL where he appeared in 74 regular season contests and amassed 19 points off six goals and 13 assists.
Zurawski and Trottier also heard their names called in the sixth round of the 2026 draft to round out the class of Irish skaters. Zurawski was picked 181st overall by the Florida Panthers, shortly before Trottier at No. 189 by the Montreal Canadiens.
The five individuals selected in this year’s draft marks the fourth-most in program history. Only 1979 (seven), 2007 (six), and 2023 (six) saw more.
With Edwards slated to make his collegiate debut with the Irish in October 2026, the team will have nine rostered student-athletes to have been drafted previously. The rookie joins Brennan Ali (DET, 7th rd., 212; 2022), Danny Nelson (NYI, 2nd rd., 49; 2023), Paul Fischer (STL, 5th rd., 138; 2023), Cole Brown (NJD, 6th rd., 164; 2023), David Klee (2023, 7th rd., 196; 2023), Nicholas Kempf (WSH, 4th rd., 114; 2024), Hagen Burrows (TBL, 4th rd., 128; 2024), and Will Belle (TOR, 5th rd., 137; 2025).