SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Before he laces up his pads for the first time in an Irish sweater for the 2024-25 season, incoming netminder Nick Kempf was selected in the fourth round and 114th overall by the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Kempf becomes the 98th all-time draft pick in program history and is the fourth in Irish history to be selected by the Capitals.
The Morton Grove, Illinois native is set to make his collegiate debut in just a few months after two successful seasons with the USNTDP. With the development program a season ago, he registered a 23-7 record while boasting a 2.99 goals against average and had three shutouts.
With his selection Saturday afternoon, Kempf joins six other 2024-25 rostered Irish student-athletes to be selected in a NHL Entry Draft. Other draftees on the roster include Blake Biondi (’20 MTL), Justin Janicke (’21 SEA), Brennan Ali (’22 DET), Paul Fischer (’23 STL), Cole Knuble (’23 PHI) and Danny Nelson (’23 NYI).