It’s been a whirlwind of a week for several incoming Michigan State hockey freshmen.
Not only are these guys getting ready to join the program under Adam Nightingale next month, but nine Spartans found out where they might be playing professional hockey over the weekend.
A program record-breaking nine Spartans were drafted over the weekend and an NCAA record-breaking 10 first-rounders will be on Michigan State’s 2026-27 roster. The 10 first-round picks breaks a record that was previously held by the Wolverines for about five years. This year’s Michigan State hockey team, like the past three, is going to be absolutely loaded.
Jack Hextall is one of those first-rounders joining Michigan State’s roster this fall and he was just selected 30th overall by the Calgary Flames. The 17-year-old will join a roster full of elite defensemen so his ice time might be limited in his first season. But he may be too good to keep on the bench.
The same goes for his fellow first-round pick Cullen Potter who’s transferring in from Arizona State. Both will be getting acclimated at Michigan State within the next month.
But first, they’re building a teammate bond at the Calgary Flames’ development camp this week.
Hextall was the Flames’ first-round pick this year and Potter was their first-round selection in 2025 — and they went (a year and) two picks apart.
Cullen Potter, Jack Hextall are future Spartan stars
Potter and Hextall might be on slightly different timelines in East Lansing.
The Arizona State transfer will have an immediate impact and he might become the team’s top player this season. He’s already been regarded as a Hobey Baker Award candidate and following a breakout season with the Sun Devils, I’m buying that hype. I’m all-in on the Potter hype train after he totaled 26 points in 24 games last season.
Hextall, on the other hand, is a budding star. He’s not established in the NCAA like Potter, but he has every bit of potential that his fellow Calgary first-round draft pick has. However, he may need a year before he’s a top-line contributor in East Lansing. Looking at his USHL numbers with the Youngstown Phantoms last season has me thinking he can compete right away.
The incoming freshman had 58 points (20 goals, 38 assists) as a center for the Phantoms in 2025-26.
These two guys are about to be stars in East Lansing and if they can help Nightingale win a national title, they’ll end up being legends.
Add us as a preferred source on Google