The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Keaton Verhoeff on the Jump to the NCAA, Maturing His Game, and more

Episode Date: April 1, 2026

Keaton Verhoeff, defenseman for North Dakota, joins the program ahead of the NCAA Frozen Four. Verhoeff discusses the tournament, North Dakota’s opportunity on the national stage, and what this moment means for him as a 2026 NHL Draft-eligible prospect. The conversation dives into his season, his development path, and what NHL teams may be seeing as they evaluate talent ahead of the upcoming draft.From front office shakeups to playoff races and the biggest stage in college hockey, it’s another packed episode of The Sheet.Subscribe for more daily NHL coverage, interviews, and hockey conversation.#TheSheet #NHL #MapleLeafs #LeafsForever #OttawaSenators #FloridaPanthers #FrozenFour #NHLDraft #HockeyLeave a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheSheetEmail us: [e-mail] TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼 Ninja: https://www.sharkninja.ca/ninja-crispi-pro-6-in-1-countertop-glass-air-fryer-rose-quartz/AS101CRS.html?utm_source=Meta&utm_medium=Paid+Social&utm_campaign=H1NinjaCrispi&utm_content=NinjaEN&dwvar_AS101CRS_color=cdb9b8Reach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoffReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Speaking of college, University of North Dakota, standout defender, standout defenseman on his way to the Frozen Four is Keaton Verhoff. That's some business, and then we'll get to the draft sometime in June. Keith and Jeff Merrick here, how are you? When are you leaving for Vegas? Did you pack your bathing suit and your suntan lotion? Are you all ready for what's in store for you? Yeah, no, I'm good.

I'm excited to be on here. Yeah, I think we're leaving to Vegas on Tuesday, so get a couple days of practice. practice and maybe some sunlight too. Yeah. And then right to business though. This has been such a fascinating year for you, right? Like this is the first year of the new reality, right? Like the new reality of CHLers and NCAA and the tug and the pull and on all of it.

And, you know, you're part of that first wave or first class of players that have said, I'm going to see what this is like over here. If you can, before we look at the future, can you take us? back to how you came to that decision initially. I was shocked. I think a lot of people were shocked. But how did you arrive at that decision? Yeah, I think, well, you go back to right when the rule kind of changed there.

And you kind of look at, you thought about it. And I think it was always in the back of some of our heads playing out that season. But really, I didn't really start thinking about it too much until after playoffs ended, finished up my season there in Victoria. I kind of got reached out, or a couple schools reached out to me, explored a bit of them, end up going to 18 Worlds at the end of the season. Then after that, came back and went on two visits, one to North Dakota and one to Michigan, and you kind of go on those visits and you just get a perspective and perspective of what it's like here.

I mean, you always have preconceived kind of ideas of what it's like to play in college or what it's like to be in a certain place or at a certain college. But I think for me, when I really came to North Dakota to start on my first visit, it kind of was a place that really spoke to me. And it was something that I really wanted to be a part of the culture here and the people that are here as well. Just the group of coaching staff that we have, it was super respectful with the decision as well. I think obviously it was a weird time and a new time as well. Everyone was kind of learning as well with the coaching staff and the players as well coming from the CHL. In the end of it, North Dakota was kind of just a place for me.

It felt right. But yeah, I think the transition was definitely a little different than some people's recruiting process. Mine definitely flew by. It was the marble floors at Ralph Ankelstad. Like, you can be honest. Like, I've seen it. Like, it's pretty gorgeous, right? Like, oh, man, marble floor is like, where do I sign?

Yeah, no, 100%. Ralph is one of the kind. The building here is kind of, it's a, It's amazing. We're so lucky and fortunate to have this great rink. And obviously, the alumni that have helped kind of establish the culture. And obviously, Ralph Engelstead as well, who kind of was a big part in making this rink was someone that we really cherish her deeply around here.

Okay. How do you handle compliments? You handle them well? Do your cheeks get red? Like, how do you handle compliments? Yeah, I think I might maybe get a little red, but I. For me, I think it's taking stride. Okay.

So I texted with one of your former coaches today. I said, tell me something about Keaton. This is what came back just before the program. Pure winner, NHL captain material, leader of men for sure, and extremely down to earth even with all that's going on. Does that resonate with you? That's no matter what coach that came from or who that came from, that's an honor to do.

That's something that I think I pride myself in and just being a guy that people can talk to and a guy that is respected as well. So to hear that from you is pretty special. And that's a huge honor for whoever that came from. Well, like you have like, I've talked to a couple of people about you and they all have the same thing. It's like, I'm like, what was your relationship? What's your relationship like with Keaton? Like what are the conversations like? And everything that I always get back is you feel.

feel like you're his best friend five minutes into a conversation, right? Like your, your personality has become like quickly one of your calling cards. And I'm sure that as, you know, NHL teams, you know, come inquiring. Like, I don't think, put this way, I don't think you're going to be intimidated by the Combine interviews, are you? No, I think for me, it's kind of, that's something that I, pride myself in almost, is being able to talk, uh, with people and just being an outgoing person. That's always been my personality as someone that can go into a room that's silent and make everyone start talking and become friends as well to kind of say it like that. But I think for me, just moving away from home at a young age and being around different people and billet families as well, I kind of grew up into that that kind of style that I'm able to talk with people and able to hold conversations as well. I asked your manager, Bryn Chiswick, about you today.

We're having a conversation. And he told me that you are taking, is it sports journalism? You're taking a class in sports. You're already coming for all of our jobs here too. You're already looking like past, you know, the finishing up in college and the NHL career, already looking to take all of our jobs here at the other side of the microphone. Yeah, I took a sports journalism class in the first semester. That was pretty, that was a neat class.

for me. I think both just because obviously I'm interested in and things like that and we've got to look at different sports. But I think the main reason it kind of helped me and a reason I wanted to take it as well was just with talking with media and seeing stuff from their perspective. Like as me for me this year having to talk with different interviews and different podcasts as well. It's it's been nice to have that class to kind of see what you guys think and see what's almost almost picking your guys's brain a bit, but. So now you know how easy it is. Like here's the thing like, dude, this is a secret, how easy this thing is.

Now that you're in the club, you can't tell anybody. You got to say like, oh, man, these guys work so hard. Oh, what a tough gig that is. Oh, yeah. You guys are working all day. You don't get a talk with fun people at all. No, no, no, no. Oh, I got to go to work.

My wife always said, you don't have to go to work. You got to go watch a hockey game. Like, you're not working. Like, stop. Like stop with, I got to go to work. You watch a hockey game and go like, oh, that's offside. Oh, that's going to be icing and we'll be right back. Like, essentially, that's what we do here, Keaton.

And now you know the secret. And now you know the secrets. I'm always curious about players in their draft here. Look, Gavin McKenna is going through this as well. I can recall Noah Hanofin, okay, years ago. So Noah Hanofin, the Quebec ramparts had his rights in the Quebec League. And he didn't consider going for a second.

I talked to his representation, then Wasserman, now the team. And I said, like, is there any chance that Hanofin's going to go? And they said, you know what? It's his draft year. We don't want him in a new environment. We want him, like, comfortable things that he's used to,

the same experiences, just focus on the draft year and playing. And that's it. We don't want any other distractions. in his life. And I understand that. Like, it's a really sensitive year and you're going through it right now. But you've deliberately chosen to put yourself in a different situation. One, I think that's commendable. Right. Like, this is like a really, really,

it's like, it's a big year in your life and a big year in your career here. And you've challenged yourself. Like, was any of this part of the thinking, too, like, you know what? Maybe I should stay where it's really comfortable, put up big points. You know, Victoria's going to have a good team. or was it like at every single step of the way I want to challenge myself and you know here you are planning against like 23 year olds now? Yeah for sure.

I think that was that was always in the back of your head. I mean, it's hard not to kind of have that stuff floating around there. But for me, like you said, I just kind of I wanted to have that challenge. And I know kind of going through that, I had that same almost obviously on smaller scale, but I had this same kind of thought process going to my second year, U-15. Oh, yeah. Kind of for that WHL draft year. And it was whether I should stay in my hometown and play AAA there

or I ended up moving out to Colonna and playing in rink. So at rinked Kelowna. So it was kind of a familiar situation. But, yeah, I think the kind of things that went into it and the thought process and the people I had supporting me was super huge. kind of coming here was definitely going to be a challenge and I knew that. But I had so many people to talk with. And like I said earlier, the coaching staff was kind of on a,

was so respectful and kind of wanting to take me to take me through this process and really be there for me as well. I mean, this year I've had those guys beside me every step of the way to kind of talk with and do extra work or do extra video. And whenever things are kind of like there's going to be ups and downs in the air, So whenever things are going bad, they're there for me. Whenever things are going good, they're there for me as well. So it's, uh, it's, uh, it's, of those guys.

You know, it's interesting too. We, we always hear the term distraction and we never think that it can actually be a good thing. And what are the things that I wonder about like, you know, this is your first year on campus, um, significantly away from home, et cetera. Um, we always think the distractions are bad, but there's is such a thing as a positive distraction that through all of this, sometimes like, you can't be 24, seven consumed by the draft and the season. what's coming in June and where I'm going to go and looking at NHL standings and draft

simulators and prospect rank that you can drive yourself crazy like what are some of the positive distractions that you would have in your life this season so you don't just get overwhelmed by the draft year I think I think honestly for me it's just been surrounding myself with the guys really kind of throwing myself into it I mean you look at junior and it's a little bit different in a sense where some guys are going to school, some guys are out of school. And so you're kind of hanging out with, if you're going to school, you're hanging out with the guys that are going to school.

If you're not going to school, you're hanging out with those guys. So I think for me in college, every single guy is going to class, every single guys around the school and around the rink pretty much all the time. So to kind of have those guys and really become really close with those guys has been super, super good for me this year. It's kind of a thing that, I think I really enjoyed this year.

I mean, we're a really close group. I don't think we would be where we are today if we weren't as close to that we were. We've gone through so much together. I mean, in the summer, we start kind of coming together and really learn each other's games and kind of personalities. And then as the year goes on, you just become closer and closer with guys. And now there's guys here that are my best friends. And I'm so happy that I get to spend every day with these guys at the ring.

and away from rink and traveling and all that stuff. Let me ask you about your season because early on it was like highlight, highlight, highlight, and that's great and that's cool. And then we look at you play now and it's like, like he looks like a pro. Like you have like a real maturity to your game where early on, I can understand it, like 17 years old, like highlights, man. Like let's let's make some videos here. And now we watch you play and it's like, wow, he really has like a matured.

sure poise to his game like was that just like was going to happen through the season was it like at a certain point you realize

I need to start playing a more pro style game here like I remember I'll give an example I remember going to watch the U16 Toronto Marley this is when

Connor McDavid was on the team and Josh Hosing they were the two stars and Josh Hossang was a guy that were like dangle five guys and then regroup in the neutral zone just so we could do it again

and then he would go and score where McDavid at 15, like, looked like a pro. Like, oh my God, this guy looks like he's like, forget OHL. He's going right to the NHL from U-16. Like, was there like moments throughout the season where you're like, I got to mature my game here?

Or do that just happen naturally? Yeah, for sure. I think kind of going back to that decision, I think to come to North Dakota is kind of a place where the maturity is established from the people that have been here before us. But yeah, I think, going into the year. There's definitely some holes in my game and some spots that I wanted to

fix. I mean, a big, big point for me was coming here to kind of improve my defensive ability and my D zone structure and that stuff. And obviously, playing against those older and more mature guys, it kind of comes along with it. I think the biggest difference for me in college this year was just the details of guys, the details of the guys you play against and the details of your teammates as well. So being able to learn from those guys has been super huge. But I think at the start of the year, you kind of, you go at the start of the year and you're playing, like, I'm kind of, I was playing almost a different type of game. You're going, you're putting up lots of numbers and you're doing that stuff.

And that's all great and fun. But I think at the end of the day, the game I'm playing right now is something that is more mature and more capable to be able to take to the next level. It's not as much of a running gun game. It's more of kind of know the situation and know the area, when I should maybe jump up in the play and make a rush play or stay back and kind of be that be that reliable defensive defensive defenseman. So I think for me, the maturity of my game has been a huge jump for me.

I'd say honestly, that's been the biggest kind of thing for me that's developed this year. A couple more minutes left with you. I want to ask about a couple of things specifically throughout your season. There was that ASU weekend where you're in January, I believe it was, where you were just like lights out. like that was like holy smokes keaton verhoff holy jeez were there moments like that like throughout the season that we may have missed along the way where yeah my ASU weekend was good but how about this week?

I don't really like your last game was fantastic here too to get you here to the Frozen 4 but like were there moments where you stand out and you go like yeah you know what I'm really proud of this weekend or this game or these two games yeah 100% I think everyone kind of goes to that weekend you just kind of look at the numbers and you look at the production wise and then you watch the games and you see I played pretty well.

But honestly, in my head, that was a good weekend production-wise. But for myself, like playing, I felt good. I know there was better, though, for me. And I think weekends that don't show up on the score sheet as much, that are kind of good stepping zones where I know I played well and things like that kind of, things just don't fall in the back of the net. But things like for me, Colorado, we went to Colorado College. right after the World Junior break.

And I went there and I played a super solid game. I was moving Pox quick and joining the rush and doing things like that. But it's just those type of games where I'm playing the important times and I'm playing the right way are things that I really look for. And I really pride myself in learning this year, honestly, and maturing my game that way. Miss playing goalie? No, not as much anymore.

I was trapped the pads on a couple months ago here, and I still got a little bit. Yeah, I still got a little bit of game in me, but not much. I don't think my mobility is where it was. I looked more like those. What skates did you wear? Do you wear a goalie skates or do you just wear your own? No, I was in the straight normal player skates. I wasn't moving very well.

I was more of an up-down, walk-around kind of guy, but I still got some hand-eye going. That's good. You still got the mitt. That's all right. you still got to admit. Okay, we'll end on this one because I know every day is busy for you. So let me end on this one. What do you want people to know about you?

I'm always curious, like, you know, you want to, you know, share your personality. You got a big personality. You're easy to like, like all of it. But what do you want people to know about you? Like, what do you want people to take away from either seeing this interview or having a conversation with you? What do you want people to know about yourself? Yeah, I think for me it's just get to know me as a person. and kind of the way I handle myself and the way I'm going to be respectful towards everyone.

Something that I kind of always pride myself in being is being a, like being a friend with everyone on the team. Not kind of having clicks and not being in different groups, but being a guy that every single guy wants to talk to and can be around and hang out with is something that I kind of like to be in and like to be around all the guys as well. but I think for me is just the down-to-earth kind of human I am. I don't really want to go around and flash lots of things. I mean, there's things to talk about. And obviously, when hockey comes up, there's fun things that come along with it, but also just kind of making sure that I'm a person away from the rink as well and lots of other things to kind of talk about

and making sure that I'm not just a one-dimensional. person that can only talk about hockey. I can be there to talk about other things with people and be a guy that can, they can just hang out away from the rink as well. What a revelation, a young man that doesn't just want to talk about hockey 24-7. I love it. Do you have a favorite NHL team, by the way? Yeah, I think for me it's got to be Oilers.

I grew up a, I grew up a Montreal fan when I was a goalie because I really like Carrie Price. Oh, yeah. And then eventually, I fell into the Oilers, the Oilers fan base growing up in the Edmonton area so I kind of have grown to like watching them for it's Saskatchewan I have a favorite oiler oiler um I don't know right now as of right now I kind of I'm just I'm cheering for the team there's lots of guys on there I mean actually you know what yeah I guess I do now um probably Colton Colton Doc my cousin just got I'll go with them now I

all right yeah I got I got news for you unless they significantly trade up in the draft you're not going to get drafted by the Edmonton Oilers it's getting me more Much, much, much higher. Listen, thanks so much for stopping by with me today. This has been a really great conversation. Really appreciate it. Good luck in Vegas. And I know it'll be interesting for you if it comes down to you and Michigan,

you and Michigan here. So we'll see where that ends up. You be well. We'll talk soon. Awesome. Thank you very much. Take care.