New Jersey High School Hockey Matches Historic NHL Draft Milestone as Four Players Hear Their Names Called

New Jersey high school hockey celebrated one of its strongest NHL Draft performances in years as four players with ties to the state’s high school programs were selected in the 2026 NHL Draft. The achievement equals a record for the most New Jersey high school hockey players chosen in a single NHL Draft, highlighting another memorable chapter for the state’s growing hockey community.

The milestone comes after a quiet 2025 NHL Draft, when no New Jersey high school hockey players were selected. This year’s results marked a major turnaround and reflected the continued development of talented athletes coming through high school programs across the Garden State.

The success for New Jersey hockey began even before the NHL Draft. Earlier in the week, Morristown-Beard standout Leah Stecker became the first New Jersey high school hockey player ever selected in the PWHL Draft, adding another historic accomplishment for the state’s hockey scene.

The momentum continued at the NHL Draft in Buffalo, where four players with New Jersey high school hockey backgrounds officially became NHL Draft picks.

Blake Zielinski of Eastern High School was selected in the third round with the 80th overall pick. Later in the same round, Ben Wilmott from West Morris High School was chosen with the 92nd overall selection. Ridge High School’s Egor Barabanov followed in the fourth round as the 100th overall pick. Matthew Minchak of Cranford High School completed the group after being selected in the sixth round with the 191st overall pick.

According to current records maintained by NJ.com, this is only the third time that four players connected to New Jersey high school hockey have been drafted in the same NHL Draft.

The first occurrence came in 2012, when Anthony Stolarz, who played for St. John Vianney and Jackson Memorial, was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers. Joakim Ryan from Christian Brothers was drafted by the San Jose Sharks, Nick Ebert of Livingston was picked by the Los Angeles Kings, and Matt Beattie from Pingry was selected by the Vancouver Canucks.

The second time happened in 2023. That year, Drew Fortescue of Don Bosco Prep was drafted by the New York Rangers. Gloucester Catholic’s Chris Pelosi went to the Boston Bruins, Bergen Catholic’s Aram Minnetian was selected by the Dallas Stars, and Morristown-Beard’s Nick VanTassell was drafted by the Ottawa Senators.

Matching that achievement in 2026 places this year’s draft class alongside two of the strongest groups ever produced by New Jersey high school hockey. While each player’s journey has been different, together they represent another important moment for hockey programs throughout the state.

For New Jersey’s high school hockey community, the 2026 NHL Draft serves as another reminder that local programs continue to develop players capable of reaching the professional level. With four players selected and another history-making draft accomplishment earlier in the week through the PWHL, it has been a record-tying year that will be remembered across the state’s hockey landscape.

Sources

• NJ.com
• NHL