Ohio State’s men’s hockey team entered the 2025‑26 season after a disappointing campaign that saw the Buckeyes miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in a decade, setting the stage for a potential turnaround.
What sets this class apart is that the NHL draft does not signal the end of a player’s college career; instead, the league permits draftees to remain in school while they continue to develop.
The 2026 draft brought four Buckeyes prospects into the professional ranks: Ben Wilmott, selected 92nd overall by the Las Vegas Golden Knights; Evan Jardine, the 121st pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets; Tobias Tvrznik, chosen 126th by the Colorado Avalanche; and Will Tomko, the 204th selection of the Seattle Kraken.
Each of those players brings a résumé of junior‑level success: Wilmott’s time with the London Knights and Barrie Colts in the OHL, Jardine’s stint in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms, Tvrznik’s Western Hockey League run with the Wenatchee Wild, and Tomko’s contributions to the Sioux City Musketeers.
Coach Ryan Warsofsky believes the blend of seasoned junior talent and returning veterans can close the gap that kept the Buckeyes out of the tournament last year.
A New Era for the Buckeyes
If the incoming freshmen can translate their junior achievements to the college stage, Ohio State could see a swift rebound and re‑establish itself among the nation’s elite programs.