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Pittsburgh Penguins first-round draft pick unexpectedly takes over NCAA's goal race
Photo credit: Edit from the Hockey News
The Penguins didn't know that when they selected Will Horcoff in the first round at the 2025 NHL draft, he would lead the NCAA in goals, which is what has happened.
Pittsburgh's 2025 first-rounder Ben Kindel has gotten plenty of attention for his success thus far in the NHL, but another Penguins prospect is making waves in college hockey.
18-year-old center Will Horcoff, picked 24th overall by Pittsburgh in the 2025 NHL Draft, is playing remarkably well in his first year in the NCAA with the University of Michigan.
Scoring one goal and one assist in a 7-4 victory over Wisconsin on Friday, Horcoff now has 11 goals in 11 games, which leads all of college hockey, and 16 points overall, placing him in the top 10 in all of college scoring.
His game-winning goal against Wisconsin demonstrated his unique combination of strength, talent, and maturity that is not normally found in a freshman.
Will Horcoff is the youngest player among all the top-scoring players across the entire country
What makes this even more astonishing is his age, as Horcoff is the only 18-year-old amongst the top-scoring players in the country.
During last season, Horcoff began playing with the U.S. National Team Development Program but was called up to Michigan midway through the year, where he managed 10 points in 18 games, which made him the youngest participant in college hockey.
Pittsburgh's draft class is continuing to impress. Horcoff is not alone atop the NCAA scoring chart. Three Penguins prospects rank in the top 10 in scoring.
One is Zam Plante. Pittsburgh's 2022 fifth-round draft pick is second only to his brother and teammate in point-scoring in all of college hockey.
The Penguins are beginning to see championship-caliber development depth in their college system, with Horcoff playing a prominent role.
If current patterns hold, Pittsburgh's investment in young players is already starting to pay dividends not only in the NHL with Kindel but in top developmental leagues in North America.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 10 | 63 ANSWERS Pittsburgh Penguins first-round draft pick unexpectedly takes over NCAA's goal race Are you surprised that Will Horcoff is leading the NCAA in goals? | ||
| Yes | 37 | 58.7 % |
| No | 26 | 41.3 % |
| List of polls | ||