MANCHESTER — A dream was realized for Caeden Herrington on Saturday afternoon with a single phone call.
Standing in his Manchester home with his parents by his side, Herrington answered a call he had imagined for years — one from a National Hockey League general manager. On the other end of the line was Los Angeles Kings’ GM Ken Holland, letting the 19-year-old know that the Kings were selecting him with their fourth-round pick, No. 120 overall, in the 2025 NHL Draft.
“It was a moment I’m going to remember forever,” Herrington said. “You grow up as a small kid in Manchester, Vermont — it’s a dream to play in the NHL one day and get drafted into the NHL. I was kind of overwhelmed with emotions because of all the hard work you put in, the hard work your parents put in, the time with my siblings. All the time people spent to help get me to the point where I’m at now. It was incredible.”
That dedication has been evident for more than a decade. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Herrington has developed into one of the top defensemen in his class — a process years in the making.
Hockey took him to Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire ahead of his junior year in the fall of 2022, where he immediately made his presence felt in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). It was there that the dream of playing professionally began to feel like a legitimate possibility.
“I started to really find my game, and I felt like I was trending in the right direction,” Herrington said. “I took some huge developmental steps over my junior and senior year there.”
Manchester’s Caeden Herrington was selected in the fourth round of Saturday’s NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings.
Photo provided by Holderness School
Those steps were reflected in his senior campaign, where Herrington led Holderness to its first-ever Lakes Region Championship and a second selection to the Elite Eight tournament. His contributions weren’t just felt defensively. The blueliner racked up 49 points in 29 games — an elite mark for a defenseman — and was named NEPSAC Defenseman of the Year by the New England Hockey Journal, Neutral Zone, and U.S. Hockey Report.
Despite that success, Herrington went undrafted in 2024 — his first year of eligibility — a moment he calls humbling but ultimately motivating.
“Last summer, not getting picked, it was definitely a reality check,” he said. “It kept me humble and hungry. I knew I had to keep working. Thankfully, things worked out.”
They certainly did.
After aging out of prep school, Herrington joined the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the top junior league in the U.S. There, his stock as an NHL prospect continued to rise. He led all USHL defensemen with 16 goals and showed a maturity and versatility that caught the eyes of scouts league-wide.
He describes himself as a “200-foot defenseman” who takes pride in his physical play in the defensive zone but also relishes joining the rush and contributing offensively.
“I love to defend and play hard in the d-zone. I like to lay body,” he said. “But I also think I’ve got a lot of offensive attributes. I like to jump up in the play and, as you can see, I like to put the puck in the net, too.”
Those instincts were honed from a young age and were shaped by long hours inside Riley Rink and on a backyard sheet of ice at his parents’ home. His father, Cory Herrington, was the varsity head coach at Burr and Burton Academy from 2002 to 2013, winning a pair of state titles during his 11-year tenure.
“I was a rink rat growing up, to say the least,” Caeden said. “My parents would have to drag me off the ice.”
He remembers being just four or five years old skating at BBA varsity practices. That early exposure lit a spark that’s burned ever since.
Cory stepped away from coaching at BBA to be able to coach Caeden in Manchester’s youth hockey program, the Northshire Bulldogs. Caeden helped lead the Bulldogs to a pair of Vermont state championships — winning the 2015-16 Squirt A title and following that up with the Pee Wee A crown the following winter. Both teams finished as New England runner-ups.
The Northshire Bulldogs 2016-2017 Pee Wee A Vermont state championship team, featuring Caeden Herrington.
“He pushed me, and I wanted that,” Caeden said of his father. “I think without him or my mom, I’m never in the position I’m in now.”
Herrington stopped playing locally at age 12, but those foundational years were critical. He cherishes those memories and believes they helped shape the competitor and teammate he is today.
He also understands just how rare his accomplishment is — and how much it means to Vermont. Only two players born in the state have made it to the NHL. John LeClair, of St. Albans, played in over 900 games and won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. Graham Mink, from Stowe, played in seven NHL games between 2004 and 2009.
“Definitely grateful and humble from where I came from, because Manchester’s not necessarily a hockey hotbed,” Herrington said. “But I think that’s kind of what makes my story unique.”
That hometown pride also shaped Herrington’s next chapter. He committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Vermont — choosing to stay in-state rather than pursue other options. He will begin his college hockey career later this year.
“Part of me does it for the kids in Manchester that are looking for a dream and then a path,” he said. “I’m trying to pave the way for them. I had options to go elsewhere, but I wanted to stay in state. I wanted to show kids that UVM is an option. If you believe and put your mind to it, you can play D-I hockey there.”
For Herrington, the choice is personal. He grew up attending games at Gutterson Fieldhouse — known as “The Gutt” — and watched his dad coach high school championships on that ice.
“It definitely has a ton of meaning to me,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to getting there and hopefully making a difference and bringing the program back to where it was 10 years ago.”
Herrington most recently played for the USHL’s Lincoln Stars, leading all defensemen in goals scored this past season.
Photo provided by Holderness School
Before Herrington begins his collegiate career, he’ll be representing the United States on an even bigger stage. He was recently invited to participate in the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, a key step in the selection process for the U.S. team competing in the IIHF World Junior Championship. The event — which also features teams from Canada, Finland, and Sweden — will take place July 25 through Aug. 2 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.
Herrington credits his success not only to his family and coaches but to the wider Manchester community, which he described as a close-knit town. As he serves as a role model for local players who share the dream of one day making it to the NHL, Herrington said the local hockey community is in a great place thanks to the work of those inside Riley Rink.
“There’s people at the rink that are there to support you, like [Riley Rink General Manager] Mark Slade,” Herrington said. “He’s got a ton of ice available for kids at these ages and now there’s so much going on that I didn’t even have when I was a kid with all these skill skates and just different ways to train.”
As for the advice he’d give to the next generation, Herrington said your character will take you further than any specific drill.
“Honestly the first thing is first, be a good person, be someone that people want to be around,” he said. “Be kind, caring and loving. That’s three things I go by every day.”
Herrington’s pride in his community is evident. It’s also reciprocated. The Northshire Hockey Association Facebook page shared a screenshot of Herrington’s draft selection on Saturday, writing “Congrats former Northshire Bulldog, incoming UVM freshman, and newly drafted Caeden Herrington. You have made Vermont proud!”
Herrington’s journey — from backyard rinks in Manchester to the doorstep of professional hockey — is a testament to a relentless work ethic, unwavering support from family and community, and a deep love for the game. As he continues to lace up his skates with Vermont across his chest this winter, his story is more than a phone call from an NHL GM — it’s about showing what’s possible.