After Penn State commit Jackson Smith and current Penn State center Charlie Cerrato heard their names called early in this weekend’s NHL Draft, another trio of future Nittany Lions were drafted on Saturday:
That’ll do it for the 2025 NHL Draft and @PennStateMHKY was well represented in Los Angeles
Jackson Smith – 14th overall (CBJ)
Charlie Cerrato – 49th overall (CAR)
Kieren Dervin – 65th overall (VAN)
Shea Busch – 128th overall (FLA)
Kale Dach – 201st overall (PIT) pic.twitter.com/EZ1C4ctHP5
— Anthony Desher (@Ranch_Deshing) June 28, 2025
Shea Busch (2025)
Defenseman Shea Busch was drafted 128th overall by the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Busch is set to join Penn State for the 2025-26 season on what has become a blue line loaded with talent and offensive prowess. He recorded 20 goals and 17 assists in 75 career games with the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL before signing with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL in 2024. Busch had 11 goals and 8 assists in 39 games with the Silvertips in 2024-25.
Kieren Dervin (2026)
Forward Kieren Dervin scored 46 goals and 78 assists in 99 games with the St. Andrew’s U18 AAA team before making the jump to the Prep Hockey Conference. There, he finished as a point-per-game player, with 6 goals and 19 assists in 23 games. Dervin was drafted 65th overall by the Vancouver Canucks, the first pick of the third round. He will join Penn State in the 2026-27 season.
Kale Dach (2026)
Center Kale Dach was drafted No. 201 overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had a breakout season in 2024-25, scoring 22 goals and 65 assists in 87 games for the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the BCHL. Dach will join the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL in 2025-26 before coming to Penn State in the 2026-27 season.
Penn State has a current total of 8 NHL draft picks on its 2025-26 roster, the most in program history for a single season, breaking the previous team record of 7 from the 2019-20 season.