Keaton Verhoeff’s girlfriend, Sydney Pikney, expressed her joy after the defenseman was selected by the San Jose Sharks during the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo.
Chosen with the No. 9 overall pick, Verhoeff joins a promising young lineup on the San Jose Sharks. Following the draft, Sydney took to Instagram to express her excitement, sharing photos where both appeared delighted, with Verhoeff proudly wearing the Sharks’ jersey.
“An unforgettable weekend. San Jose, you got a good one,” her post read.
Prior to his NHL draft, Verhoeff was a standout player at the University of North Dakota, known as one of the youngest in men’s college hockey. A 6-foot-4 right-handed defenseman, he scored 20 points through six goals and 14 assists over 36 games. Both Verhoeff and his girlfriend, Sydney, were athletes at the University of North Dakota, with Sydney playing as a guard for the university’s basketball team.
San Jose Sharks selected six players at the 2026 NHL Draft
The San Jose Sharks had a particularly strong draft, selecting left winger Ivar Stenberg with the No. 2 overall pick. Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin were also selected in the first round at No. 9 and No. 21, respectively.
“The next 10, 15 years are going to be pretty special there,” Verhoeff remarked. “The players they’ve already added and their current performance are exciting to watch.”
Ryan Lin shared his thoughts post-draft:
“All the young talent they have, they’re rich with it. To join that and hopefully be a part of that one day, it’s really, really surreal.”
Additionally, the Sharks drafted goaltender Brady Knowling at No. 127 in the fourth round, center Jake Gustafsson at No. 174, and 7-foot-1 defenseman Alexander Karmanov—the tallest player in NHL history—at No. 201. If these draft picks fulfill their potential, the Sharks could center their game around star player Macklin Celebrini, possibly establishing themselves as a dominant force in the NHL in the years ahead.
Also Read: Fans abuzz as San Jose Sharks make NHL draft history by selecting 7-foot-1 Alexander Karmanov
Edited by Abhishek Dilta
