Hockey adds elite freshman class to 2026-2027 roster

TEMPE – Sun Devil Hockey has announced the signing of seven highly touted freshmen for the 2026-2027 season, with the addition of five forwards and two defensemen.

Sun Devil Signing Class
Michael Barron
Freshman | Forward | Dubuque (USHL)
Canton, Michigan native Michael Barron spent three seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL) as a key man for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Barron served as an alternate captain in the 2025-2026 season, where he enjoyed a career year with a team-leading 68 points (18G, 50A) in 62 games.

Barron and fellow signee Teddy Merrill were the driving force behind Dubuque’s top-ranked power play in the USHL in 2025-26, when the unit posted a 27.8 percent man advantage.

Barron finished his Fighting Saints career finishing second all-time in points (148) and third all-time in goals (55), assists (93) and games played (191), while also helping Dubuque to a Clark Cup Championship appearance in 2023-2024.

Nathan Behm
Freshman | Forward | Kamloops (WHL)
The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Nathan Behm in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft with the 66th pick. Behm, a 6-2, 210 pounds. winger from Calgary, Alberta, is coming off a career year in 2025-26, recording a career-high 86 points (36G, 48A) in his final season at major juniors, capping a career that included 183 points (81G, 102A) as a member of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Landon Hafele
Freshman | Forward | Green Bay (USHL)
Hafele enters this summer’s NHL Draft as the No. 64-ranked North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, in addition to being named a B-rated skater. The native of Fairbanks, Alaska, is a two-time alumnus of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) before finishing his junior career with the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL).

During his time with the USNTDP, he competed in four international tournaments, where he was a member of the 2024 U17 Five Nations Tournament gold medal-winning squad. Hafele was also a key part of the 2025 U.S. Junior Select Team’s World Junior A Challenge championship-winning squad and skated in an additional 106 games for both the U-17 and U-18 national teams.

He spent the final season of his junior career with the Green Bay Gamblers, recording 42 points (15G, 27A) and being named to the 2026 Chipotle All-American game, a competition featuring the top NHL draft-eligible players from the US Under-18 National Team.

Teddy Merrill
Freshman | Forward | Dubuque (USHL)
Scottsdale native Teddy Merrill is heading to the desert fresh off the best season of his junior career, posting a point-per-game clip with a statline that reads 60 points, 30 goals and 30 assists over 60 games.

The former Dubuque captain received the Curt Hammer Award for the 2025-2026 season. The Curt Hammer Award annually recognizes the player who distinguishes himself both on and off the ice by demonstrating outstanding performance skills, pride and determination.

Merrill’s 60 points finished second-highest on the Fighting Saints, just behind fellow signee Michael Barron. Merrill’s three-year USHL career ended with a total of 99 points (43G, 56A) and three straight playoff berths, including a Clark Cup Championship appearance in 2023-2024.

Luke Sawchyn
Freshman | Forward | Edmonton (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings leading scorer Lukas Sawchyn finished eighth in the WHL with 87 points (27G, 60A) in 68 games during the 2025-26 season. The 5-10, 180 lbs. The native of Calgary, Alberta, finished his WHL career with 143 points (42G, 101A) in 134 games, all with the Oil Kings.

Sawchyn is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft and comes in as the No. 151 ranked North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting. He skated in three games at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship for Team Canada, while previously spending one season in the USHL with the Chicago Steel in 2023-2024.

Jack Wilson
Freshman | Defender | Youngstown (USHL)
Reigning USHL Defenseman of the Year Jack Willson finished second in all-league scoring among defensemen with 12 goals and 35 assists in 57 games while serving as alternate captain for the Youngstown Phantoms. He scored 27 of his points on the power play, while the Northville, Michigan product finished at +6 overall. His USHL career began with the Omaha Lancers, where he skated in three games in 2022-2023.

His four-year career with the Phantoms featured four consecutive playoff appearances as the team finished first in the 2025–26 regular season with 91 points. Willson’s tenure included more than 200 games on the blueline, totaling 82 points (22G, 60A), while finishing a +15 overall in his junior career.

Jonas Woo
Freshman | Defender | Medicine Hat (WHL)
Defenseman Jonas Woo set the Medicine Hat single-season franchise record for points by a defenseman with 86 (29G, 57A) in just 56 games in 2025-26. He also finished second in the league among all defensemen in goals (29) and points (86).

The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, earned WHL Second All-Star team honors and was named Player of the Month in December 2025 after recording 11 goals and nine assists over a 12-game span. Woo served as alternate captain for the Tigers, tallying 129 points (40G, 89A) in his two-year tenure.

Prior to his time in Medicine Hat, Woo began his WHL career as a member of the Winnipeg Ice in 2022-2023 where the team took home a conference championship. Woo continued his WHL career with the Wenatchee Wild in 2023-2024, leading the team to a playoff berth and totaling 34 points. He enters as the No. 179 ranked North American skater in this summer’s NHL Draft according to NHL Central Scouting.

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