Three Incoming Buckeyes Chosen in NHL Draft
6/27/2026 9:02:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Wilmott (VGK), Jardine (CBJ), Tomko (SEA) drafted
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A trio of incoming Ohio State men's hockey forwards was selected in the 2026 NHL Draft Saturday in Buffalo, N.Y.
Â
Benjamin Wilmott was chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights in the third round (No. 92), the Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Evan Jardine in the fourth round (No. 121) and William Tomko was a seventh round pick by the Seattle Kraken (No. 204).
Â
Wilmott, who is 6-1, 190 pounds, calls Long Valley, N.J., home. He spent two full seasons in the USHL, starting in 2023-24 with the Chicago Steel, when he had a 5-4-9 line in 49 regular season games. The next year, he played two games with the Steel before moving to the Sioux Falls Stampede, where he notched 33 points, on 16 goals and 17 assists. He skated in seven postseason games over the two years, with a 1-1-2 ledger. Wilmott moved to the OHL for 2025-26, joining the London Knights and posting nearly a point per game with a 12-22-34 line in 37 games. He was then traded to the Barrie Colts and had 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 29 games. In 20 playoff outings, Wilmott notched 22 points (11g, 11a) as the Colts earned a berth in the OHL championship final. He was part of the North Jersey Avalanche AAA program before moving to the USHL.
Â
Jardine, a 6-foot, 185-pound forward from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., represented the United States at the 2025 World Junior A Challenge, notching seven assists in the five games combined as Team USA won gold. He spent the last two full seasons with the USHL Youngstown Phantoms and was selected for the 2026 Chipotle All-American Game. Jardine first joined the Phantoms at the end of the 2023-24 season, skating in 12 regular season games and posting seven goals and four assists for 11 points, along with appearing in five postseason games. In 2024-25, Jardine had 44 points, on 20 goals and 24 assists, in 62 regular season outings. Last season, he had a career high 27 goals, 34 assists and 61 points during the regular season (53 games). He saw action in seven postseason games over the last two years, with a 1-3-4 line. He played one year with Honeybaked AAA and then skated with Little Ceasars AAA.
Â
Tomko, from Venetia, Pa., is a 6-foot, 190-pound forward who played the last two seasons in the USHL and was a participant in the 2026 Chipotle All-American Game. After playing two USHL games with the Chicago Steel in 2023-24, he joined the team full time in 2024-25 and notched a 10-13-23 line in 62 regular season games. In 2025-26, Tomko had 60 points, with 24 goals and 36 assists, along with six points (2g, 4a) in six postseason games with the Sioux City Musketeers. He played for the South Hills Panthers and Long Island Gulls AAA programs. Â
Â
All-time, 70 players who were selected in the NHL draft have been part of the Ohio State program with the addition of Wilmott, Jardine and Tomko.
Â
The 2026-27 Ohio State roster will include 10 NHL draft picks: Sascha Boumedienne (2025, Round 1, Winnipeg), Jackson Crowder (2025, Round 5, Washington), Jakub Fibigr (2024 Round 7, Seattle), Jardine, Jake Karabela (2022 Round 5, Washington), Jakub Milota (2024 Round 4, Nashville), Erik Påhlsson (2024 Round 7, Nashville), Ryan Rucinski (2025 Round 7, Buffalo), Tomko and Wilmott.
Â
Â
Benjamin Wilmott was chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights in the third round (No. 92), the Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Evan Jardine in the fourth round (No. 121) and William Tomko was a seventh round pick by the Seattle Kraken (No. 204).
Â
Wilmott, who is 6-1, 190 pounds, calls Long Valley, N.J., home. He spent two full seasons in the USHL, starting in 2023-24 with the Chicago Steel, when he had a 5-4-9 line in 49 regular season games. The next year, he played two games with the Steel before moving to the Sioux Falls Stampede, where he notched 33 points, on 16 goals and 17 assists. He skated in seven postseason games over the two years, with a 1-1-2 ledger. Wilmott moved to the OHL for 2025-26, joining the London Knights and posting nearly a point per game with a 12-22-34 line in 37 games. He was then traded to the Barrie Colts and had 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 29 games. In 20 playoff outings, Wilmott notched 22 points (11g, 11a) as the Colts earned a berth in the OHL championship final. He was part of the North Jersey Avalanche AAA program before moving to the USHL.
Â
Jardine, a 6-foot, 185-pound forward from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., represented the United States at the 2025 World Junior A Challenge, notching seven assists in the five games combined as Team USA won gold. He spent the last two full seasons with the USHL Youngstown Phantoms and was selected for the 2026 Chipotle All-American Game. Jardine first joined the Phantoms at the end of the 2023-24 season, skating in 12 regular season games and posting seven goals and four assists for 11 points, along with appearing in five postseason games. In 2024-25, Jardine had 44 points, on 20 goals and 24 assists, in 62 regular season outings. Last season, he had a career high 27 goals, 34 assists and 61 points during the regular season (53 games). He saw action in seven postseason games over the last two years, with a 1-3-4 line. He played one year with Honeybaked AAA and then skated with Little Ceasars AAA.
Â
Tomko, from Venetia, Pa., is a 6-foot, 190-pound forward who played the last two seasons in the USHL and was a participant in the 2026 Chipotle All-American Game. After playing two USHL games with the Chicago Steel in 2023-24, he joined the team full time in 2024-25 and notched a 10-13-23 line in 62 regular season games. In 2025-26, Tomko had 60 points, with 24 goals and 36 assists, along with six points (2g, 4a) in six postseason games with the Sioux City Musketeers. He played for the South Hills Panthers and Long Island Gulls AAA programs. Â
Â
All-time, 70 players who were selected in the NHL draft have been part of the Ohio State program with the addition of Wilmott, Jardine and Tomko.
Â
The 2026-27 Ohio State roster will include 10 NHL draft picks: Sascha Boumedienne (2025, Round 1, Winnipeg), Jackson Crowder (2025, Round 5, Washington), Jakub Fibigr (2024 Round 7, Seattle), Jardine, Jake Karabela (2022 Round 5, Washington), Jakub Milota (2024 Round 4, Nashville), Erik Påhlsson (2024 Round 7, Nashville), Ryan Rucinski (2025 Round 7, Buffalo), Tomko and Wilmott.
Â
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Ice Hockey No videos available.
