Meet the Buckeye Men’s Hockey Newcomers
9/2/2026 5:52:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Program welcomes eight freshmen and three transfers
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Entering the 2026-27 season, the Ohio State men's hockey program has added 11 newcomers, featuring eight freshmen and three transfers. The group, with nine NHL draft picks, includes two goalies, three defensemen and six forwards.
The newest Buckeyes are goaltenders Jack Erickson and Jakub Milota, defensemen Frankie Marrelli, Jakub Fibigr and Sascha Boumedienne and forwards Evan Jardine, Jackson Crowder, Will Tomko, Eric Påhlsson, Benjamin Wilmott and Ryan Rucinski.
The newcomers join 15 returnees to the squad, comprised of eight seniors, four juniors and three sophomores.
No. 1 Jack Erickson
G | 6-1, 185 | Jr.
White Bear Lake, Minn. | Colorado Grit (NAHL) | Bentley (AHA)
No. 4 Frankie Marrelli
D | 5-11, 190 | Fr.
Uxbridge, Ontario | Ottawa 67's (OHL)
No. 5 Jakub Fibigr
D | 6-1, 202 | Fr.
Unicov, Czech Republic | Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
No. 9 Evan Jardine
F | 6-0, 191 | Fr.
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
No. 11 Jackson Crowder
F | 6-3, 205 | Fr.
Allen, Texas | Chicago Steel (USHL)
No. 18 Will Tomko
F | 6-0, 192 | Fr.
Venetia, Pa. | Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
No. 31 Jakub Milota
G | 6-1, 187| Fr.
Ostrava, Czech Republic | Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
No. 33 Eric Påhlsson
F | 6-1, 194 | Jr.
Landskrona, Sweden | Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) | Minnesota (B1G)
No. 53 Benjamin Wilmott
F | 6-2, 190 | Fr.
Long Valley, N.J. | Barrie Colts (OHL)
No. 56 Ryan Rucinski
F | 5-11, 185 | Fr.
Broadview Heights, Ohio | Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
No. 78 Sascha Boumedienne
D | 6-3, 195 | Jr.
Stockholm, Sweden | Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) | Boston University (Hockey East)
The newest Buckeyes are goaltenders Jack Erickson and Jakub Milota, defensemen Frankie Marrelli, Jakub Fibigr and Sascha Boumedienne and forwards Evan Jardine, Jackson Crowder, Will Tomko, Eric Påhlsson, Benjamin Wilmott and Ryan Rucinski.
The newcomers join 15 returnees to the squad, comprised of eight seniors, four juniors and three sophomores.
No. 1 Jack Erickson
G | 6-1, 185 | Jr.
White Bear Lake, Minn. | Colorado Grit (NAHL) | Bentley (AHA)
- Joined Bentley squad in January 2025
- Played two years in the NAHL with the Colorado Grit
- 2023 Minnesota High School Herb Brooks award winner and two-time Minnesota High School All-Tournament Team selection while playing at Hill-Murray High School
No. 4 Frankie Marrelli
D | 5-11, 190 | Fr.
Uxbridge, Ontario | Ottawa 67's (OHL)
- Won gold medals with Team Canada in the U18 Gretzky Hlinka Cup and in the U18 Championships
- Spent four seasons in the OHL with the Ottawa 67's
- Named team's best defenseman in 2025-26
No. 5 Jakub Fibigr
D | 6-1, 202 | Fr.
Unicov, Czech Republic | Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
- Seventh round pick of the Seattle Kraken in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft
- Claimed silver (2025-26) and bronze (2024-25) medals with Czechia at World Junior Championships; served as alternate captain in 2025-26 event
- Also represented Czechia in U16, U17 and U18 events and was a silver medalist at Hlinka Gretzky Cup
- Played three years in the OHL and named to 2024 OHL All-Rookie Team
No. 9 Evan Jardine
F | 6-0, 191 | Fr.
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
- Fourth round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft
- Won gold with Team USA at 2025 World Junior A Challenge
- Played in Chipotle All-American Game
- Spent two-plus years in the USHL with Youngstown
No. 11 Jackson Crowder
F | 6-3, 205 | Fr.
Allen, Texas | Chicago Steel (USHL)
- Fifth round pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft
- Gold medalist with Team USA at 2025 World Junior A Challenge and won silver at 5 Nationals Championship in 2023
- Chipotle All-American Game selection
- Spent two full seasons in the USHL, playing with Sioux City and Chicago Steel
No. 18 Will Tomko
F | 6-0, 192 | Fr.
Venetia, Pa. | Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
- Seventh round pick of the Seattle Kraken in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft
- Competed in Chipotle All-American Game
- Played two full seasons in the USHL, with the Chicago Steel and Sioux City Musketeers
No. 31 Jakub Milota
G | 6-1, 187| Fr.
Ostrava, Czech Republic | Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
- Fourth round pick of the Nashville Predators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft
- Earned silver medal with Czechia in Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2023-24 and bronze medal at 2025 World Junior Championship
- Competed at U17 and U18 World Championships
- Spent three years in the QMJHL and was 2023-24 league rookie goalie of the year and an all-rookie team honoree
No. 33 Eric Påhlsson
F | 6-1, 194 | Jr.
Landskrona, Sweden | Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) | Minnesota (B1G)
- Seventh round pick of the Nashville Predators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft
- Played last two years at Minnesota, with 32 points in 62 games
- Represented Sweden in Hlinka Gretzky Cup and with U17, U18 and U19 national teams
- Played last year of juniors in the USHL and helped Dubuque reach the Clark Cup final
No. 53 Benjamin Wilmott
F | 6-2, 190 | Fr.
Long Valley, N.J. | Barrie Colts (OHL)
- Third round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft
- Spent two years in the USHL, skating with Chicago Steel and Sioux Falls Stampede
- Played in the OHL in 2025-26, first with Erie before a trade to Barrie, and helped Colts to an Eastern Championship
No. 56 Ryan Rucinski
F | 5-11, 185 | Fr.
Broadview Heights, Ohio | Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
- Seventh round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft
- Won gold medal with Team USA at World Junior A Challenge
- Played three full seasons in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms and was team captain in last season
No. 78 Sascha Boumedienne
D | 6-3, 195 | Jr.
Stockholm, Sweden | Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) | Boston University (Hockey East)
- First round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft
- Played two years at Boston University, with 23 points in 75 games
- Won gold medal with Sweden at 2026 World Junior Championship; notched gamewinner in gold medal game
- Spent one year with Youngstown in the USHL before entering BU; youngest player in Division I men's hockey that season
Players Mentioned
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