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The Michigan State Spartans have had their fingerprints all over the first round of the Upper Deck NHL Draft.
The latest Spartan to hear his name called was Jack Hextall, who was selected 30th overall by the Calgary Flames during Friday night's opening round. Hextall joins an impressive list of incoming Spartans who were first-round selections, including No. 7 overall pick Chase Reid (Seattle), No. 15 overall pick Nikita Klepov (Anaheim), and No. 17 overall pick Ethan Belchetz (Utah).
If the last name Hextall sounds familiar, you're probably thinking of former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ron Hextall, who was a force between the pipes during his NHL career. And yes, Jack Hextall is related to Ron.
However, Jack Hextall is carving out his own path and quickly making a name for himself throughout the hockey world.
Hextall will join the Spartans this season as a right-handed shooting center who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 188 pounds.
The Rolling Meadows, Illinois, native has spent the past two seasons in the USHL, a league that doesn't typically produce many first-round NHL Draft picks. But Hextall made the most of his opportunity and continued to elevate his game each year.
During the 2024-25 season, Hextall appeared in 53 games, scoring eight goals while adding 26 assists for a total of 34 points. He also finished with a solid +5 rating and recorded 34 penalty minutes.
Last season, Hextall really turned up the heat.
Playing in 59 games, he nearly tripled his goal production, finishing with 20 goals as the puck seemed to dance on his stick throughout the season.
Hextall's ability to find open ice and consistently be in the right place at the right time to bury scoring chances will eventually do wonders for the Calgary Flames. Before he reaches the NHL, though, those same skills should be a huge boost for Adam Nightingale and the Michigan State Spartans as they chase a fourth consecutive Big Ten championship this season.
Hextall didn't just improve his goal scoring, either. He also elevated his playmaking, finishing the year with 38 assists—12 more than the previous season. That gave him an impressive 58 points while posting a +8 rating, showcasing his growth into one of the USHL's top offensive players.
Across his two USHL seasons, Hextall appeared in seven playoff games, recording one goal and two assists.
He'll be leaned on heavily by Michigan State in what figures to be another hard-fought Big Ten season. Beyond that, NHL fans will be watching closely as Hextall continues to develop into one of the league's next promising centermen.
Michigan State has now had four incoming players selected in the first round of the NHL Draft, with more Spartans still waiting to hear their names called. While the draft continues, there's no more waiting for Jack Hextall, whose hockey journey just took another major step forward.
Continue reading...
The latest Spartan to hear his name called was Jack Hextall, who was selected 30th overall by the Calgary Flames during Friday night's opening round. Hextall joins an impressive list of incoming Spartans who were first-round selections, including No. 7 overall pick Chase Reid (Seattle), No. 15 overall pick Nikita Klepov (Anaheim), and No. 17 overall pick Ethan Belchetz (Utah).
If the last name Hextall sounds familiar, you're probably thinking of former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ron Hextall, who was a force between the pipes during his NHL career. And yes, Jack Hextall is related to Ron.
However, Jack Hextall is carving out his own path and quickly making a name for himself throughout the hockey world.
Hextall will join the Spartans this season as a right-handed shooting center who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 188 pounds.
The Rolling Meadows, Illinois, native has spent the past two seasons in the USHL, a league that doesn't typically produce many first-round NHL Draft picks. But Hextall made the most of his opportunity and continued to elevate his game each year.
During the 2024-25 season, Hextall appeared in 53 games, scoring eight goals while adding 26 assists for a total of 34 points. He also finished with a solid +5 rating and recorded 34 penalty minutes.
Last season, Hextall really turned up the heat.
Playing in 59 games, he nearly tripled his goal production, finishing with 20 goals as the puck seemed to dance on his stick throughout the season.
Hextall's ability to find open ice and consistently be in the right place at the right time to bury scoring chances will eventually do wonders for the Calgary Flames. Before he reaches the NHL, though, those same skills should be a huge boost for Adam Nightingale and the Michigan State Spartans as they chase a fourth consecutive Big Ten championship this season.
Hextall didn't just improve his goal scoring, either. He also elevated his playmaking, finishing the year with 38 assists—12 more than the previous season. That gave him an impressive 58 points while posting a +8 rating, showcasing his growth into one of the USHL's top offensive players.
Across his two USHL seasons, Hextall appeared in seven playoff games, recording one goal and two assists.
He'll be leaned on heavily by Michigan State in what figures to be another hard-fought Big Ten season. Beyond that, NHL fans will be watching closely as Hextall continues to develop into one of the league's next promising centermen.
Michigan State has now had four incoming players selected in the first round of the NHL Draft, with more Spartans still waiting to hear their names called. While the draft continues, there's no more waiting for Jack Hextall, whose hockey journey just took another major step forward.
Continue reading...
