Seattle Kraken prospect Clarke Caswell will head to the University of Denver next season, leaving the Western Hockey League.
The 19-year-old is one of the many players benefiting from the new CHL-NCAA agreement, which is "allowing Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players to be eligible for NCAA Division I hockey programs, effective August 1, 2025. This means CHL players can now pursue NCAA college hockey eligibility after playing in the OHL, WHL, or QMJHL, provided they haven't signed an NHL contract."
The Kraken selected Caswell in the fifth round (141st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. With the Swift Current Broncos this season, Caswell scored 22 goals and 84 points in 65 games. The 5'11 winger is a pure playmaker, creative with the puck, and routinely showing off his excellent vision.
The move to the NCAA will be a beneficial one for Caswell. With fewer games being played, it'll allow him to add some additional weight and muscle to his frame and play against older and more physical competition.
Denver's head coach, David Carle, was a sought-after coach this offseason but elected to resign with the Pioneers. He's won two National Championships as Denver's head coach and has coached Team USA to back-to-back World Junior Championship gold medals. Several young players have developed into great NHL players, and Caswell could be the next player to do so.
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