As the Chicago Blackhawks’ development camp continues, prospects took to the ice to complete drills under development coaches, including Kendall Coyne Schofield. Skaters gained reps and eased themselves into the Hawks’ system.
The 2026 draft class is living through their inaugural Chicago experiences, with No. 35 pick Ryan Roobroeck labeling it “a sick city.” The 2025 draftees have been here before and are hoping to make the city their permanent home in the near future.
Here’s an update on the next steps of the Hawks’ 2025 class. Anton Frondell and Ilya Kanarsky are not listed on the camp roster.
Václav Nestrašil
The 19-year-old right winger had an eventful winter, as he brought a silver medal to his home country of Czechia in the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championships. He’s had time to cool down any hard feelings toward Sweden, which (led by Frondell) won gold.
“It sucked because (Frondell) beat us,” Nestrašil joked. “He’s insane (on the ice and) a really nice guy as well. Watching his game, his season (and) making the jump to Chicago was great.”
The forward scored 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) in his first collegiate season with UMass. The jump to the NCAA was one to get used to, but Nestrašil welcomed the opportunity of increased competition.
“Coming to a league and to a team where everybody’s 200 pounds and over … it’s kind of hard to adjust to it,” said Nestrašil, the 2025 No. 25 pick. “Throughout the season, I figured out what I needed to do, and obviously I gained a lot of weight so that helped me a lot.”
Photos: Inside look at Chicago Blackhawks development camp
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound right wing will indulge in another year with the Minutemen — this time with 2026 No. 66 pick Samu Alalauri. The soon-to-be teammates spoke after Alalauri was drafted.
“He seems like such a nice kid, so I was kind of hoping for him to go as high as possible,” Nestrašil said. “I went to get food, (then) I came back and I saw him getting drafted here.
“I was like, ‘oh my God!’, (texted) him immediately, he seemed really happy. It’s great to have him here and it’s great to have him at UMass.”
Mason West
After bringing a football state championship to Edina High in Minnesota, the “dual-athlete” label for the 2025 No. 29 pick can rest. He won’t forget the memory of the win, though.
“I’m still a kid, I’m just trying to have fun, so it was special to hang out with those guys and be able to chase something special,” West, 18, said. “I’m grateful for it all and happy how it turned out.”
The forward placed the cleats in the closet to skate for the USHL’s Fargo Force — scoring 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 38 regular-season games. He noted that his quarterback play gives him advantages on the ice.
“I can see myself getting better every single day — it was hard with football because there’s different movements and my body wasn’t as comfortable being a taller guy,” West said. “Now that I just have hockey, I get to be more comfortable in those uncomfortable positions.”
There’s plenty of hockey coming his way. Team USA invited West to the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase from July 26 to Aug. 1, while he’s also verbally committed to Michigan State for the 2026-27 season.
“I’m super excited to meet new people and even just to practice (with) those level of players,” West said about the Spartans. “I think we have a really good team this year (and) I’m super excited to see what we can do.”
In his next steps, he will focus on easing into his 6-foot-6, 218-pound stature while touching up other parts of his game.
“I can always like being a bigger guy, you have to be physical and really use your body,” West said. “I do a good job with skill work managing the puck, but I think I can always work on my skating, my physicality and (using) my size to my advantage.”
Nathan Behm
Two No. 66 selections skated on Tuesday: 2026’s Alalauri and 2025’s Behm. The winger spent the past three seasons with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, improving in each campaign.
Behm, 19, delivered 86 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in 67 regular-season games in 2025-26. The forward, who’s committed to Arizona State for 2026-27, is gaining confidence going into his first college season.
“I thought I did well personally, accomplished my goal (in Kamloops),” Behm said. “It’s going to be a different schedule, (so I’ll) have more time in the gym, lots of practice and every game is going to become more meaningful.”
He noted that he wants to work on his speed and explosiveness in the NCAA.
Julius Sumpf
The Hawks selected the 21-year-old center at No. 98 in the 2025 draft. He completed his first NCAA season at Providence College, scoring 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in 36 games.
“It’s a big step going to college, (it’s) been really good (going) against older, bigger people,” Sumpf said. “We had a tough run in the playoffs, but we have a great team this year and hopefully (we’ll) do better.”
He’ll play another season with the Friars alongside 2024 third-rounder John Mustard. Sumpf admitted that it helps to have a Providence teammate in camp.
“Great guy, great player,” Sumpf said of 19-year-old Mustard. “It’s fun to have someone in Chicago who you really know, he’s gonna be really good.”
Parker Holmes
Holmes, 19, was selected at No. 107 in the 2025 draft. The left winger scored 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) across 49 regular-season games in 2025-26 with the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs.
On June 2, Brantford traded Holmes to the Sarnia Sting.
Ashton Cumby
The defenseman, selected at No. 162 in 2025, will play professional hockey in 2025-26. The 20-year-old signed a two-year AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs on May 28.
“Head into Rockford, try to make an impression there and try to have a good first start,” Cumby said about his upcoming AHL tenure. “I feel like that’s key, just going in there confident and make sure that I do what I do well.”
He’s gradually improved with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, scoring 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) with a +13 plus/minus rating in 59 regular-season games in 2025-26.
