It’s usually a surreal moment when a player hears his name called in the NHL draft. Years of practice, games, injuries, triumphs and defeats shape prospects for the ultimate goal — to play hockey professionally.
Gavin McKenna was expected to be the No. 1 draft pick this year, but that didn’t take away from the highly anticipated moment. Not every draft prospect has Justin Bieber announce his name, but stepping onto the podium is equally unforgettable.
That goes for Ryan Roobroeck, whom the Chicago Blackhawks selected at No. 35 in the 2026 draft. General manager Kyle Davidson traded the Nos. 37 and 119 picks to move up in the order, which is added motivation for Roobroeck.
“Very grateful for that moment, for Chicago selecting me and just having that thought (of them trading up) in the back of your mind,” Roobroeck said. “It’s honestly special and it makes you want to get there and have success and end up winning.”
He’ll get his first experience playing with the Hawks in the 2026 Prospect Showcase, which begins Friday at USG Arena in the Blackhawks Ice Center. After three days of practice, the Hawks prospects will play the St. Louis Blues on Monday and Tuesday.
This year’s showcase includes Hawks hopefuls such as Sacha Boisvert, Marek Vanacker and Adam Gajan. The Minnesota Wild hosted the 2025 showcase, with the Hawks prospects including Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov.
The roster consists of 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders, with Roobroeck the only 2026 draft selection participating. Rockford IceHogs coach Jared Nightingale will be in charge of the practices and games.
None of the Hawks’ showcase prospects is expected to compete for a spot on this season’s NHL roster — which could be a good sign for the Hawks. Roobroeck, 18, is set to play another season in the Ontario Hockey League in 2026-27. He was traded in June from the Niagara IceDogs to the Guelph Storm.
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“Very grateful for my time in Niagara (and for them) giving me the opportunity to succeed and play in the OHL,” Roobroeck said. “We’ve got a good team ahead of us there (in Guelph), and I know we’re going to click well as a team and as a brotherhood. I’m looking forward to what we can do.”
The forward was lights out in three seasons with the IceDogs, totaling 196 points (99 goals, 97 assists) in 176 games. He uses his 6-foot-4, 216-pound frame to create opportunities and can shoot with just one touch of the puck.
“Power forward is the role I want to master and bring to the table,” Roobroeck said. “Being able to use my size and bring energy toward the players.”
Roobroeck’s resume includes nine points in seven games during Canada’s gold-medal run in the 2025 IIHF Under-18 World Championship. He played alongside Xavier Villeneuve, whom the Hawks drafted one spot ahead of Roobroeck with the second pick in the second round.
Roobroeck’s dad, Richard, introduced him to hockey at age 3. His sister, Morgan, is the team photographer for the OHL’s London Knights, and his brother, Dylan, plays for the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack after the New York Rangers drafted him in the sixth round in 2023.
Dylan, 22, and Ryan have picked each other’s brains about hockey, something that has helped the 18-year-old along the way.
“A couple pieces of advice (Dylan gave me) is enjoy everything you have in front of you and then just keep working,” the younger Roobroeck said. “The grind never stops and nobody’s ever going to give you anything.”
He has NHL-level influences too. He labeled Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (6-4, 227 pounds) and Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (6-2, 209) as players “I like to watch a lot.”
“Everyone knows them as players, but they (have a) bigger power game (and they’re both) a power offensive forward,” Roobroeck said. “Those are definitely guys I can resemble my game after.”
Another favorite player of his is a familiar face — Patrick Kane. The highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history signed a two-year, $16 million contract in July to return to the team with whom he won three Stanley Cups.
“Pretty insane” is how Roobroeck described not only Kane’s return, but also the chance to play with him. He also took note of Kane’s work ethic.
“He was one of my favorite players growing up,” Roobroeck said. “Hopefully (he) stays there a couple more years and one day I’d be able to step foot on the ice and play a game with him. (It) would be a huge dream come true.
“The way he plays the game, the way he controls the game, he can slow down the game and make it work for him. The work ethic he has and — talking to the people that work with him in Chicago — hearing how he works and how he prepares himself to be a player and to be a pro.”
Roobroeck has been in contact with a couple of his potential future teammates since being drafted — one of them being Connor Bedard. He gushed on draft day about the chance to play with Bedard, noting the Hawks center has “earned everything he’s worked for.”
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Bedard took it upon himself to begin developing relationships with the new Hawks, Roobroeck included.
“Connor Bedard is probably the first guy that I’ve seen reach out,” Roobroeck said. “It was just congratulations, enjoy the moment and stuff, but that was pretty special to me.”