As we head into the first weekend of November, let's look back at seven standout freshmen from the opening month of the college hockey season.

Gavin McKenna | Penn State | Forward
The projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft is off to an outstanding start to his freshman season at Penn State. McKenna is tied atop all freshman scorers with 13 points on three goals and 10 assists, averaging an impressive 1.3 points per game. Added, the 17-year-old has not been shy about putting the puck on net, registering 38 shots on goal, which is tied for the fourth-most in the country. McKenna has been a key contributor to a Penn State power play converting at a 26.8% clip, ranking 14th nationally. His ability to draw attention combined with his terrific vision in finding teammates have made him a constant threat in the offensive zone.

Vaclav Nestrasil | UMass | Forward
Nestrasil has made the transition to college hockey look effortless. The Chicago Blackhawks draft pick has already tallied 11 points, including seven goals, which ranks second among all first-year skaters. He’s quickly earned a top-six role, often skating alongside former Muskegon teammate Jack Galanek. Nestrasil has been a consistent threat around the net, with all of his goals coming from below the dots, using all of his 6-foot-6 frame to gain positioning.

Ilia Morozov | Miami (OH) | Forward
I’ll be the first to admit that I had doubts about Morozov making the jump to college hockey after scoring just 11 goals in the USHL last year. However, he’s off to a strong start as the youngest player in college hockey. The 17-year-old has earned Anthony Noreen’s trust as Miami’s first-line center and recorded points in five of his first six games. In total, Morozov has four goals and five assists for nine points. He hasn’t been a high-volume shooter yet, just 16 shots on goal through eight games, but he’s been efficient with his chances. That said, he’s still looking to improve in the faceoff circle, where he’s won only 42% of his draws. Still, he’s shown excellent compete at both ends of the ice, and his offensive game should continue to grow as the season unfolds.

Jack Ivankovic | Michigan | Goalie
Michigan's offensive firepower has made Ivankovic’s transition from the OHL to college hockey a smooth one. Still, the Nashville Predators draft pick has stood out as the Wolverines’ workhorse between the pipes. Ivankovic has started all 10 of Michigan’s games, posting a .934 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average—both ranking in the top five among NCAA goaltenders who have played at least five games. Added, he has already recorded two shutouts and allowed one or fewer goals in six of his 10 appearances.

Porter Martone | Michigan State | Forward
Martone has been a mainstay on Michigan State’s top line since the start of this season. After recording three assists in his first two games, he’s recently begun finding the scoresheet both as a goal scorer and a puck distributor. Martone has posted multi-point efforts in each of his last three games. Overall, he has three goals and nine points. However, he's been selective with his shooting, registering just 16 shots on goal thus far. As he continues to settle in, his shot totals and thus his scoring pace could pick up.

Justin Poirier | Forward | Maine
Poirier has emerged as one of college hockey’s most exciting freshman. The Carolina Hurricanes draft pick is tied with Gavin McKenna for the most points (13) among first-year players and has impacted the game both as a scorer and a passer. Poirier has tallied eight goals and eight assists while averaging 17:08 of ice time, including a hat trick in his collegiate debut. He enters November on a four-game goal streak and has been one of the nation’s most prolific shooters, registering an impressive 27.6 percent shot rate.

Adam Valentini | Michigan | Forward
Valentini has quickly silenced any doubts about his transition from junior hockey to the college level in his NHL Draft-eligible season. The Michigan freshman has been nearly a point-per-game player, tallying three goals and nine points through his first 10 games. His nine points are tied for fourth among all NCAA freshmen skaters, an impressive feat given that he has primarily been limited to a bottom-six role. Valentini opened the season with a three-game assist streak and has recorded points in four of his last six outings. He received a "W" ranking on NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Watch List, suggesting he could project as a sixth- or seventh-round draft selection. However, that valuation is likely to rise if Valentini continues producing at his current scoring pace.