Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon announced the roster and schedule for the 2026 Rookie Camp on September 1. The 23 player group, made up of 13 forwards, seven defensemen, and three goaltenders, practices in Las Vegas on September 11 and then plays two games at the 2026 Rookie Faceoff in San Jose.
Which Forwards Are on the Golden Knights Rookie Camp Roster?
Thirteen forwards make up the largest group at the 2026 Rookie Camp. The full list is Dylan Allie, Mathieu Cataford, Trevor Connelly, Jordan Gustafson, Jackson Hallum, Ben Hemmerling, Mateo Nobert, Noel Pakarinen, Jonah Sivertson, Sloan Stanick, Trent Swick, Tuomas Uronen, and Alex Weiermair.
Trevor Connelly carries the highest draft pedigree in the room. The Golden Knights took the left wing 19th overall in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and he now plays for the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL. He is the only first round pick on the roster.
- Mathieu Cataford, C/RW: Third round, 77th overall in 2023. Now with Henderson.
- Jordan Gustafson, C/LW: Third round, 79th overall in 2022. The oldest forward pick on the list, born January 2004.
- Mateo Nobert, C: Third round, 85th overall in 2025. Still playing junior with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL.
- Ben Hemmerling, RW/C: Sixth round, 177th overall in 2022. Now with Henderson.
- Noel Pakarinen, LW: Seventh round, 207th overall in 2026, and one of the youngest players at camp. He plays for the Penticton Vees.
Jackson Hallum, Trent Swick, Tuomas Uronen, and Alex Weiermair also come from the Henderson roster. None of the 13 forwards has played an NHL game yet.
Who Are the Defensemen and Goaltenders at Rookie Camp?
Seven defensemen and three goaltenders complete the 23 player group announced by Kelly McCrimmon.
- Defensemen (7): Sean Burick, Viliam Kmec, Samuel Mayer, Will McLaughlin, Bronson Ride, Conor Walton, and Vann Williamson.
- Goaltenders (3): Matthew Minchak, Pavel Moysevich, and Cameron Whitehead.
Sean Burick is the newest name on the blue line, a third round pick 95th overall in 2026 who plays for the Penticton Vees. Viliam Kmec and Bronson Ride went undrafted and now play for the Henderson Silver Knights.
Pavel Moysevich is the highest picked goaltender at camp, taken 83rd overall in the third round of 2024. Cameron Whitehead went 128th overall in the fourth round of 2022. Both are with Henderson. Three goaltenders across two games means the crease time gets split, so each netminder works with a small sample in front of the staff.
What Is the 2026 Rookie Camp Schedule?
The Vegas Golden Knights rookies open with a practice at City National Arena on Friday, September 11, at 12:45 p.m. PT. Vegas then plays the Utah Mammoth on Saturday, September 12, at 3 p.m. PT, and the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, September 13, at 1 p.m. PT. Both games are in San Jose. Fans tracking the wider calendar can follow the schedule for the main club separately.
Where Is the 2026 Rookie Faceoff Held?
The 2026 Rookie Faceoff runs in San Jose, California, from September 12 to 15, across two venues. TechCU Arena and Sharks Ice at San Jose host the games and practices, which lets several clubs run sessions at the same time. Six organizations send prospects: the Vegas Golden Knights, the Anaheim Ducks, the Colorado Avalanche, the Los Angeles Kings, the San Jose Sharks, and the Utah Mammoth. Vegas plays only the Utah Mammoth and the Colorado Avalanche.
How Can Fans Watch the Golden Knights Rookie Games?
Both Vegas Golden Knights games stream live on KnightTime+. Golden Knights host Daren Millard and Henderson Silver Knights play by play commentator Brian McCormack call the action, and live special guests join the broadcast. That coverage is the only way to watch Trevor Connelly, Pavel Moysevich, and the rest of the class before the main camp opens.
What Should Fans Watch for at Rookie Camp?
Ice time and role tell more at this event than the final score. Most of the group already plays together in Henderson, so the two games measure how they handle NHL affiliated opposition rather than how they mesh. Sean Burick, Noel Pakarinen, and Mateo Nobert are the junior aged exceptions, and the jump in pace is the real test for them. Rookie games produce no official NHL numbers, so anyone comparing these prospects against the established group will still find those totals on the roster and in the player stats pages.