Will Horcoff

{{Short description|Canadian-American ice hockey player (born 2007)}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Will Horcoff

| image = Michigan at Wisconsin IMG 2317 (Will Horcoff1) (1).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Horcoff with Michigan in January 2025

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|1|23}}

| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 181

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| league = NCAA

| team = University of Michigan

| draft = 24th overall

| draft_year = 2025

| draft_team = Pittsburgh Penguins

| career_start =

}}

William Horcoff (born January 23, 2007) is a Canadian-American college ice hockey player for the University of Michigan of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was drafted 24th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2025 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Horcoff played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) during the 2023–24 season, where he recorded 11 goals and eight assists in 54 games with the under-17 team. He also recorded five goals and five assists in 35 games for the NTDP in the United States Hockey League (USHL). During the 2024–25 season, he recorded four goals and four assists in 19 games with the under-18 team and two goals and one assist in seven games in the USHL.{{cite web |url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/will-horcoff/26664 |title=Will Horcoff |website=MGoBlue.com |access-date=January 17, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2025/01/why-no-9-michigan-added-17-year-old-freshman-mid-season.html |title=Why No. 9 Michigan added 17-year-old freshman mid-season |website=MLive.com |first=Ryan |last=Zuke |date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 17, 2025}} In November 2024, he was selected to the CHL/USA Prospects Challenge, however he missed the game due to injury.{{cite web |url=https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/13072989-team-usa-roster-for-chl-usa-prospects-challenge-kevan-lansing-added |title=Team USA Roster For CHL-USA Prospects Challenge: Kevan, Lansing Added |website=flohockey.tv |first=Chris |last=Peters |date=November 24, 2024 |access-date=January 17, 2025}} On December 24, 2024, he was named to the USA Hockey All-American Game.{{cite web |url=https://ushl.com/news/2024/12/24/general-rosters-set-for-chipotle-all-american-game.aspx |title=Rosters Set for Chipotle All-American Game |website=USHL.com |date=December 24, 2024 |access-date=January 17, 2025}}

On April 25, 2024, Horcoff committed to play college ice hockey at Michigan.{{cite web |url=https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-state-hockey-legacy-commits-to-michigan |title=Michigan State hockey legacy commits to Michigan |website=rivals.com |first=Josh |last=Henschke |date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=January 17, 2025}} On December 27, 2024, it was announced he would enroll early at Michigan and join the team as a mid-season addition at 17 years old.{{cite web |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2024/12/27/ice-hockey-adds-horcoff-to-roster |title=Ice Hockey Adds Horcoff to Roster |website=MGoBlue.com |first=Kristy |last=McNeil |date=December 27, 2024 |access-date=January 17, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/other/2024/12/28/fridays-hockey-sabres-tie-wings-for-last-place-horcoff-joins-wolverines/77276571007/ |title=Friday's hockey: Sabres tie Wings for last place; Horcoff joins Wolverines |newspaper=The Detroit News |date=December 28, 2024 |access-date=January 17, 2025}} He made his collegiate debut on January 3, 2025, against Ohio State during the Frozen Confines at Wrigley Field.{{cite web |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2025/1/3/ice-hockey-penalties-costly-for-michigan-in-late-loss-to-no-13-osu-at-wrigley-field |title=Penalties Costly for Michigan in Late Loss to No. 13 OSU at Wrigley Field |website=MGoBlue.com |first=Kristy |last=McNeil |date=January 3, 2025 |access-date=January 17, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2025/01/michigan-hockey-freshman-has-memorable-college-debut-at-wrigley-field.html |title=Michigan hockey freshman has memorable college debut at Wrigley Field |website=MLive.com |first=Ryan |last=Zuke |date=January 4, 2025 |access-date=January 17, 2025}} During the game he scored a goal and an assist, both on the power play.{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/high-school/michigan/will-horcoff-shines-in-ncaa-debut-with-michigan-hockey-despite-loss-to-ohio-state-at-frozen-confines-01jgrvc9xp2j |title=Will Horcoff Shines in NCAA Debut with Michigan Hockey Despite Loss to Ohio State at Frozen Confines |website=SI.com |first=Jeff |last=Hawkins |date=January 4, 2025 |access-date=January 17, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/sports/ice-hockey/michigans-addition-of-will-horcoff-paying-dividends-on-power-play/ |title=Michigan's addition of Will Horcoff paying dividends on power play |newspaper=The Michigan Daily |first=Zach |last=Goldstein |date=January 9, 2025 |access-date=January 17, 2025}} He finished the 2024–25 season with four goals and six assists in 18 games.

International play

{{MedalCountry|{{ih18|USA}}}}

Horcoff represented the United States at the 2023 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where he recorded one goal and two assists in seven games and won a silver medal.{{cite web |url=https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/news_article/show/1291112-u-s-finishes-second-at-world-under-17-hockey-challenge |title=U.S. Finishes Second at World Under-17 Hockey Challenge |publisher=USA Hockey |date=November 11, 2023 |access-date=January 17, 2025}}

Personal life

Horcoff was born in Edmonton, while his father, Shawn Horcoff was a member of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. The elder Horcoff played over 1,000 games in the NHL.

Horcoff and his family settled in Birmingham, Michigan following the end of his father’s career.{{cite web |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2023/04/15/son-of-wings-shawn-horcoff-takes-no-nonsense-approach-to-hockey-career/70114649007/ |title=Son of Wings' Shawn Horcoff takes no-nonsense approach to hockey career |newspaper=The Detroit News |date=April 15, 2023 |access-date=January 17, 2025}}