Hagenses among brother combinations playing college hockey this season

Hockey tends to draw in entire families, so it’s no surprise that there is a lengthy list of brothers currently playing or who have played in the NHL.

The same is true of brothers playing college hockey.

In the NCAA this season, the Hagens brothers, James and Michael (Boston College), and the Hutson boys, Quinn and Cole (Boston University), are among those receiving plenty of attention.

Some of the brothers in college hockey are high-end prospects who most likely will be in the NHL sooner rather than later, and others are later-round picks or not drafted at all.

And having a father who played at a high level is always helpful.

Here are 10 brother combinations playing college hockey this season:

Jackson Dorrington, Northeastern University, and Max Dorrington, Sacred Heart University

Jackson, a 20-year-old defenseman, was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round (No. 176) in at the 2022 NHL Draft. Max, 23, is a forward grad student at Sacred Heart after playing four years at St. Lawrence University.

The Dorrington brothers are distant cousins of Art Dorrington, a Black man who signed with the New York Rangers in 1950, eight years before Willie O’Ree broke the color barrier in the NHL. He played in the EHL and IHL, but never reached the NHL.

Jimmy Dowd Jr., Penn State University, and Anthony Dowd, Arizona State University

The Dowd brothers are the sons of Jim Dowd, who played more than 700 NHL games and was a member of the New Jersey Devils when they won the Stanley Cup in 1995.

Jimmy, 24, is in his fifth season at Penn State, where he is an alternate captain. Anthony, 21, is a sophomore at Arizona State. Each is a defenseman.

James and Michael Hagens, Boston College

James, a freshman center who turns 18 on Nov. 3, is the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick at the 2025 NHL Draft. He scored his first NCAA goal against American International College on Oct. 18.

Michael, a defenseman, is also a freshman but a year older than his brother. He attended development camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the offseason.

David and Marek Hejduk, Harvard University

David is a sophomore defenseman. Marek is a junior forward. They are 20-year-old twins. Their father is Milan Hejduk, who played 1,020 NHL games. He was a member of the Colorado Avalanche when they won the Stanley Cup in 2001 and scored 50 goals for the Avalanche in 2002-03.

Cole Hutson and Quinn Hutson, Boston University

Quinn, a 22-year-old junior wing, is an alternate captain this season. He attended development camp with the Maple Leafs during the offseason. Cole, 18, is a freshman defenseman. He has a goal and two assists in four games. He was drafted in the second round (No. 43) by the Washington Capitals at the 2024 NHL Draft.

Lane, 20, is playing important minutes on defense for the Montreal Canadiens this season after starring for two seasons at BU (2022-24).

Dylan and Ty Jackson, Arizona State University

Dylan, a wing, and Ty, a center, play on Arizona State’s top line and first power-play unit.

The 23-year-old twins are graduate students who played two seasons at Northeastern University before transferring.

Each attended Maple Leafs development camp in 2022.

Max Plante and Zam Plante, Minnesota Duluth University

Zam, 18, is a freshman center. The Pittsburgh Penguins selected him in the fifth round (No. 150) at the 2022 draft.

Max, 20, is a freshman wing. The Detroit Red Wings chose him in the second round (No. 47) at the 2024 draft.

Their father is former Minnesota Duluth wing Derek Plante, now a Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach. Derek played 450 NHL games after being selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the eighth round (No. 161) of the 1989 NHL Draft.

Eamon Powell, Boston College, and Seamus Powell, Merrimack College

Eamon is a 22-year-old grad student in his fifth year at BC. He has been captain the past two seasons.

A defenseman, he was picked in the fourth round (No. 116) by the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2020 draft.

Seamus, 20, also is a defenseman. He played the 2022-23 season at Boston College and for Dubuque of the United States Hockey League last season before transferring to Merrimack.

Lucas St. Louis, Harvard University, and Ryan St. Louis, Brown University

Lucas, 19, is a freshman defenseman. He had 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 43 games for Dubuque (USHL) last season.

After a freshman year at Northeastern University in 2021-22, Ryan played for Dubuque, then enrolled at Brown, where he had 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 30 games last season, including three game-winning goals.

A 21-year-old wing, Ryan attended Penguins development camp this past offseason.

Lucas and Ryan’s father is Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Grant and Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan University

Grant, 22, is a sophomore center. He has five points (one goal, four assists) in three games. He played at Northern Michigan University in 2023-24 but transferred after a coaching change at the school.

Hampton, 19, is a goalie who was selected in the fourth round (No. 118) by the Los Angeles Kings at the 2023 draft.

Originally headed to Northern Michigan, he changed his commitment in June and followed his brother.

Playing for Warroad High School in 2023, Hampton earned the Frank Brimsek Award as Minnesota high school hockey’s top senior goalie.

He led Fargo to the USHL championship last season and was named USHL Goaltender of the Year and to the First All-Star Team.

In his first college start, he made 28 saves in a 5-1 win against Ferris State on Oct. 12.