St. Thomas adds Kraken pick Hawke Huff from Waterloo Black Hawks

St. Thomas added one of the USHL’s most intriguing puck-moving defensemen in Hawke Huff, a 6-foot-3 incoming freshman from the Waterloo Black Hawks who already carries NHL draft capital and a clear calling card: offense from the back end.

Huff, listed as Luken “Hawke” Huff, was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft, 148th overall. That matters for a Tommies program still trying to sharpen its profile in the NCAA’s crowded development lane, because Huff arrives with the kind of size, production and pro pedigree that can change the look of a blue line immediately.

The numbers explain why St. Thomas targeted him. Huff recorded 36 assists in 61 games last season, and USHL player stats list him at 3 goals and 36 assists in 61 games in the 2025-26 season. Another USHL scoring line credits him with 39 points, all from a 3-goal, 36-assist mix, during his time with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Either way, the profile is the same: a defenseman whose value is built on clean exits, first passes and the ability to push play up ice.

That skill set fits the reputation built around Huff before he reached the NCAA. The Rink Live described him as a big puck-moving defenseman at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, and noted that his stock rose sharply after he had been on junior varsity as a sophomore at Wayzata High School. The path gives St. Thomas a player whose rise has been steep, unusual and grounded in measurable production.

Huff’s background adds more texture to the story. The Kraken’s prospect profile identifies him as a Washington-born defenseman from Mazama, Washington, who skated in his early years at Winthrop Rink. For Seattle, he is a homegrown draft pick from the state’s north-central hockey pockets. For St. Thomas, he is a roster-building bet on a defender who can bridge junior hockey pace to NCAA speed without needing a long runway.

His recent recognition only reinforces that upside. Huff earned All-USHL First Team honors and later became a USHL Defenseman of the Year finalist after a breakout season, putting him among the league’s top blue-line producers. For the Tommies, adding a Kraken pick with that kind of resume signals a clear strategy: stack the defense with size, mobility and a track record of driving offense before the puck even reaches the forwards.