Ollie Josephson is the next big name to move from the Western Hockey League (WHL) to Division I of the NCAA – sources tell the Goldstream News Gazette the 19-year-old will join the University of North Dakota (UND) for 2025-26.
Josephson has spent the past three seasons with the Red Deer Rebels, serving as captain in 2024-25. Over that stretch, he suited up in 185 games, scoring 31 goals and adding 71 assists for 102 points.
The move comes just one week after a major policy shift in junior hockey.
As of Aug. 1, WHL players no longer forfeit their NCAA eligibility by playing major junior hockey. This change ends decades of players having to choose between major junior and college hockey.
Josephson was drafted 105th overall by the Seattle Kraken in the fourth round of the NHL Draft.
The Langford product has deep ties to Greater Victoria, playing his minor hockey with the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association before moving on to the Pacific Coast Hockey Academy. He also had a brief five-game stint with the Victoria Grizzlies in 2021-22 before heading to Red Deer.
Josephson recently returned from the 2025 World Junior Showcase in Minneapolis, where he played for Canada White in the summer event featuring the country’s top U20 talent against the United States, Sweden, and Finland. He appeared in three games but was held off the scoresheet.
The move to North Dakota continues a trend of WHL talent heading south, with the Fighting Hawks among the programs benefiting most. Former Victoria Royals standouts Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff both committed to UND earlier this summer.
Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Ethan MacKenzie of West Kelowna has announced his plans to join the program in 2026-27. That same year, Cowichan Bay’s own Eli McKamey – a star with the Royals – will also make the jump to UND.
Neither the Red Deer Rebels nor the University of North Dakota provided comment at the time of press.
