Michigan State’s NHL Draft Prospect Takes the Next Step in His Hockey Journey
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2025 third-round selection brings junior hockey experience, size, and a developing two-way game to the Michigan State Spartans as he begins his NCAA career in 2026-27.
For Brady Peddle, the road to college hockey has included elite youth competition, two junior hockey leagues, an NHL Draft selection, and an opportunity to experience professional hockey.
The defenseman from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, enters the 2026-27 season as a freshman with the Michigan State Spartans. At 6 feet 3 inches and 210 pounds on Michigan State’s official roster, he brings a substantial physical presence to the blue line.
Peddle was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round, 91st overall, of the 2025 NHL Draft. Before arriving in East Lansing, he developed with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League and the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
In April 2026, he also signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League affiliate. The opportunity added professional experience to his résumé before his transition to college hockey.
His next challenge is to establish himself at Michigan State, where his development will be measured by his ability to compete consistently against NCAA Division I opponents.
- Full Name: Brady Peddle
- Sport: Ice Hockey
- Position: Defenseman
- Jersey Number: 4
- Height: 6 feet, 3 inches
- Weight: 210 pounds, according to Michigan State’s 2026-27 roster
- Date of Birth: May 23, 2007
- Age: 19 as of October 10, 2026
- Birthplace: Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
- College: Michigan State University
- Team: Michigan State Spartans
- Conference: Big Ten
- Class: Freshman
- Shoots: Left
- NHL Draft: Pittsburgh Penguins, third round, 91st overall, 2025
- Previous Teams: Bishop Kearney Selects, Waterloo Black Hawks, Charlottetown Islanders
- Professional Experience: Amateur tryout agreement with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, April 2026
Born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Peddle developed his game through youth hockey before advancing to elite competition with the Bishop Kearney Selects.
His early development included participation with the Selects’ 15U AAA and 16U AAA programs. The experience provided opportunities to compete against other developing players while refining his defensive and offensive skills.
During the 2022-23 season, Peddle recorded 22 points in 41 games with Bishop Kearney Selects 15U AAA. He took a significant step forward the following season, producing 16 goals and 31 assists for 47 points in 58 games at the 16U AAA level.
Those statistics demonstrated that he could contribute offensively from the blue line. For a defenseman, creating scoring opportunities through passing and joining the attack can complement the primary responsibility of protecting his own zone.
Publicly documented details about his childhood, individual mentors, personal training routines, and academic interests remain limited. His recorded progression nevertheless shows a move through increasingly competitive environments before his arrival in junior hockey.
Peddle’s junior career began with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL during the 2024-25 season.
He appeared in all 62 regular-season games, recording three goals and seven assists for 10 points. He also finished the regular season with a plus-12 rating, reflecting the team's goal differential while he was on the ice at even strength and other applicable situations.
His postseason performance attracted additional attention. Waterloo advanced to the Clark Cup Final, and Peddle recorded one goal and nine assists in 15 playoff games. His 10 playoff points ranked second among USHL defensemen during the 2025 postseason.
The playoff run represented an important stage in his development. The ability to contribute offensively while competing in high-pressure games added to the experience he would carry into his next season.
In July 2025, Peddle moved to the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. During the 2025-26 regular season, he recorded three goals and 16 assists for 19 points in 62 games.
His production increased from 10 points in his first USHL regular season to 19 points in his QMJHL campaign. Although statistics alone cannot measure a defenseman's overall effectiveness, the totals document his continued offensive contribution.
The two seasons also gave Peddle experience in different junior hockey environments before he began his NCAA career.
Peddle reached a major milestone in June 2025 when Pittsburgh selected him 91st overall in the third round of the NHL Draft.
The selection made him part of the Penguins’ prospect pool and recognized his potential as a developing defenseman. At the time, the organization highlighted his size, left-handed shot, and potential defensive utility.
Peddle also identified Sidney Crosby as his favorite player while growing up. In the Penguins’ coverage of their 2025 draft class, he described the connection to Crosby, who also comes from Nova Scotia, as meaningful.
Being drafted, however, is not the same as securing an NHL career. Peddle still needs to continue developing his game and demonstrate that his abilities translate to higher levels of competition.
His next milestone came on April 15, 2026, when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed him to an amateur tryout agreement.
An amateur tryout agreement provides a player with an opportunity to join a professional team under the terms of that agreement. It is not equivalent to a standard NHL contract or proof of a permanent professional roster position.
The experience gave Peddle an additional opportunity to enter a professional hockey environment before beginning his college career.
Peddle's size and left-handed shot are two documented characteristics of his playing profile. At 6 feet 3 inches and 210 pounds on Michigan State's roster, he has the physical dimensions to compete for space against opposing forwards.
His junior statistics also show an ability to contribute offensively. The nine assists he recorded during Waterloo's playoff run and the 16 assists he accumulated with Charlottetown in 2025-26 illustrate his contribution to scoring opportunities.
A defenseman's performance, however, involves much more than points. Positioning, gap control, puck retrievals, defensive communication, and the ability to move play out of the defensive zone all matter.
Peddle's college career will provide a clearer assessment of how effectively he combines his physical attributes with defensive responsibility and puck movement against NCAA competition.
Detailed public information about his current training schedule, specific tactical assignments, and leadership responsibilities is not available. Those aspects should be evaluated through his actual performances rather than assumed from his draft status.
Peddle's documented career milestones include his 47-point season with Bishop Kearney Selects 16U AAA in 2023-24, his 10-point USHL playoff performance in 2025, and his selection by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
His first USHL season included 10 regular-season points in 62 games, followed by 10 points in 15 playoff appearances. He then recorded 19 points in 62 regular-season games with Charlottetown in 2025-26.
The amateur tryout agreement with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in April 2026 added another step to his development.
These milestones reflect his progression through youth hockey, junior competition, NHL prospect selection, and professional exposure. They provide a foundation for his next challenge without implying that his long-term professional future is already determined.
Peddle's family also has a connection to the professional game. His older brother, Tyler Peddle, was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
The brothers' experiences place Brady in a family familiar with the NHL Draft process and the challenges associated with pursuing professional hockey.
Beyond this documented connection, detailed information about his private life, charitable activities, community involvement, and interests outside hockey is limited. His personal values and long-term ambitions should not be inferred without reliable information.
His move to Michigan State provides an opportunity to continue his hockey development while pursuing a college education. The combination of athletic competition and university life will be an important part of this next stage of his career.
Peddle enters the 2026-27 season as a freshman defenseman wearing No. 4 for Michigan State. His previous junior experience and professional tryout opportunity provide useful background, but neither guarantees immediate success in college hockey.
The adjustment to NCAA competition will require him to adapt to the pace, structure, and physical demands of the college game. Consistency in his defensive positioning, decision-making, and puck management will be important as he competes for opportunities within the Spartans' lineup.
His development will also be judged by how effectively he supports teammates and contributes to the team's overall defensive structure.
Peddle remains a Pittsburgh draft selection, but his future professional opportunities will depend on continued progress. The most meaningful immediate measure of success is how he performs at Michigan State.
Brady Peddle has already experienced several significant stages in his hockey journey. He developed through elite youth competition, played in the USHL and QMJHL, earned a third-round NHL Draft selection, and received an opportunity with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate.
Now, Michigan State offers him another environment in which to develop his game.
His size, left-handed shot, and junior production provide a foundation, while the demands of college hockey will test his consistency and defensive effectiveness. His NHL selection makes his progress worth following, but his career remains a work in progress.
For Peddle, the 2026-27 season represents an opportunity to turn experience into performance and take another step toward his long-term goals. His story is not defined by a destination he has yet to reach, but by the continued development required to pursue it.


