Western Michigan University has added another piece for the 2026-27 season, with forward Adam Benák officially committing to the Broncos.
Benák had already signaled in March that he planned to play his college hockey in Kalamazoo, and the announcement makes it official. The 19-year-old was selected 102nd overall in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild.
The Plzen, Czechia, native was skating for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms when he was drafted. In his lone season in the North American amateur ranks at that point, he posted 17 goals and 59 points in 56 games, along with a plus-1 rating, after previously playing in Czechia.
He kept moving forward last season with the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs. Benák put together a strong 2025-26 campaign, finishing with 28 goals and 77 points in 48 games and a plus-22 rating. He also added three goals and 11 points in 15 playoff games before Brantford was knocked out by the Barrie Colts in the Eastern Conference Final.
Benák’s production wasn’t limited to club hockey. At the U20 IIHF World Junior Championships, he scored one goal and totaled eight points in seven games as Team Czechia advanced to the gold medal game. Canada ended up taking the title, but Czechia still left with a silver medal.
For Western Michigan, Benák arrives as the program continues building after winning the NCHC Tournament and National Championship in 2024-25. The Broncos slipped a bit last season, falling in the NCHC Final and then getting eliminated from the National Tournament by the University of Denver.
Benák won’t be joining any other Wild prospects in Kalamazoo, but he will skate alongside at least six other drafted players.
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John Hynes Would Face Even More Pressure With A Wild Extension
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But for Hynes, a new contract would not necessarily mean a softer landing if things go sideways. NHL history is full of coaches who signed extensions only to find that job security disappeared once the results stalled, and Hynes already carries the burden of a playoff track record that has fueled doubts about whether he can take the Wild to the next level. [Read more 🡒]