Nicholas Kempf is an ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the USNTDP Juniors in the United States Hockey League (USHL). Moreover, he is regarded as the top goaltending prospect eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Kempf began his hockey journey playing under-13 to under-15 Tier I AAA youth hockey with the Chicago Mission. Later on, in the 2020–21 season, Kempf had five shutouts and led the league with a 1.61 GAA. Kempf then joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where he played 30 games with the under-17 team, posting a 15-11-0 record, a 4.04 GAA, a .886 SV%, and two shutouts. With the under-18 team, he played another 30 games, achieving a 3.21 GAA, a .894 SV%, an 18-8-0 record, and one shutout.
Notably, he ranked second in the midterm and fourth in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and is also committed to University of Notre Dame.
Nicholas Kempf’s Nationality
Nicholas Kempf holds American nationality and has represented the United States in international competitions, earning notable accolades.
At the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Canada, he recorded a .917 save percentage over four games, leading his team to a gold medal. Kempf continued his strong international performance at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships in Finland, posting a .919 save percentage in six games, which contributed to the team's silver medal finish.
Over his junior international career, Kempf has accumulated impressive stats, including a total of 10 games played, 9 wins, 1 loss, a 2.15 goals against average, and a .918 save percentage
Nicholas Kempf Birthplace and Hometown
Nicholas Kempf was born and raised in Morton Grove, Illinois. Notably, he began his hockey career with the Chicago Jr. Blackhawks at the Brick Invitational, where he posted a 3.17 GAA and .830 SV% over five games. Fast forward to 2018-19, he recorded a 2.81 GAA and .860 SV% in five games with the Midwest Selects U13 at the WSI U13. The following season, he played for the Chicago Mission 13U AAA team before spending time with the Chicago Mission 14U AAA and Chicago Mission 15U AAA team.
Interestingly, his last name “Kempf” is derived from the middle high German word “Kampf”. This also suggests that he might have German roots.
FAQ's On Nicholas Kempf Ethnicity
A. Nicholas Kempf is a goaltender.
A. Nicholas Kempf currently plays for the USNTDP Juniors in the United States Hockey League (USHL).
A. Nicholas Kempf won a gold medal at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Canada and a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships in Finland.
A. Nicholas Kempf is 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall and weighs 195 pounds (88 kg).
A. Nicholas Kempf is committed to playing college ice hockey for the University of Notre Dame starting in the 2025-26 season and is a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
