For the sixth consecutive NHL draft, a Cornellian has been selected. This year it was incoming freshman defenseman Cole Tuminaro. The Illinois native was selected in the fifth round, pick 140, by the Colorado Avalanche.
In addition to Tuminaro, Charlie Puglisi was selected in the seventh round, 202nd overall, by the Nashville Predators. Puglisi announced his commitment to Cornell, but will not be joining the team next season. Born in 2008, the Latham, N.Y. native is poised to make the NCAA jump in the 2028-29 season.
Tuminaro spent the 2025-26 season with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League. The 6’4” defenseman uses all of his frame to be a defensive presence. He was eighth in the USHL for penalty minutes last season with 148.
“Certainly it’s [playing physical] a big part of my game,” Tuminaro said in an interview with WTVO Rockford. “But it's not the only part of my game. Nowadays, the way that hockey is progressing, you really need to be able to do it all.”
The defenseman is not all physicality, as he contributed five goals and 11 assists for the Steel. Tuminaro will be entering with a Cornell recruiting class of nine players, including one other NHL draft pick, forward Brad Gardiner.
While it remains up in the air how much playing time Tuminaro will enjoy, his steady progression is evident.
In his first USHL season, Tuminaro totaled just 6 points. After being sidelined by a shoulder injury one game into his second USHL season, Tuminaro did not stall in development. Instead, he rounded out his game while continuing to make strides in his defensive abilities. His work resulted in him being ranked the 96th overall North American Skater by Central Scouting in the 2026 NHL Draft and receiving the call from the NHL.
“Actually, I heard my name called on TV before I got the call,” Tuminaro said in an interview with Eyewitness News. “[Being drafted] was a really surreal experience.”
Despite Tuminaro talking with “between 28 and 30” of the NHL franchises before the draft, the Avalanche ultimately highly coveted Tuminaro, trading up to select him.
Prior to joining the Red, Tuminaro will attend Colorado's development camp, getting a chance to skate with the Avalanche’s other prospects and receive guidance from the professional coaches in the organization.
While his journey to being an NHL draft pick might be over, his road of development will continue, with his next big stop being Ithaca and ECAC hockey.
“Cornell, Ivy League, was definitely on my radar when the recruiting process started,” Tuminaro said. “There was just [the] highest level of interest from Cornell from the start. Their program has been awesome the last however many years. Fantastic coaching staff and a great campus. They consistently develop guys into pros.”
The Cornell Sun’s Hockey Beat will have continued coverage of Men’s Hockey’s offseason.
