Ben Kevan is a 2007-born forward for the Buccaneers. He is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and is a projected second-round pick, ranked 44th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's Midterm rankings. In 2023, Kevan committed to play NCAA DI men's hockey at Arizona State University. 

"Ben Kevan is a one-of-a-kind kid," Assistant and Goalie Coach Hank Johnson said. "He loves to compete but knows how to keep it loose. I love having him in the locker room and on the ice every day." 

Kevan grew up in Fairfield, Calif. (pop. 120,786), in the North Bay sub-region of the San Francisco Bay Area, with his mom, Sarah; dad, Ben; and younger sister, Briella. In an area where hockey is not a prominent sport, Kevan found his home with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings AAA club, where he led his team to a 15U national championship to cap off the 2022-2023 season. Kevan totaled 112 points (62 goals, 50 assists) in his 74 games played in the 15U regular season, and 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) in 6 games played during the US 15U Nationals. 
 

Kevan decided the USHL was the path for him at the beginning of his 15U season, when he had the opportunity to watch the Tier I teams compete at the 2022 USHL Fall Classic in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Buccaneers drafted Kevan in 1st round, 5th overall, of the 2023 USHL Phase I Draft. During the 2023-2024 season, he led all rookies in the USHL in points with 57 (24 goals, 33 assists) in 59 games played, an average of .97 points per game. He was also named to the 2024 USHL All-Rookie Team. 

"I don't know if there is a player out there that approaches the game like Ben," Head Coach and General Manager Matt Curley said. "His belief in his ability is unparalleled and is shown with both his success on the ice and growth off the ice. And while it has been incredible to watch his growth these past few years, the scary part is that he is just getting started!" 

In Des Moines, Kevan has found a group of teammates who work well and have fun together on and off the ice. He has enjoyed the closeness of the 2024-2025 team and has found that it separates them from other teams in the league. The Bucs community has had the honor of supporting Kevan as he competed with Team USA in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2024 and helped Team USA win gold in the 2025 World Junior A Challenge. He has felt the love from Des Moines fans as he traveled across North America showcasing his talent in international tournaments. 
 

The Des Moines Buccaneers have provided unique opportunities for Kevan as he looks to further his hockey career. Since he began as a young player in the USHL, he has had the opportunity to learn from and play against more experienced members in the league. Since over half of NCAA DI men's hockey athletes come from the USHL, Kevan will face off against many of these players again when he heads to ASU. The Buccaneers organization looks forward to seeing what the future holds for Kevan as he continues to grow his talent.