Junior Verhoeff had originally started playing ice hockey as a
goaltender, and switched to defence when he was 12. He was drafted by the
Victoria Royals fourth overall in the 2023
Western Hockey League (WHL) draft. On December 5, 2023, Verhoeff made his WHL debut with the Royals. He would play in 11 more games with the club, scoring two assists. He would also be held scoreless in four playoff games. Verhoeff entered his first full WHL season with high expectations. After leaving the team early in the season to represent Canada at the
2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, Verhoeff returned and impressed. Verhoeff's play would lead to being named the WHL Rookie of the Week in mid-December 2024, as well as being named a finalist for the
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for the WHL's top rookie. In total, Verhoeff would finish his with 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 63 games, setting the franchise record for goals by a defenseman, as well as becoming the third 16-year-old defenceman in WHL history to score more than 16 goals in a season. He also added a goal and nine assists in 10 playoff games.
Collegiate After the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced in November 2024 that they would allow
Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players to join
college ice hockey starting in
2025–26, many speculated whether Verhoeff would be one to take advantage of the new opportunity. On May 30, 2025, Verhoeff, alongside Royals teammate
Cole Reschny, announced their commitment to the
University of North Dakota. ==International play==