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53 CHL developed players take part in 2026 NHL Combine

Matt Tidcombe — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:31:57 +0000

A total of 53 players developed in the CHL took part in this week’s NHL Combine in Buffalo, NY., as preparation for the 2026 NHL Draft continues to ramp up. In all, 25 players from the WHL, 20 from the OHL and six from the QMJHL were put through their paces in a series of tests. The combine ran from June 1-6 and gave the 32 NHL teams physical and medical assessments of the top prospects ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft later this month. "The NHL Combine is a rite of passage on a player's path to the NHL and is an event that NHL clubs and prospects look forward to participating in," NHL Central Scouting vice president and director Dan Marr said. "It's a week full of interviews, medicals, and fitness testing where the players get to interact with NHL personnel and the NHL clubs get to learn as much as possible about the future stars of our game." https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2062621612294181205 In all, 90 players — 56 forwards, 29 defensemen and five goalies — attended the combine. Teams had 1-on-1 interviews with prospects at KeyBank Center from June 1-5. The medical examinations took place June 3, the Maximal VO2 bike test and isokinetic squat test, which is new to the Combine, happened June 5, and the remaining eight of the 12 fitness tests occured at HarborCenter on June 6 (standing height/wingspan, horizontal jump, force plate vertical jumps, bench press, pro agility test, pull ups, 10-meter sprint, Wingate Cycle Ergometer test). The 10-meter sprint, also new to the Combine, will be conducted in conjunction with the pro agility test. To see the full results click here. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2063372931116200139 In NHL Central Scouting's final rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, reigning CHL Player of the Year Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat / WHL) topped the list where he was followed by Chase Reid (Soo / OHL) at no. 2, Carson Carels (Prince George / WHL) at no. 3, Keaton Verhoeff (ex-Victoria Royals / WHL) at no.4 and Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert / WHL) at no. 5. The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the first overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft and with it, the chance to select elite CHL developed talent. 53 developed CHL players take part in 2026 NHL Combine: WHL (27): Landom Amrhein (Calgary Hitmen) Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars) Jake Gustafson (Portland WInterhawks) Beckett Hamilton (Red Deer Rebels) Chase Harrington (Spokane Chiefs) JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers) Kayden Lemire (Prince George Cougars) Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants) Brek Liske (Everett Silvertips) Benjamin MacBeath (Calgary Hitmen) Ethan MacKenzie (Edmonton Oil Kings) Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers) Zach Olsen (Spokane Chiefs) Michal Orsulak (Prince Albert Raiders) Giorgos Pantelas (Brandon Wheat Kings) Mathis Preston (Vancouver Giants) Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers) Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers) Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders) Timofei Runtso (Victoria Royals) Jonah Silvertson (Prince Albert Raiders) Tyus Sparks (Spokane Chiefs) Tobias Tvrznik (Wenatchee Wild) Jakub Vanecek (Tri-City Americans) Matias Vanhanen (Everett Silvertips) Keaton Verhoeff (Victoria Royals) Cooper Williams (Saskatoon Blades) OHL (20): Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires) Alexander Bilecki (Kitchener Rangers) Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion) Jaxon Cover (London Knights) Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting) Vladimir Dravecky (Brantford Bulldogs) Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting) Colin Fitzgerald (Soo Greyhounds) Layne Gallacher (Guelph Storm) Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack) Adam Nemec (Sudbury Wolves) Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes) Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals) Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs) Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds) Wesley Royston (Owen Sound Attack) Maksim Sokolovskii (London Knights) Thomas Vandenberg (Ottawa 67’s) Cole Zurawski (Owen Sound Attack) QMJHL (6): Tommy Bleyl (Moncton Wildcats) Maddox Dagenais (Quebec Remparts) Jan Larys (Drummondville Voltigeurs) Liam Lefebvre (Cape Breton Eagles) Charlie Morrison (Quebec Remparts) Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)

Huskies select Boisvert first overall in 2026 QMJHL Draft

Matt Tidcombe — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:38:45 +0000

By Will MacLaren One of the biggest productions on the QMJHL calendar, the first round of the 2026 QMJHL Draft presented by Fenplast, took place Friday night at Scotiabank Center in Halifax. In addition to the welcoming of 18 new faces to the QMJHL family, several interesting storylines unfolded as the kickoff to the 2026-27 campaign got underway. The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, choosing first overall for the first time in franchise history via acquisition of the pick originally owned by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, kicked things off by selecting Thomas Boisvert from Mount St. Charles Academy. The center from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec stood out at the Rhode Island prep school as a dynamic, well-rounded player who excelled at distributing the puck. Boisvert was considered the top prospect in this year’s draft by QMJHL Central Scouting. The Victoriaville Tigres, choosing second for the first time since 2022, stepped up to the podium next and took defenseman Vincent Boutet. While patrolling the blueline for the Blizzard du Seminaire St-Francois, the 6’1” Boutet brought a physical element while also remaining remarkably composed. The Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec product was identified as the top blueliner available for the 2026 QMJHL Draft. The third overall selection, originally held by the hometown Mooseheads, was dealt to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, causing a dramatic reaction from the many fans in attendance. While the Mooseheads landed star center Mateo Nobert in exchange for goaltender Nicolas Gillham-Cirka and Amelio Santini, the Armada promptly used their newly acquired pick to choose forward Jacob McKinnon who was Boutet’s Blizzard teammate at Seminaire St-Francois last season. One of the top skaters available in the draft, McKinnon combined fantastic shot and pass selection and hockey sense to average well over a point per game in 2025-26. McKinnon will be facing at least one familiar foe from a nearby rival; he is the brother of Shawinigan Cataractes defenseman Noah McKinnon. A name with ties to the hometown team was called out when the Cataractes made the first of what would be two first round picks at number four. Pierre-Alexandre Lemieux spent last season mixing skill, physicality and vision with the Phenix du College Esther-Blondin. He’s also the nephew of former Mooseheads’ forward Alex Lemieux. The Victoriaville Tigres found themselves back at the podium for pick number five after a draft floor deal with the Saint John Sea Dogs that saw picks 14 and 17 head to the Port City. The Tigres proceeded to choose Jakob Royer from the Estacades de Trois-Rivieres. Known as a power forward at the U-18 level, he is the son of former Q defenseman Remi Royer. The Cataractes made Julien Bergeron the sixth pick of the Draft and kept the family connections rolling. Bergeron, a reliable forechecker and consistent offensive threat for the Grenadiers de Chateauguay is the nephew of former QMJHL player and coach Louis Robitaille. The biggest cheer of the night arose with pick number seven. The Mooseheads’ former star defenseman Justin Barron announced the selection of Emrik Menard. One of the most electrifying forwards available, Menard combined vision, instinct and strong work ethic in a successful though injury-shortened ’25-26 campaign. Another player who joins the ‘Q’ family tree, Emrik’s father, Carl, was a mainstay with Granby and St-Hyacinthe in the early 90’s. The eighth pick was part of a carousel of trades. Originally property of the Cape Breton Eagles, it was sent to Chicoutimi as part of a blockbuster that sent recent league champions Lucas Beckman, Liam Lefebvre and Alonso Gosselin to the Cape. The Sagueneens in turn dealt the selection to Rimouski who chose hometown boy Justin Gagnon, a 6’3” power forward who starred with the Albatros du College Notre-Dame last year. The Chateauguay connection continued with pick nine as the Sherbrooke Phoenix welcomed Damien Leduc into the fold. The 6’1” power forward brought a solid combination of physicality and discipline to the ice this past year. It was back to the trade floor at pick number ten. After the Val-d’Or Foreurs sent that pick to Rimouski, the Oceanic stepped up to the podium and selected the first Maritimer of the evening in Fall River, Nova Scotia forward Max Brien. A powerful skater who brings a presence to all three zones, Brien was a point-per-game star with the Dartmouth Steele Subaru last year. The first Newfoundland-born player came off the board with pick number thirteen. Damian Norris of Middle Cove will be going home to suit up with the Newfoundland Regiment after an explosive, high scoring season with Upper Canada College. Norris also enters the ‘Q’ with an NHL connection as the cousin of Buffalo Sabres forward Josh Norris. It was another merry-go-round at pick fourteen. The Saint John Sea Dogs would deal this selection to the Quebec Remparts. After brief stops with Chicoutimi and Baie-Comeau, the selection made its way back to Saint John, who broke the suspense by choosing Pictou Weeks defenseman Lawrence Williams. The top ranked Maritimer by the CSR, the mobile blueliner averaged over a point per game as a rookie at the U-18 level last year. The first goaltender as well as the first member of the current Telus Cup Champions was selected at pick fifteen. Zachary Lainesse used his quick hands and instinctive ability to battle shooters with the Chevaliers de Levis last year. Now, he represents the next big thing between the pipes for Rouyn-Noranda, who used the second of three first rounders on the top ranked netminder. The Huskies would cap off their first-round hat trick with the very next pick, acquiring two-way Magog forward Malik Tremblay at sixteen. Pick seventeen was a combination of championship pedigree and family ties. Enzo Roy, a mobile puck mover on the champion Levis squad was taken by Baie-Comeau, the Drakkar’s second pick of the night. His father is no stranger to the ‘Q’; Jonathan was a star forward with Drummondville and Moncton. Fittingly, one more trade was made to close out the night. Pick number 18 was dealt from Rimouski to Baie-Comeau. The Drakkar then used their third pick of the night to choose goaltender Nathan Boulanger. The rangy six-foot tall netminder also became the second player from College Esther-Blondin to be chosen on the evening. The 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft presented by Fenplast continues tomorrow with rounds 2-12 starting at 9am ET/10am AT, live on Eastlink and the QMJHL’s YouTube channel.

29 CHL Alumni Take the Ice in 2026 Stanley Cup Final

Matt Tidcombe — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:06:44 +0000

The 29 CHL alumni competing in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final account for roughly half of all players in the series — more than any other development hockey league in the world.

With the 2026 Stanley Cup Final now underway between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights, a total of 29 alumni from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) are competing in this year’s National Hockey League (NHL) championship series. Together, those 29 CHL alumni account for roughly half of all players in the series, marking the highest representation of any development hockey league in the world. The Vegas Golden Knights lead the way with 19 CHL alumni on their roster, while the Carolina Hurricanes feature 10. Across the full series, 15 alumni come from the WHL, eight from the OHL, and six from the QMJHL. The series also features CHL alumni wearing the ‘C’ on both sides, with Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) alumnus Mark Stone captaining the Golden Knights and Peterborough Petes (OHL) graduate Jordan Staal leading the Hurricanes. Stone, the only captain Vegas has ever known, is chasing his second Stanley Cup after helping deliver the franchise’s first championship in 2023, when he became the first player in more than a century to record a hat trick in a Cup-clinching win. Staal, the longest-tenured player and captain in Hurricanes history, is also pursuing his second Stanley Cup after first winning with Pittsburgh in 2009, while looking to complete a full-circle run with the organization he joined 14 years ago. At the club level, 25 CHL teams are represented in this year’s Stanley Cup Final, with the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) leading the way with three alumni in the series. Six other CHL clubs — the Barrie Colts (OHL), Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL), Kelowna Rockets (WHL), Portland Winterhawks (WHL), Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL), and Windsor Spitfires (OHL) — each have two former players competing, while several clubs, including Barrie, Halifax, Portland, and Rouyn-Noranda, have alumni on both sides of the Final. Since 2014, 156 of the 294 players to have had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup — 53% overall — have come through the CHL. That total includes 10 members of last year’s championship-winning Florida Panthers, who extended a dominant trend as the seventh consecutive Stanley Cup champion to feature at least 10 CHL alumni on its roster. Over the course of the 2025-26 season, 478 alumni from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL played at least one NHL game, accounting for 46.1% of the 1,038 players who appeared in the league — the highest share of any development league in the world. That league-wide presence was evident from the start of the season, when 402 CHL graduates were named to NHL Opening Night rosters, representing nearly half of all players across the NHL’s 32 teams. Quick Facts:

Having first lifted the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, Jordan Staal (Peterborough Petes / OHL) — the oldest player in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at 37 — is aiming to become the first player in NHL history to go at least 17 years between his first and second Stanley Cup victories.
Mark Stone (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL) leads the 2010 NHL Draft class in career playoff points despite being selected 178th overall, ahead of a group that includes fellow CHL alumnus Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires / OHL), who was taken first overall that year.
Hall, who was ranked No. 48 on the CHL’s Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list, is making his Stanley Cup Final debut nearly 16 years after being selected first overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. A two-time Memorial Cup champion with the Windsor Spitfires, Hall also remains the only player in tournament history to twice earn Memorial Cup MVP honours.
Former London Knights (OHL) star Mitch Marner entered the Stanley Cup Final as the NHL’s leading scorer in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Marner, who led London to both OHL and Memorial Cup titles in 2015-16, is appearing in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time.
Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) alumnus Ivan Barbashev and Saginaw Spirit (OHL) graduate Brandon Saad are the only two-time Stanley Cup champions on either roster, with both looking to become three-time Cup winners.
Several CHL alumni in the series already own Stanley Cup rings, including Barbashev, Saad, Stone, Adin Hill (Portland Winterhawks / WHL), Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL), Keegan Kolesar (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL), Brayden McNabb (Kootenay Ice / WHL), Shea Theodore (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL), William Carrier (Cape Breton Eagles & Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL), and Staal.
Staal and Carrier are Carolina’s only players who have appeared in a Stanley Cup Final before, while Vegas features a much larger group with previous Final experience, including CHL alumni Barbashev, Saad, McNabb, Theodore, Stone, Hill, Howden, Kolesar, and Sissons.

Complete list of the 29 CHL alumni competing in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final Carolina Hurricanes (10) William Carrier (Cape Breton Eagles & Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL), Jalen Chatfield (Windsor Spitfires / OHL), Nicolas Deslauriers (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies & Gatineau Olympiques / QMJHL), Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL), Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires / OHL), Seth Jarvis (Portland Winterhawks / WHL), Jordan Martinook (Vancouver Giants / WHL), Jordan Staal (Peterborough Petes / OHL), Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers / WHL), Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts / OHL) Vegas Golden Knights (19) Rasmus Andersson (Barrie Colts / OHL), Ivan Barbashev (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL), Braeden Bowman (Guelph Storm / OHL), Dylan Coghlan (Tri-City Americans / WHL), Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips / WHL), Adin Hill (Portland Winterhawks / WHL), Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL), Keegan Kolesar (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL), Kaedan Korczak (Kelowna Rockets / WHL), Jeremy Lauzon (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies / QMJHL), Raphael Lavoie (Halifax Mooseheads & Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL), Mitch Marner (London Knights / OHL), Brayden McNabb (Kootenay Ice / WHL), Brandon Saad (Saginaw Spirit / OHL), Akira Schmid (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL), Colton Sissons (Kelowna Rockets / WHL), Mark Stone (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL), Shea Theodore (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL), Kai Uchacz (Seattle Thunderbirds & Red Deer Rebels / WHL).

Kitchener Rangers capture first title in 23 years at 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota

Matt Tidcombe — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:53:10 +0000

The Kitchener Rangers captured the third Memorial Cup title in franchise history Sunday night, defeating the Everett Silvertips 6-2 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C. The victory gave Kitchener its first Memorial Cup championship since 2003 and capped a perfect 4-0 run at the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota. It also completed one of the most dominant championship runs in recent CHL history, with the Rangers going 16-2 during the OHL Playoffs before winning all four of their games in Kelowna. Ottawa Senators prospect Luke Ellinas, Dylan Edwards, Los Angeles Kings prospect Jared Woolley, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Jack Pridham, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly and Colorado Avalanche prospect Christian Humphreys scored for Kitchener, while San Jose Sharks prospect Christian Kirsch made 30 saves. For Everett, 2026 NHL Draft prospect Matias Vanhanen and Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear found the back of the net, while Anders Miller made 26 saves. GAME PHOTOS – Credit to Steve Dunsmoor / CHL GAME SUMMARY TOURNAMENT STATISTICS TOURNAMENT STANDINGS VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS O’Reilly received the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as tournament MVP after recording three goals and eight points in four games. His eight points left him one point shy of the tournament lead, and he registered a game-high four points (1G-3A) in the championship game. After also winning the 2025-26 Red Tilson Trophy as OHL MVP and the 2026 Wayne Gretzky “99” Award as OHL Playoff MVP, O’Reilly became just the fourth player in CHL history to complete the same-season MVP sweep with regular-season, playoff and Memorial Cup MVP honours, joining Rimouski Océanic alumnus Brad Richards (2000) and London Knights graduates Corey Perry (2005) and Mitch Marner (2016). O’Reilly and Woolley also captured back-to-back Memorial Cup titles with different teams after winning with the London Knights in 2025 and Kitchener in 2026. They became the first players to accomplish the feat since Noah Dobson in 2018 and 2019. The two also appeared in a third straight Memorial Cup Final after reaching the championship game with London in 2024 and 2025 before doing so with Kitchener in 2026. O’Reilly was also named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team alongside Vanhanen, Pridham, Nashville Predators prospect Cameron Reid, 2027 NHL Draft prospect Landon DuPont and Kirsch. Pridham claimed the Ed Chynoweth Trophy as the tournament’s leading scorer after pacing the Memorial Cup with five goals and nine points over four games. Kirsch received the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the tournament’s outstanding goaltender after leading all netminders with a 1.50 goals-against average and .952 save percentage, while Vanhanen earned the George Parsons Trophy for sportsmanship after leading all Silvertips players with eight points (4G-4A). Kirsch also made CHL Import Draft history with the victory, becoming just the third European goaltender selected through the CHL Import Draft to win the Memorial Cup. He joins Ottawa 67’s alumnus Levente Szuper (1999) and Windsor Spitfires graduate Philipp Grubauer (2010). Kitchener opened the scoring at 5:47 of the first period when Ellinas got the faintest of tips on Alexander Bilecki’s point shot for his first goal of the tournament. The lead was short-lived, however, as Vanhanen answered just 28 seconds later, burying a rebound in front after DuPont’s initial shot had been stopped. The Rangers retook the lead at 13:15 when O’Reilly’s backhand pass from the wall sent Edwards in alone, and he made no mistake to put Kitchener ahead 2-1. Woolley extended the lead to 3-1 at 15:26 of the second period, taking Haeden Ellis’ pass off his skate before picking his spot top shelf from the low slot for his second goal of the Memorial Cup. Kitchener needed just 26 seconds in the third period to make it 4-1, as Pridham slid the puck five-hole on a 5-on-3 power play for his tournament-best fifth goal. Just 37 seconds later, the Rangers struck again on the power play. O’Reilly’s shot off a rebound slipped between Miller’s legs before hitting the right skate of Philadelphia Flyers prospect Luke Vlooswyk and rolling into the net to make it 5-1. The Silvertips responded at 2:59 when Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen found Bear backdoor for his fourth goal of the tournament, cutting the deficit to 5-2. Humphreys sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 1:37 remaining. The championship is the third in Kitchener’s history, following previous Memorial Cup titles in 1982 and 2003. It also marks the third straight year an OHL club has won the Memorial Cup, following Saginaw in 2024 and London in 2025. Kitchener has now reached the Memorial Cup championship game in all seven of its tournament appearances, the most by any CHL club since the event adopted its round-robin format in 1972. The Rangers have appeared in the final in 1981, 1982, 1984, 1990, 2003, 2008 and 2026. The victory also gave Kitchener 21 Memorial Cup tournament wins since 1972, moving the Rangers within one of Peterborough’s all-time mark of 22. For Everett, the loss closed a historic season that included 57 regular-season wins, a 16-2 run through the WHL Playoffs, the first Ed Chynoweth Cup title in franchise history, and the club’s first Memorial Cup appearance, first Memorial Cup win, first Memorial Cup shutout and first Memorial Cup Final berth. Despite falling to Kitchener in the championship game, the Silvertips’ consistency stretched across the entire 2025-26 campaign. Over 91 games between the regular season, playoffs and Memorial Cup, Everett did not lose back-to-back games all season long. Kitchener head coach Jussi Ahokas also made history as the first European head coach to guide a team to a Memorial Cup title. Ahokas had already become the first European-born head coach to win any of the CHL’s three Member League championship titles when he led Kitchener to the 2026 J. Ross Robertson Cup. Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy — Most Valuable Player Sam O’Reilly (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) Ed Chynoweth Trophy — Leading Scorer Jack Pridham (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) Hap Emms Memorial Trophy — Outstanding Goaltender Christian Kirsch (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) George Parsons Trophy — Sportsmanship Matias Vanhanen (Everett Silvertips / WHL) Memorial Cup All-Star Team Forward: Sam O’Reilly (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) Forward: Matias Vanhanen (Everett Silvertips / WHL) Forward: Jack Pridham (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) Defence: Cameron Reid (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) Defence: Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / WHL) Goaltender: Christian Kirsch (Kitchener Rangers / OHL) 2026 Memorial Cup Notes

Kitchener finished the tournament 4-0 and outscored opponents 20-6 across four games at the 2026 Memorial Cup.
The Rangers won the Memorial Cup after going 3-0 in the round robin, becoming the 10th team since 2000 to win the championship after a perfect round robin.
Kitchener and Everett both entered the Memorial Cup after going 16-2 during their respective league championship runs.
The two rosters included 17 NHL-drafted players, including a CHL-high 12 NHL-affiliated prospects on Kitchener’s roster.
Vanhanen finished with a point in all five of Everett’s Memorial Cup games and closed the tournament with eight points (4G-4A), the most among Silvertips players and the most by a Finnish player at the Memorial Cup since 1972.
Pridham scored in all four of Kitchener’s games and finished as the tournament’s leading goal scorer with five goals and leading scorer with nine points over four games.
Kirsch backstopped Kitchener to a perfect 4-0 record, allowed six goals over four starts and led all goaltenders with a 1.50 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.
O’Reilly finished one point shy of the tournament lead with eight points (3G-5A) and registered a game-high four points (1G-3A) in the championship game.
Landon DuPont became the first Exceptional Status defenceman to score at the Memorial Cup during Everett’s semi-final win over Chicoutimi.

2026 Memorial Cup Schedule May 22 – Game 1: Kitchener 5-0 Kelowna May 23 – Game 2: Everett 5-3 Chicoutimi May 24 – Game 3: Kelowna 2-3 (OT) Chicoutimi May 25 – Game 4: Everett 2-6 Kitchener May 26 – Game 5: Chicoutimi 2-3 Kitchener May 27 – Game 6: Kelowna 0-4 Everett May 29 – Semi-final: Chicoutimi 1-6 Everett May 31 – Final: Kitchener 6-2 Everett

Rangers win third Memorial Cup after victory against Silvertips

Matt Tidcombe — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 02:39:52 +0000

The Kitchener Rangers secured the third Memorial Cup title in franchise history after a 6-2 win over the Everett Silvertips in Kelowna, B.C., Sunday night. Luke Ellinas (OTT), Dylan Edwards, Jared Woolley (LA), Jack Pridham (CHI), Sam O’Reilly (TB) and Christian Humphrey’s (COL) scored for Kitchener while Christian Kirsch (SJ) made 30 saves. Matias Vanhanen and Carter Bear (DET) found the back of the net for the Silvertips as Anders Miller stopped 27 shots. O'Reilly was the recipient of the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as tournament MVP after he recorded three goals and eight points in only four games. In the process, he became just the fourth player in CHL history to win regular season and playoff MVP in their respective member league and then collect the same award at the Memorial Cup. Kitchener opened the scoring at 5:47 as Ellinas got the faintest of tips on Alexander Bilacki’s point shot for his first of the tournament but the lead was short-lived. Vanhanen’s fourth of the tournament came just 28 seconds later after he buried a rebound outfront after Landon DuPont’s initial shot had been saved. But the Rangers re-took the lead at 13:15 as Sam O’Reilly’s (TB) backhand pass from the wall sprung Edwards in alone and he made no mistake to make it 2-1. Woolley pushed the Rangers lead to 3-1 at 15:26 of the second as he took Haeden Ellis’ pass off his skate before he picked his spot top shelf from the low slot for his second of the Memorial Cup. The Rangers needed all of 26 seconds of the third period to make it 4-1 as Pridham slid the puck five-hole on a 5-on-3 power play for his tournament best fifth goal. Just 37 seconds later it was 5-1 on the power play as O’Reilly was the beneficiary of a fortunate bounce as his shot off a rebound went between Miller’s legs before it hit the right skate of Luke Vlooswyk (PHI) and rolled into the net. However, the Tips fought back as at 2:59 Julius Miettinen (SEA) found Bear backdoor for his fourth of the tournament to cut the deficit to 5-2 but Humphrey’s secured the win with an empty-net goal with 1:37 to play. The title is the third in Kitchener's history after triumph's in 1982 and 2003. It also marks the third straight year an OHL club has won the Memorial Cup after Saginaw (2024) and London (2025). 2026 Memorial Cup schedule: May 22 – Game 1: Kitchener 5-0 Kelowna May 23 – Game 2: Everett 5-3 Chicoutimi May 24 – Game 3: Kelowna 2-3 (OT) Chicoutimi May 25 – Game 4: Everett 2-6 Kitchener May 26 – Game 5: Chicoutimi 2-3 Kitchener May 27 – Game 6: Kelowna 0-4 Everett May 29 – Semi-final: Chicoutimi 1-6 Everett May 31 – Final: Kitchener 6-2 Everett

2026 Memorial Cup preview – Silvertips vs. Rangers – May 31

Matt Tidcombe — Sun, 31 May 2026 17:49:34 +0000

The final of the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota Canada has arrived. Either the Kitchener Rangers or the Everett Silvertips will be crowned champions tonight once the puck drops at 7pm ET / 4pm PT live on TSN 1/3/4, RDS, NHL Network and Victory+. "Every team wants to win this tournament so to be able to have a chance to do that in the final game of the year is pretty cool," said Kitchener's Luke Ellinas (OTT). For Kitchener, they swept their way to a finals appearance. Wins over Kelowna (5-0), Everett (6-2) and Chicoutimi (3-2) secured a perfect 3-0 round-robin that sent them to a Memorial Cup record seventh tournament final. Kitchener are two-time winners (1982/2003). "We've looked forward to this game all year, we've worked towards this game year and we're super excited to play in it," Ellinas said. In Kitchener's 6-2 win over Everett on May 25, Jack Pridham (CHI) had a pair of goals while captain Cameron Reid (NSH) chipped in three points (1G/2A). "Being able to use what knowledge we have, you don't ever play these teams, so having one game under our belt against them is good and we can use that to our advantage," Ellinas said. As for Everett, their cinderella season will conclude on the biggest stage of them all. After winning their first WHL championship earlier this month, the Tips' have battled all the way to the final of the Memorial Cup in their first tournament appearance. "It's a huge opportunity and we're super excited," said Landon DuPont. The Silvertips won their first ever Memorial Cup contest with a 6-2 victory over Chicoutimi before they fell to Kitchener. They concluded the round-robin with a 4-0 win over Kelowna to reach the semi-finals where they then defeated the Sagueneens again 6-1 to reach tonight's final.

A win tonight would make Everett the first team since Saginaw in 2024 to win the Memorial Cup in its tournament debut and the fourth American team to lift the CHL's signature trophy.

"It's going to be hard," DuPont said. "Kitchener's a great team, they're fast, they're skilled, it's almost like a Game 7. Everything is on the line so we have to come ready and play a full 60." The 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota is scheduled for May 21-31 in Kelowna, B.C. Every game of the 2026 Memorial Cup will air in Canada on TSN and RDS, with live streaming available on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In the United States, fans can watch every game on NHL Network, while viewers outside Canada can stream the tournament live on Victory+. 2026 Memorial Cup schedule: May 22 – Game 1: Kitchener 5-0 Kelowna May 23 – Game 2: Everett 5-3 Chicoutimi May 24 – Game 3: Kelowna 2-3 (OT) Chicoutimi May 25 – Game 4: Everett 2-6 Kitchener May 26 – Game 5: Chicoutimi 2-3 Kitchener May 27 – Game 6: Kelowna 0-4 Everett May 29 – Semi-final: Chicoutimi 1-6 Everett May 31 – Final — 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT

Silvertips secure spot in 2026 Memorial Cup final after win over Sagueneens

Matt Tidcombe — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:11:35 +0000

The Everett Silvertips advanced to the final of the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota after a 6-1 win over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in Friday’s semi-final. Landon DuPont scored twice while Jaxsin Vaughan, Carter Bear (DET), Zackary Shantz and Julius Miettien (SEA) also found the back of the net. Between the pipes, Anders Miller made 25 saves. For Chicoutimi, Tomas Lavoie (UTA) had their lone goal while Lucas Beckman (OTT) stopped 22 shots. Raphael Precourt turned away eight shots over the final period. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2060548889317642256 The Silvertips jumped ahead 7:56 into the first as Lukas Kaplan capitalized on Lavoie’s turnover before he fed Vaughan who buried his first on a power play. However, Lavoie atoned himself quickly as levelled the score at 12:01 on a wrister from the right dot that bounced in and out so fast, the play wasn’t initially called dead. The Tips managed to take a lead into the break though courtesy of DuPont’s first of the night as he ripped home a wrister from the slot to make it 2-1 at 13:59. In the process, he became the first defenceman granted exceptional status to score at a Memorial Cup. The second frame saw the Silvertips take a stranglehold of the contest as they scored three times; Bear started the onslaught with his third as he converted on a partial break away at 5:39 before Shantz made it 4-1 at 12:35 as he buried a loose puck out front. DuPont’s second of the night came with 85 seconds left in the frame as powered home a one-time on a 4-on-3 advantage. Miettinen grabbed his first of the tournament just 45 seconds into the final period as he converted on the power play to finish off a slick passing play that also featured Rylan Gould and Matias Vanhanen. Everett will now face Kitchener – who haven’t played since Tuesday – in Sunday’s Memorial Cup final. Puck drop is 7pm ET / 4pm PT live on TSN, RDS, NHL Network and Victory+. 2026 Memorial Cup schedule: May 22 – Game 1: Kitchener 5-0 Kelowna May 23 – Game 2: Everett 5-3 Chicoutimi May 24 – Game 3: Kelowna 2-3 (OT) Chicoutimi May 25 – Game 4: Everett 2-6 Kitchener May 26 – Game 5: Chicoutimi 2-3 Kitchener May 27 – Game 6: Kelowna 0-4 Everett May 29 – Semi-final: Chicoutimi 1-6 Everett May 31 – Final: Kitchener vs. Everett — 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT

2026 Memorial Cup preview – Sagueneens vs. Silvertips – May 29

Matt Tidcombe — Fri, 29 May 2026 20:40:18 +0000

A spot in the final of the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota is on the line tonight when the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Everertt Silvertips meet. Puck drop is at 9pm ET / 6pm PT from Kelowna, B.C. live on TSN 1/3, RDS2, NHL Network and Victory+. "It's a pretty cool opportunity," said the Silvertips' Carter Bear (DET). "This is the most important game of the year. It's a big one." The WHL champion Silvertips went 2-1-0 in the round-robin after wins over Chicoutimi (5-3) and Kelowna (4-0). Bear's goal at 14:45 ultimately stood as the game-winner when the Tips beat the Sags in the second game of the tournament on May 23. "They're a pretty skilled team, can move the puck and they're a championship team as well," Bear said. "We'll do video and review when we played against them and learn about what their queues are and what we have to do to capitalize on that." Chicoutimi concluded round-robin play 1-2-0; they fell to the Silvertips and also narrowly lost 3-2 to Kitchener. However, their 3-2 overtime win over Kelowna was the victory they needed to secure their semi-final berth. "We're great mentally," said Nathan Lacompte. "We have a great approach on tonight's game. We need to do a couple of adjustments for tonight but we're all on the same page. "They beat us once but we're going to be ready for tonight. They're a fast team, play physical, we know what's coming and we have to play our style of game and we'll be fine." Tonight's victor will head to Sunday's final against Kitchener. But that contest isn't even a thought just yet. "We have to worry about this game, we can't worry about the game after," Bear said. The 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota is scheduled for May 21-31 in Kelowna, B.C. Every game of the 2026 Memorial Cup will air in Canada on TSN and RDS, with live streaming available on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In the United States, fans can watch every game on NHL Network, while viewers outside Canada can stream the tournament live on Victory+. 2026 Memorial Cup schedule: May 22 – Game 1: Kitchener 5-0 Kelowna May 23 – Game 2: Everett 5-3 Chicoutimi May 24 – Game 3: Kelowna 2-3 (OT) Chicoutimi May 25 – Game 4: Everett 2-6 Kitchener May 26 – Game 5: Chicoutimi 2-3 Kitchener May 27 – Game 6: Kelowna 0-4 Everett May 29 – Semi-final: Chicoutimi vs. Everett — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT May 31 – Final — 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT

Silvertips secure berth in semi-finals of 2026 Memorial Cup

Matt Tidcombe — Thu, 28 May 2026 04:06:20 +0000

The Everett Silvertips advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 Memorial Cup after a 4-0 win over the Kelowna Rockets Wednesday night. Kayd Ruedig, Jaxon Pisani, Matias Vanhanen and Carter Bear (DET) scored for the Silvertips while Anders Miller turned away all 28 shots he faced. Kelowna’s Josh Banini made eight saves before he was replaced by Harrison Boettiger who stopped 22 of 23 shots. "Great performance by Anders and some key timely offence," said Everett head coach Steve Hamilton. "Overall, I'm really proud of our group." The Silvertips will now meet the Sagueneens – who they beat 6-2 earlier in the tournament - in Friday’s semi-final. "We didn't want to be in a position where we were leaving our fate going forward in someone else's hands," Hamilton said. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2059823041857847659 Ruedig opened the scoring 7:22 into the first frame as he threw the puck goalbound off the right side boards where it hit Kelowna d-man Rowan Guest in the left arm and found its way past Banini. The lead was doubled just 25 seconds later through Pisani who scored his first career goal on a shot from the point that beat Banini high. "It was pretty surreal and obviously very cool to do it at the biggest junior hockey tournament that there is," Pisani said. Vanhanen’s impressive tournament continued as in the middle frame he snagged his third of the tournament where he used his skating to create separation before firing a wrister home just 63 seconds in that ended Banini’s evening. Bear had Everett’s fourth with 6:53 to play as after his initial shot in the middle slot was saved he collected the rebound and spun and fire home his second of the tournament. Everett's star defenceman Landon DuPont (2027) was held out of the game after taking warmups. "He's a little nicked up," Hamilton said. "He wanted to give it a try, but he should be good going forward." The winner of Friday's semi-final will head to the final to face off against Kitchener Sunday. 2026 Memorial Cup schedule: May 22 – Game 1: Kitchener 5-0 Kelowna May 23 – Game 2: Everett 5-3 Chicoutimi May 24 – Game 3: Kelowna 2-3 (OT) Chicoutimi May 25 – Game 4: Everett 2-6 Kitchener May 26 – Game 5: Chicoutimi 2-3 Kitchener May 27 – Game 6: Kelowna 0-3 Everett May 29 – Semi-final — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT May 31 – Final — 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT

More Than the Game: Hayden Paupanekis on the MyHockeyHero Podcast

Matt Tidcombe — Wed, 27 May 2026 22:22:08 +0000

As the CHL’s 50th anniversary season winds down, Kelowna Rockets (WHL) forward Hayden Paupanekis joined the MyHockeyHero podcast (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music ) to speak with Dean Barnes about his unique path to the Western Hockey League (WHL). Paupanekis’s hockey journey has been shaped by discipline, identity, and an unwavering belief in himself, qualities that have helped him emerge as one of the Canadian Hockey League’s most exciting young prospects. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Hayden Paupanekis grew up surrounded by hockey. With roots in the Norway House Cree Nation through his father’s side of the family, the game became part of his life almost as soon as he could walk — even if his first steps on skates were anything but smooth. At five years old, Paupanekis first stepped onto the ice after his parents asked if he wanted to try hockey. Like many young Canadian kids, he needed one of the push supports to stay upright as he learned to skate, but from the beginning, something about the game captured his attention. “Ever since then, I kind of just been in love with the game,” he shared. Growing up in Winnipeg’s competitive hockey system, Paupanekis spent his entire minor hockey career playing in the city, steadily developing into one of Manitoba’s top young prospects. While many players experiment with different positions during their early years, Paupanekis always gravitated toward centre — a position he has played for nearly his entire life. As he progressed through the ranks, the support around him became a major part of his development. From his parents and coaches to teammates and community members, Paupanekis credits the people around him for helping shape both the player and person he has become. “I can’t really pick one singular person,” he explained. “It’d just be a group effort from everybody helping me get to the point where I am right now.” That support extended beyond the rink. Throughout his journey, members of the Norway House Cree Nation followed his progress closely, helping support fundraising efforts for tournaments, attending games, and continually encouraging him as his hockey career advanced. “Everybody’s contributed to support me and help me along the journey,” he said. “They’ve been a huge support.” Paupanekis’ emergence as a high-level prospect began to accelerate during his draft year while playing for the Winnipeg Wild Red. It was during that season that WHL scouts began taking serious notice of the towering forward, whose combination of size, puck protection, and physical play quickly drew attention from scouts across the league. Standing six-foot-five and over 200 pounds, Paupanekis already possessed a frame that naturally drew attention. But beyond the physical tools, it was his work ethic and confidence that allowed him to continue climbing. When the Spokane Chiefs selected him in the WHL Draft, it marked a major turning point for both him and his family. “That was a pretty big day for me and my family,” he recalled. “Once I found out my name was selected to Spokane, it was very exciting.” Soon after, Paupanekis left home to begin the next chapter of his hockey career — an adjustment that proved both exciting and difficult. Like many young players entering major junior hockey, moving away from home at such a young age brought new challenges. Living in a different city, adjusting to the demands of the WHL, and learning the realities of hockey as a business required a level of maturity that many teenagers are still developing. “You move away from home at such a young age and you’re not used to it,” Paupanekis said. “It gets pretty hard at times, but you kind of just push through it.” Despite the challenges, the experience helped accelerate his growth both on and off the ice. Entering WHL arenas packed with fans for the first time left a lasting impression, as did the realization that every game carried heightened expectations. “It’s kind of crazy that they’re paying to come watch you play hockey,” he said. Away from the rink, billet families became another important part of his transition into junior hockey. Providing support, structure, and a second home environment, they helped make the adjustment away from family easier during those early seasons. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2043144157296988657?s=20 “They’re exactly like your parents, but not your parents,” Paupanekis explained. “They’re always there for you.” As his WHL career progressed, so did his understanding of what it takes to succeed at higher levels of hockey. The daily demands of training, preparation, and consistency quickly became central parts of his routine. “There’s no easy days or no days off in this business,” he said. That mentality carried into his offseason training, where Paupanekis focused heavily on improving his skating and speed — areas he views as critical to maximizing his potential at the professional level. “You want to be faster, you want to be stronger,” he explained. “Whatever your goal is, you’ve got to work as hard as you can to achieve those things.” Throughout his development, Paupanekis also looked up to Indigenous players who paved the way before him. Among the players who inspired him most growing up were former NHL forward Jordan Tootoo and WHL alumnus Michael Ferland, both of whom showed him what was possible for Indigenous players pursuing professional hockey careers. “Those guys kind of were my role models growing up,” he shared. That inspiration has now come full circle. As one of the top Indigenous prospects in junior hockey, Paupanekis understands the importance of representation and the impact his journey can have on younger players following similar paths. “That’s kind of what I want to be,” he said of becoming a role model. “It pushes me to go harder, so I don’t let anyone down.” His hockey journey reached another major milestone in 2025 when the Montreal Canadiens selected him in the third round, 69th overall, at the NHL Draft. Watching from home surrounded by family, Paupanekis described the moment as surreal. “My mom was crying,” he recalled. “Everybody was just super happy for me.” Leading up to the draft, Paupanekis participated in the NHL Combine in Buffalo, where he competed alongside many of hockey’s top prospects. The experience gave him an opportunity not only to showcase his physical abilities, but also to learn from the players around him as he prepared for the next stage of his career. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2039539755889959301?s=20 Now in his fourth WHL season, Paupanekis is continuing his development with the Kelowna Rockets after being acquired from Spokane in a major trade. While leaving Spokane marked the end of an important chapter, he views both organizations as key parts of his growth. “Spokane was a really good time for me,” he said. “They helped me get to where I am right now.” In Kelowna, the opportunity carries added significance. As hosts of the 2026 Memorial Cup, the Rockets are preparing for one of the biggest events in Canadian junior hockey — an experience Paupanekis is eager to embrace. “We’re just super excited to get this Memorial Cup going and hopefully win it for Kelowna,” he said. On the ice, Paupanekis’ game continues to evolve around the strengths that first made him stand out: size, puck protection, and physical play along the boards. He takes pride in winning battles in the corners and using his frame effectively, skills he believes will be essential as he continues working toward the NHL. “Handling pucks and protecting pucks is going to be a huge thing for me going into the future,” he explained. But beyond the physical tools, it is his mindset that continues to define his path forward. For Paupanekis, success is built on consistency, effort, and continual growth — values he now hopes younger players can learn from as they pursue their own dreams. “Whatever you put your mind to in life, you just have to work your hardest,” he said. “And have a growth mindset.” https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1978673298683687024 It is a philosophy that has carried Hayden Paupanekis from the outdoor rinks of Winnipeg to the NHL Draft stage — and one that continues to drive him toward the next chapter of his hockey journey. As part of the CHL’s continued efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the sport of hockey, the CHL and its Member Leagues (WHL, OHL, and QMJHL) continue working alongside Dean Barnes and his My Hockey Hero podcast to share the stories of Indigenous and racialized players while highlighting the impact that people of colour continue to make at every level of the game. To view clips from various episodes and guests on the My Hockey Hero podcast, follow the show on Instagram at @myhockeyhero_. To see some of the unique hockey cards from Barnes’ extensive collection, follow @diversityhcokeycards . You can also visit My Hockey Hero.com for more information on Dean Barnes, the podcast, and more.