The Cats will start with 3 road games, then play their Home Opener Saturday, September 26 vs the Islanders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Cats will start with 3 road games, then play their Home Opener Saturday, September 26 vs the Islanders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":58383,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[256],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-58378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-link","category-256","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/06\/17134124\/sked-release-news-1.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/109"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":58369,"date":"2026-06-15T19:40:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:40:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/?p=58369"},"modified":"2026-06-15T21:47:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T21:47:36","slug":"wildcat-tommy-bleyl-earns-rookie-of-the-year-at-the-2026-chl-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-wildcats\/article\/wildcat-tommy-bleyl-earns-rookie-of-the-year-at-the-2026-chl-awards","title":{"rendered":"Wildcat Tommy Bleyl earns Rookie of the Year at the 2026 CHL Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is proud to unveil its 2025-26 award winners, headlined by Anaheim Ducks prospect <\/span>Maxim Mass\u00e9<\/b><\/a> of the Chicoutimi Saguen\u00e9ens (QMJHL), who was named the CHL David Branch Player of the Year at a ceremony held Monday in downtown Toronto.<\/span><\/p>\n With the honour, Mass\u00e9 becomes just the sixth player in CHL history to win both CHL Rookie of the Year and the CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award over the course of his career, joining Sidney Crosby (Rimouski Oc\u00e9anic \/ QMJHL), John Tavares (Oshawa Generals \/ OHL), Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters \/ OHL), Alexis Lafreni\u00e8re (Rimouski Oc\u00e9anic \/ QMJHL), and Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers \/ WHL). The 19-year-old from Rimouski, Que., previously earned CHL Rookie of the Year honours in 2022-23 before capturing the QMJHL\u2019s Michel-Bri\u00e8re Trophy as league MVP this season.<\/span><\/p>\n Mass\u00e9 is also the second Chicoutimi Saguen\u00e9ens player to win the CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award, joining Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who earned the honour in 2001-02. He becomes the first QMJHL player to capture the CHL\u2019s top individual award since Lafreni\u00e8re won it in back-to-back seasons with the Rimouski Oc\u00e9anic in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The Anaheim Ducks prospect finished the 2025-26 campaign with 102 points, including 51 goals and 51 assists, in 63 games, helping lead Chicoutimi to its first QMJHL Championship title in 32 years.<\/span><\/p>\n Among the other notable winners was a pair of Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) standouts in 2026 NHL Draft prospect <\/span>Markus Ruck<\/b><\/a> and Montreal Canadiens prospect <\/span>Bryce Pickford<\/b><\/a>. Ruck was named the CHL\u2019s Top Scorer after leading the league with 108 points (21G-87A), while Pickford earned CHL Defenceman of the Year honours after producing one of the most prolific goal-scoring seasons ever by a CHL and WHL blueliner, tallying 45 goals in 55 games.<\/span><\/p>\n Another historic winner was Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) defenceman <\/span>Tommy Bleyl<\/b><\/a><\/span>,<\/span> who was named CHL Rookie of the Year following a record-setting season in the QMJHL. The 2026 NHL Draft prospect became just the fourth defenceman to earn the honour, joining Philippe Boucher (Granby Bisons \/ QMJHL, 1990-91), Bryan Berard (Detroit Jr. Red Wings \/ OHL, 1994-95), and Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips \/ WHL, 2024-25). With Bleyl following DuPont, it also marked the first time in CHL history that defencemen won CHL Rookie of the Year in consecutive seasons. Bleyl set a new QMJHL record for points by a rookie defenceman with 81, surpassing a mark that had stood since 1978.<\/span><\/p>\n The 2026 CHL Awards also saw Everett Silvertips (WHL) head coach <\/span>Steve Hamilton<\/b> earn the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award after leading Everett to the best regular season in franchise history, a 57-8-2-1 record for 117 points, along with the club\u2019s first WHL Championship, first Memorial Cup appearance, and first Memorial Cup Final. Hamilton became the first Silvertips head coach to win the CHL\u2019s Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award.<\/span><\/p>\n Ryder Fetterolf<\/b><\/a> of the Ottawa 67\u2019s (OHL) also made history Monday by earning CHL Goaltender of the Year honours following a record-setting rookie season in the OHL. The 2026 NHL Draft prospect became the first Ottawa 67\u2019s player to win the CHL Goaltender of the Year Award, as well as just the second rookie or first-year CHL netminder \u2014 and the first in 31 years \u2014 to capture the honour, joining Martin Biron of the Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL), who won it in 1994-95. Fetterolf led the CHL with a 2.07 goals-against average and .923 save percentage, while his six shutouts set a new OHL record for the most by a rookie goaltender in a single season.<\/span><\/p>\n Other award winners announced Monday included <\/span>Chase Reid<\/b><\/a> of the Soo Greyhounds (OHL) as the CHL Top Draft Prospect, <\/span>Cole Beaudoin<\/b><\/a> of the Barrie Colts (OHL) as CHL Sportsman Player of the Year, <\/span>Alex Weiermair<\/b><\/a> of the Portland Winterhawks (WHL) as CHL Scholastic Player of the Year, and <\/span>Marcus Kearsey<\/b><\/a> of the Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) as CHL Humanitarian of the Year.<\/span><\/p>\n Kearsey<\/b><\/a>\u2019s honour also continues a remarkable run of community leadership from the Charlottetown Islanders. With his recognition Monday, the Islanders become the first club in CHL history to win the CHL Humanitarian of the Year Award in consecutive seasons, following Maxwell Jardine\u2019s 2024-25 victory. Charlottetown has now produced the QMJHL finalist for the honour in four of the last five seasons \u2014 including each of the last three \u2014 further underscoring the Islanders\u2019 sustained commitment to making an impact beyond the rink.<\/span><\/p>\n Presented annually, the CHL Awards celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of players and coaches from across the CHL, with 10 trophies presented based on individual performances, leadership, community impact, academic achievement, and contributions to team success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For more information on each award and its three finalists, please visit <\/span>chl.ca\/tag\/chl-awards<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n David Branch Player of the Year Award\u00a0<\/b><\/a> The CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award is given out annually to the player judged to be the most outstanding in the Canadian Hockey League. Formerly known as the CHL Player of the Year Award, the trophy was renamed in 2019-20 in honour of David Branch, who served as OHL Commissioner from 1979-2024 and CHL President from 1996-2019.<\/span><\/p>\n Maxim Mass\u00e9 of the Chicoutimi Saguen\u00e9ens (QMJHL) earned the honour after being named the QMJHL\u2019s Most Valuable Player and capturing the first scoring title of his QMJHL career. The Anaheim Ducks prospect recorded 102 points, including 51 goals and 51 assists, in 63 games, finishing six points ahead of Val-d\u2019Or Foreurs forward Philippe Veilleux in the QMJHL scoring race.<\/span><\/p>\n Mass\u00e9\u2019s 51 goals also tied for the CHL lead, while he was one of only two players across the CHL to surpass both the 50-goal and 100-point marks in 2025-26. He ranked second in the QMJHL with a plus-62 rating and eight game-winning goals, while his 1.62 points-per-game rate stood as the highest in the CHL among players who appeared in more than 60 games.<\/span><\/p>\n The third-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2024 NHL Draft becomes just the sixth player in CHL history to win both CHL Rookie of the Year and CHL David Branch Player of the Year over the course of his career, joining Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Alex DeBrincat, Alexis Lafreni\u00e8re, and Gavin McKenna.<\/span><\/p>\n Defenceman of the Year Award<\/b><\/a> The CHL Defenceman of the Year Award is given out annually to the top defenceman in the Canadian Hockey League. Bryce Pickford of the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) earned the honour after authoring one of the greatest goal-scoring seasons by a defenceman in modern CHL history.<\/span><\/p>\n The Montreal Canadiens prospect finished the 2025-26 season with 83 points, including 45 goals and 38 assists, along with a plus-55 rating in 55 games. His 45 goals were the most by a CHL defenceman in nearly 40 years, dating back to Greg Hawgood\u2019s 48-goal campaign in 1987-88, and the highest single-season total by a CHL blueliner in the 21st century.<\/span><\/p>\n Pickford was the only defenceman to finish among the CHL\u2019s top 10 goal scorers in 2025-26. His 45 goals were tied for second among WHL skaters, while his 19 power-play goals and 11 game-winning goals ranked tied for first in the CHL. The 20-year-old captain from Chauvin, Alta., also helped Medicine Hat claim a second consecutive Central Division title and was named to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team.<\/span><\/p>\n With the honour, Pickford becomes the second Medicine Hat Tigers player to win CHL Defenceman of the Year, joining Kris Russell, who earned the award in 2006-07.<\/span><\/p>\n Goaltender of the Year Award<\/b><\/a> The CHL Goaltender of the Year Award is given out annually to the top goaltender in the Canadian Hockey League. Ryder Fetterolf of the Ottawa 67\u2019s (OHL) earned the honour following a historic rookie season between the pipes.<\/span><\/p>\n Signed by Ottawa as an undrafted free agent last summer, Fetterolf quickly emerged as one of the OHL\u2019s top goaltenders, finishing the regular season with a 29-9-2-1 record, a franchise-record 2.07 goals-against average, and a CHL-leading .923 save percentage. His six shutouts also set a new OHL record for the most by a rookie goaltender in a single season.<\/span><\/p>\n The 18-year-old from Sewickley, Pa., led the CHL in both goals-against average and save percentage, while his 2.07 goals-against average stands as the fifth-lowest single-season mark by an OHL goaltender in league history. He also shared the Dave Pinkney Trophy with Jaeden Nelson as the OHL\u2019s lowest goals-against tandem and received the F.W. \u201cDinty\u201d Moore Trophy as the rookie goaltender with the league\u2019s lowest goals-against average.<\/span><\/p>\n Fetterolf becomes the first Ottawa 67\u2019s player to win the CHL Goaltender of the Year Award. He is also just the second rookie or first-year CHL goaltender to capture the honour, and the first in 31 years, following Martin Biron of the Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) in 1994-95. Fetterolf also becomes just the third American-born netminder to win the award, joining Michael Houser of the London Knights (OHL), who earned the honour in 2011-12, and Dustin Wolf of the Everett Silvertips (WHL), who captured it in 2019-20.<\/span><\/p>\n Rookie of the Year Award<\/b><\/a><\/span> The CHL Rookie of the Year Award is given out annually to the top rookie in the Canadian Hockey League. Tommy Bleyl of the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) earned the honour after a record-setting debut season from the blue line.<\/span><\/p>\n The 2026 NHL Draft prospect finished second among all QMJHL rookies with 81 points in 63 games, setting a new league record for points by a rookie defenceman. The previous mark of 77 points had stood since 1978 and was held by Gaston Therrien. Bleyl\u2019s 68 assists led the entire QMJHL, regardless of position, and stand as the highest single-season total by a CHL rookie defenceman in the 21st century.<\/span><\/p>\n Bleyl also became only the second player in QMJHL history to win both the Sidney-Crosby Trophy as Rookie of the Year and the \u00c9mile-Bouchard Trophy as Defenceman of the Year in the same season, joining Dmitry Kulikov, who accomplished the feat with the Drummondville Voltigeurs in 2008-09. He also captured the Raymond-Lagac\u00e9 Trophy as Defensive Rookie of the Year.<\/span><\/p>\n With the CHL honour, Bleyl becomes just the fourth defenceman to be named CHL Rookie of the Year, joining Philippe Boucher, Bryan Berard, and Landon DuPont, who captured the award last season. He is also the first Moncton Wildcats player to win the award and the sixth American to receive CHL Rookie of the Year honours, joining Patrick Kane of the London Knights (OHL), Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters (OHL), David Legwand of the Plymouth Whalers (OHL), Bryan Berard of the Detroit Jr. Red Wings (OHL), and Patrick O\u2019Sullivan of the Mississauga IceDogs (OHL).<\/span><\/p>\n Top Scorer Award<\/b><\/a> The CHL Top Scorer Award is given out annually to the highest-scoring player in the Canadian Hockey League. It was first awarded in 1994. Markus Ruck of the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) captured the honour after leading the WHL and the entire CHL with 108 points during the 2025-26 season.<\/span><\/p>\n The 18-year-old from Osoyoos, B.C., recorded 21 goals and a CHL-best 87 assists while posting a plus-45 rating in 68 games. His exceptional vision and playmaking ability helped drive a Medicine Hat team that led the WHL in goals, owned the league\u2019s top power play, and finished atop the Central Division.<\/span><\/p>\n Ruck\u2019s twin brother, Liam, finished second in both the WHL and CHL scoring races with 104 points, making Markus and Liam the first siblings in CHL history to finish first and second in league scoring in the same season. They also became the first brothers ever to place 1-2 in scoring within a CHL Member League.<\/span><\/p>\n The 2026 NHL Draft prospect became the first Medicine Hat skater since Linden Vey in 2010-11 to lead the CHL in scoring and just the second Tigers player to win the CHL Top Scorer Award. Ruck was held off the scoresheet just 12 times all season and recorded at least three points in a game on 11 occasions.<\/span><\/p>\n Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award<\/b><\/a> Named in recognition of former Ottawa 67\u2019s head coach and CHL all-time wins leader Brian Kilrea, the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award is presented annually to the Canadian Hockey League\u2019s top coach.<\/span><\/p>\n Steve Hamilton of the Everett Silvertips (WHL) earned the honour after guiding Everett through the best season in franchise history. In just his second season with the Silvertips, Hamilton led the club to a 57-8-2-1 record and 117 points, helping Everett capture a second straight Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL regular-season champions.<\/span><\/p>\n Everett\u2019s 57 wins and 117 points both set franchise records, while the Silvertips\u2019 .860 points percentage ranked seventh all-time in CHL history among teams that played at least 50 games. The club was one of the CHL\u2019s most complete teams, finishing third in the WHL with 304 goals for while allowing just 173 goals against, the second-fewest in the league.<\/span><\/p>\n Hamilton\u2019s season continued into a historic postseason run, as Everett went 16-2 through the WHL Playoffs to capture the first Ed Chynoweth Cup title in franchise history. The Silvertips then made their first Memorial Cup appearance, recorded their first Memorial Cup win and shutout, and advanced to their first Memorial Cup Final. Hamilton becomes the first Silvertips coach to capture the CHL Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award.<\/span><\/p>\n Top Draft Prospect Award<\/b><\/a>
\nWinner \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Maxim Mass\u00e9<\/i><\/b><\/a> (Chicoutimi Saguen\u00e9ens \/ QMJHL)<\/i><\/b>
\nNominees<\/i><\/b> \u2013 <\/span><\/i>Bryce Pickford<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Medicine Hat Tigers \/ WHL) & <\/span><\/i>Sam O\u2019Reilly<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Kitchener Rangers \/ OHL)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
\nWinner \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Bryce Pickford<\/i><\/b><\/a> (Medicine Hat Tigers \/ WHL)<\/i><\/b>
\nNominees<\/i><\/b> \u2013 <\/span><\/i>Kashawn Aitcheson<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Barrie Colts \/ OHL) & <\/span><\/i>Tommy Bleyl<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Moncton Wildcats \/ QMJHL)<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
\nWinner \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Ryder Fetterolf<\/i><\/b><\/a> (Ottawa 67\u2019s \/ OHL)<\/i><\/b>
\nNominees<\/i><\/b> \u2013 <\/span><\/i>Joshua Ravensbergen<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Prince George Cougars \/ WHL) & <\/span><\/i>Rudy Guimond<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Moncton Wildcats \/ QMJHL)<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
\nWinner \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Tommy Bleyl<\/i><\/b><\/a> (Moncton Wildcats \/ QMJHL)<\/i><\/b><\/span>
\nNominees<\/i><\/b> \u2013 <\/span><\/i>JP Hurlbert<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Kamloops Blazers \/ WHL) & <\/span><\/i>Nikita Klepov<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Saginaw Spirit \/ OHL)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
\nWinner \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Markus Ruck<\/i><\/b><\/a> (Medicine Hat Tigers \/ WHL)<\/i><\/b>
\nNominees<\/i><\/b> \u2013 <\/span><\/i>Nikita Klepov<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Saginaw Spirit \/ OHL) & <\/span><\/i>Maxim Mass\u00e9<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Chicoutimi Saguen\u00e9ens \/ QMJHL)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
\nWinner \u2013 Steve Hamilton (Everett Silvertips \/ WHL)<\/i><\/b>
\nNominees<\/i><\/b> \u2013 Dave Cameron (Ottawa 67\u2019s \/ OHL) & Sylvain Favreau (Drummondville Voltigeurs \/ QMJHL)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
\nWinner \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Chase Reid<\/i><\/b><\/a> (Soo Greyhounds \/ OHL)<\/i><\/b>
\nNominees<\/i><\/b> \u2013 <\/span><\/i>