2026 NHL Draft-eligible forward Molgachev named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Calgary Hitmen forward Andrei Molgachev has been named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, January 25.
It’s the second time he’s earned the weekly award in 2025-26.
The 2026 NHL Draft-eligible centreman potted three goals and two assists for five points in three games as the Hitmen went 2-1-0-0 this past week.
Calgary was in tough in a tilt against the Central Division-leading Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday, January 20. With the reigning Ed Chynoweth Cup winners up 4-1in the third period, Molgachev cut the deficit to two with a wicked shot from the left faceoff dot on the powerplay. The goal sparked a comeback attempt from the visitors, though the Hitmen would fall 4-3.
Molgachev got his team back in the win column on Friday, January 23, by tagging the Red Deer Rebels with a 5-1 loss. With the match locked at 1-1 in the first period, the Magnitogorsk, Rus., product went back to work on the man advantage and showed off his wicked release with a near-identical tally to the one he scored against the Tigers. Molgachev’s 17th goal of the season would stand as the game-winner as the Hitmen cruised to the win.
The 5-foot-9, 181-pound centreman showed off his general side with a goal and two assists as Calgary doubled up the Regina Pats to cap off the week on Saturday, January 24. The Hitmen were in the driver’s seat with a 3-1 lead in the second period when Molgachev created a juicy rebound with a long shot on net, with winger Cain Wilke in prime position to hammer home a one-timer. The 17-year-old had another assist on a scramble play that saw Calder Hamilton find paydirt, and Molgachev put a bow on a stellar week with an empty-net goal.
Molgachev has amassed 18 goals (including three game-winners) and 19 assists for 37 points in 37 outings with the Hitmen since being selected with the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 CHL Import Draft. He ranks third in goals and points in Calgary while sitting fourth in goals and sixth in points among all WHL rookies. He’s also piled up 306 faceoff wins with an impressive 59.6% success rate at the dot.
Considered a promising prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, Molgachev is ranked 199th among all North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm player rankings.
Calgary (24-12-6-1) is 6-2-2-0 in its last 10 games to sit third in the Central Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Hitmen will face a major test as they host the Edmonton Oil Kings (31-9-3-2) at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday, January 28, at 7:00 p.m. MST.
Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week
September 22, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
September 29, 2025: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
October 6, 2025: Jacob Kvasnicka, Penticton Vees
October 14, 2025: Carter Casey, Medicine Hat Tigers
October 20, 2025: Andrei Molgachev, Calgary Hitmen
October 27, 2025: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 3, 2025: Dylan Dean, Edmonton Oil Kings
November 10, 2025: Kale Dach, Calgary Hitmen
November 17, 2024: Brock England, Seattle Thunderbirds
November 24, 2025: Colt Carter, Moose Jaw Warriors
December 1, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
December 8, 2025: Boston Tait, Wenatchee Wild
December 15, 2025: Tyson Moss, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 22, 2025: Ludovic Perreault, Victoria Royals
December 29, 2025: Mason Kraft, Wenatchee Wild
January 5, 2026: Jacob Kvasnicka, Penticton Vees
January 12, 2026: Jacob Kvasnicka, Penticton Vees
January 19, 2026: Prabh Bhathal, Brandon Wheat Kings
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships, with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
