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Rebels stock up at new-look WHL Prospects Draft

Troy Gillard — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:37:29 +0000

By DANNY RODE - There was a major change in the WHL Prospects Draft this week, one that the Red Deer Rebels took advantage of. With the U.S. Priority Draft now merged with the WHL Prospects Draft, the Rebels selected four Americans out of their 10 total selections. “This is a first for me in my 30 years in the league,” said Rebels Director of Player Personnel Jamie Novakoski. “I think we had a good draft with the Americans coming in. I think we got some guys later because of it. With the NCAA rule changes there are more guys wanting to come into the league.” “It made it more interesting,” added Rebels Director of U.S. Scouting Chase Fuchs. “It’s a little more adventurist ... a little more fun to see where certain guys are going to go. There is still the National team (USNTD) risk so we’re trying to figure out where guys are going to go and trying to figure out if you’re willing to take a little risk in recruiting them.” Six-foot, 160-pounds forward Charlie Pohl from Woodbury, MN, who played for the Woodbury Bantam AA program, was the first American selected by the Rebels in the fifth round, 98^th overall. Pohl looks to have a high offensive side. He scored 65 goals and added 72 assists for 132 points in 65 games last season. “He’s a bigger body but you don’t get 130 points in bantam by accident,” said Fuchs. “He’s very talented but can bring a physical aspect to his game as well.” The other trio of Americans were selected with the Rebels final three picks all in the seventh round. While they more than pleased with the U.S. side of the draft they were equally as happy with their first overall selection – Danny Ramazanov, a five-foot-nine, 150-pound forward from the NAX U15 Prep team. Ramazanov is a native of Kazakhstan, whose family moved to Saskatoon when he was nine. “We moved to Canada to play hockey,” he said in an interview with Rebels Director of Broadcast and Communications Troy Gillard. He indicated his parents made the move to benefit the growth of himself and his older brother. Both of his parents played hockey and were involved in coaching. His dad, Ilyas Ramazanov, played for Kazakhstan’s national junior team in 2009-10. Ramazanov moved to Devon, AB to join the NAX program last year and finished the 29 game schedule with 26 goals and 32 assists in the CSSHL U15 Prep circuit. “He is a very skilled, solid player,” said Novakoski. “He’s an exciting player with the ability to score highlight reel goals and also make plays at very, very high speed. He makes everyone around him better and is very competitive for an average size guy. “He likes to go into the dirty areas and do whatever it takes to score a huge goal.” Part of that comes from the fact he trains as a boxer. Like in a lot of cases Novakoski indicated “We had him ranked higher than where we took him. “He brings a level of excitement only a certain number of kids do in the draft. We anticipate him to be a top six forward and score some big goals for us down the road.” Ramazanov is just part of what the team was looking for in the draft. “The first thing we wanted to do was add some skill and add guys who could play with pace which you need nowadays. Size isn’t such a huge thing as the game has changed a little bit, but you still do need to balance that out with size. You can’t go too small or too big and we did just that this year. We have good speed and some length guys near the end.” Those guys near the end are the Americans Carter Crowley, Blake Schmitt and Brando Duncan, who were selected 144^th, 146^th and 147^th respectively. Both Crowley and Schmitt played for the highly regarded Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U AAA program. Crowley (five-foot-six, 125 pounds from Faribault, MN) had 17 goals and 50 assists in 59 games last season while Schmitt (six-foot-three, 165-pounds from Edina, MN) had 27 goals and 35 helpers in 59 games. Duncan (five-foot-11,160-pounds from Irving, TX) played with the Dallas Stars Elite U14 AAA squad where he had 19 goals and 31 assists in 51 games and 89 minutes in penalties. “Blake is six-three or four and gives us some length,” said Fuchs. “Carter and Brando are both kids who need a little physical development but are very good players who we look forward to being here.” Fuchs likes what he sees from not only the Americans but the Canadians as well. “The guys all compliment each other in a certain way. We were able to fill a lot of the organizational needs and with the best players available too. Overall, it was a very good draft.” One thing Fuchs liked was the fact the American kids come from good programs. “Shattuck St. Mary’s has had a long line of success and to get a couple of kids out of there and come in they know how to win and have been playing fora championship every year. It’s a winning culture which is important as they know how to do things the right way. As well Woodbury was a top five team in the State and played for the State championship and the Dallas program is one of the preeminent clubs in the U.S.” The other selections for the Rebels were: R3, 48th: Keyn Lindberg, D, 5’10” 160lbs, Calgary, Edge School (29GP,5G, 18A, 23Pts, 40PIM) “He’s one of the harder hitters in the league. Good puck skills and we see some growth as well” – Novakoski. R4, 71st: Connor Baines, F, 6’0”, 160lbs, Maple Ridge, B.C., Yale Academy U15 Prep (59GP, 17G, 50A, 67 Pts, 34 MIP) “From a really good team, He’s the straw that stirs the drink. He can fly. We’re excited he ended up where he did.” - Fuchs. R4, 72nd: Parker Bleich, D, 6’0”, 165lbs, Nipawin, SK, North East Wolfpack U15 AA (27GP, 12G, 18A, 30Pts, 48PIM) He also played eight games with the Tisdale U18 AAA team where he had a goal and three assists “A good farm boy. A stay-at-home defenceman. There’s nothing tansy but not easy to play against, Very responsible defensively, Can see him adding an inch or two and will be a solid player for a long time” - Novakoski. R6 121: Kash Andersen, G, 6’1”, 155 lbs, Wainwright, NAX U15 Prep (15 GP, 2.83 GAA, .908 save percentage, 11-1-2 record) “His game really took off from the start of the season to now, He didn’t face a lot of rubber early but toward the end of the season started to see more rubber and played real well. He always gave them a chance to win.” - Novakoski. R6, 127: Madden Atkinson, D, 6’1”, 165 lbs, Swan River, MB, Parkland Rangers U15 AAA (24GP, 8G, 18A, 26Pts, 18 PIM) “Another late bloomer. He’s a tall lanky kid just growing into his body, Again, a stay-at-home guy who takes care of his own end. Limited offensively but we have that in Lindberg.” - Novakoski.

Rebels make 10 picks at 2026 WHL Prospects Draft

Troy Gillard — Thu, 07 May 2026 21:03:56 +0000

RED DEER – The Red Deer Rebels have made 10 picks at the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. The group of 2011-born players features six forwards, three defencemen, and one goaltender.

Rd	Pick	Name	Position	Ht	Wt	Hometown	Last Team
1	17	Danny Ramazanov	Forward	5’9	150	Saskatoon, SK	NAX U15 Prep
3	48	Keyn Lindberg	Defence	5’10	160	Calgary, AB	Edge School U15 Prep
4	71	Connor Baines	Forward	6’0	160	Maple Ridge, BC	Yale Academy U15 Prep
4	72	Parker Bleich	Defence	6’0	165	Nipawin, SK	North East Wolfpack U15 AA
5	98	Charlie Pohl	Forward	6’0	170	Woodbury, MN	Woodbury Bantam AA
6	121	Kash Andersen	Goalie	6’1	155	Wainwright, AB	NAX U15 Prep (CSSHL)
6	127	Madden Atkinson	Defence,	6’1	165	Swan River, MB	Parkland Rangers U15 AAA
7	144	Carter Crowley	Forward	5’6	125	Faribault, MN	Shattuck St. Mary's 14U AAA
7	146	Blake Schmitt	Forward	6’3	165	Edina, MN	Shattuck St. Mary's 14U AAA
7	147	Brando Duncan	Forward	5’11	160	Irving, TX	Dallas Stars Elite U14 AAA

Eligible players for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft are 2011-born players who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Players not selected in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter. Complete draft results are available at whl.ca.

Rebels select forward Danny Ramazanov with first pick at 2026 WHL Prospects Draft

Troy Gillard — Thu, 07 May 2026 02:13:52 +0000

RED DEER – The Red Deer Rebels have selected forward Danel (Danny) Ramazonov with the 17^th overall pick in round one of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. Ramazanov led the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) U15 Prep in scoring this season with 26 goals and 58 points in 29 games. He racked up eight points in six games at the prestigious John Reid Memorial tournament. Danny Ramazanov Forward Shoots: Left Height: 5’9 Weight: 155 Birthdate: Jul 22, 2011 Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Last Team: Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep Nationality: Kazakhstani

Rebels days away from adding talent in 2026 WHL Prospects Draft

Troy Gillard — Fri, 01 May 2026 19:35:19 +0000

We are now mere days away from an all-important event for the Red Deer Rebels and the other 22 teams across the Western Hockey League. The 2026 WHL Prospects Draft gets underway with round one on Wednesday (May 6) followed by the remaining rounds on Thursday. As of Friday, the Rebels head into the draft owning the following picks in rounds 1-10… ROUND/PICK 1-17^th overall (from Kelowna via Moose Jaw) 3-48 4-71 (from Swift Current via Moose Jaw) 4-72 (from Vancouver via Kamloops) 5-98 6-121 6-127 (from Spokane via Kelowna) 7-144 7-146 (from Regina) 7-147 (from Victoria) 8-167 9-190 10-213 As the Rebels get set to welcome a new crop of draft picks into the organization, here’s a look back at last year's picks and how they fared in 2025-26… Nolan Wolitski – Defence – Round 1, Pick 7 (signed) The big six-foot-three, 180-pound St. Albert, AB resident posted 15 points in 27 games for Northern Alberta Xtreme U18 Prep (CSSHL). He added one point in seven playoff games and played for Team Alberta at the 2025 WHL Cup at the Marchant Crane Centrium. A dual Canada/USA citizen who grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wolitski joined the Rebels as an Affiliate Player for the 2026 WHL Playoffs. Chace Turchak – Forward – Round 2, Pick 30 (signed) The 5’11, 180-pound forward had a great season for his hometown Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA (AEHL) in posting 45 points (13 goals, 32 assists) in 36 games. He followed that up with six points in four playoff tilts. Turchak also played for Alberta at the WHL Cup (1 goal, 1 assist in 5 games). He appeared in four regular season games with the Rebels and was on the club’s playoff roster as an AP. Owen Archer – Defence – Round 2, Pick 32 (signed) Unfortunately, Archer has his 2025-26 season cut short due to injury. He played just seven games for the St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA (AEHL), picking up four points, then played for Alberta at the WHL Cup before missing the rest of the year. The six-foot-one, 200-pound blue liner brings an imposing presence after racking up 68 penalty minutes in just 19 games in his U15 AAA season in 2024-25. Chase Nielson – Goaltender – Round 3, Pick 56 It was an outstanding season for the six-foot-one netminder from Fort McLeod, AB. Nielson posted a 12-5-1 record, 3.13 GAA and .913 save percentage for Southern Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA) U17 Prep (CSSHL). He also appeared in two games for SAHA U18 Prep going 1-0-0 with a 1.31 GAA and .944 save percentage. In three games for Alberta at the WHL Cup he went 2-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .918 save percentage. Neilson was named the CSSHL U17 Prep Top Goaltender and to the First All-Star Team. https://twitter.com/SAHockeyAcademy/status/2047443758023848160 Dylan Russell – Forward – Round 4, Pick 76 The Winnipeg native was captain for gold medal winning Team Manitoba at the 2025 WHL Cup, collecting four points in five games along the way. The gritty six-foot-one, 185-pound forward had 14 points and 71 penalty minutes this season for RINK HA Winnipeg U18 Prep. Russell played four games for the Portage Terriers of the MJHL, scoring two goals. Denys Lupandin – Defence – Round 5, Pick 99 From Saskatoon via Ukraine (his dad Ondrei Lupandin played for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the mid-1990s), Denys played for Ukraine at the recent IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division I, Group A tournament in Poland, helping his team to a bronze medal while earning one assist in five games. The five-foot-ten, 180-pound defenceman nine points and 47 penalty minutes in 43 games for the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA in 2025-26. Sawyer Holmes – Forward – Round 5, Pick 106 Playing for his hometown Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue U18 AAA, Holmes had 23 points in 37 games, highlighted by a hat trick October 29 versus St. Albert. He added five points in 11 playoff tilts to help the club to a provincial title win. The five-foot-ten, 141-pound forward had three points in four games at the Circle K Classic tournament in Calgary. Soren Saumweber – Forward – Round 6, Pick 122 The Minnesota native played for three different teams in 2025-26. In 26 games for Cretin-Derham Hall of the state’s high school league, he collected 22 points and 47 penalty minutes. He picked up 22 points for the MN Canes 15U AAA (MNBEL 15U) and 14 points for Blue Army in the Prep Elite League (PEL). Saumweber is currently listed at five-foot-ten and 155 pounds. Bronx Becker – Forward – Round 8, Pick 168 The Saskatoon, SK native represented his province at the 2025 WHL Cup in Red Deer and had nine points in 44 games with the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA. The six-foot, 170-pound forward also had 42 penalty minutes. Ryan Overskei – Defence – Round 9, Pick 191 A big body who checks in at six-foot-five and 205 pounds, the Maple Grove, Minnesota native had nine points in 26 games for Totino-Grace High. He also played for Team Minnesota U16 at the Minnesota Hockey Festival. Andrew Nordstrom – Forward – Round 10, Pick 214 The Beaumont, Alberta native recorded 10 points in 33 games for the Leduc Oil Kings U18 AAA. === The Rebels also selected two players at least year’s WHL U.S. Priority Draft, which is not being held this year as American-born players are now eligible for the WHL Prospects Draft. Eli Bimmerle – Forward – Round 1, Pick 6 A highly regarded forward despite his small stature (five-foot-nine, 146 pounds), the Bartonville, Texas native piled up 59 points in 49 games for Dallas Stars Elite 16U AAA. At US 16U Nationals he had five points in four games. Bimmerle also took part in the USA Hockey Boys Select 15 Player Development Camp and recently earned an invitation to the USA NTDP Hockey Evaluation Camp. Paxson Madill – Forward – Round 2, Pick 42 Hailing from Hermantown, Minnesota, the small (five-foot-five, 120 pounds) yet speedy forward racked up 34 points in 27 games in the Minnesota high school league. Madill also had 25 points for the Prep Elite League (PEL) North Stars.

Hamilton scores twice, Canada blanks Finland at 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship

Troy Gillard — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:50:31 +0000

Trencin, Slovakia- After suffering a 2-1 upset at the hands of host Slovakia in their opening match, Canada has stormed back with three straight shutout wins at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship. The Western Hockey League contingent combined for nine points to blank Finland 7-0 on Monday morning. Beckett Hamilton and Mathis Preston each scored twice, while Ryan Lin led the way with a goal and two assists. Lin (Richmond, B.C. / Vancouver Giants) and former Victoria Royals star Keaton Verhoeff teed up Adam Valentini for the game's opening goal just over two minutes into the match. The dynamic defenders are ranked 16th and fourth, respectively, among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its final release ahead of the 2026 Draft. Hamilton (Saskatoon, Sask. / Red Deer Rebels) doubled the lead just past the halfway mark of the first period by collecting his own rebound off a shot in the slot, carrying the puck behind the net and banking it in off the Finnish goaltender. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2048741694972027002 Lin's Giants teammate, Mathis Preston (Penticton, B.C. / NHL CSS: 32), made it a 3-0 game by wheeling up the left wing and wiring a shot through traffic to the top shelf. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2048744633346277632 Hamilton, who is ranked 33rd among all NA skaters, closed out the period with his second goal of the night and third of the tournament, courtesy of a pretty setup from Lin. Lin picked off an attempted Finnish breakout pass in their own zone and barreled in on the net before feeding Hamilton for a low shot at the last moment. Hamilton now has three goals for Canada in his first turn representing his country on the IIHF stage. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2048745751610552724 With Canada holding a 4-0 lead entering the third period, Preston amped it up with a one-timer from inside the faceoff dot off a Verhoeff setup for his second strike of the night. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2048765377400754190 Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit / OHL) bagged his tournament-leading fifth goal as the game marched on, and Lin capped off a standout night with a wraparound to make it a 7-0 game. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2048767511760429397 Canada's 3-0-0-1 and 22:2 goals for/against split has the reigning gold medalists sitting first in Group A for the time being, and will await the conclusion of Slovakia's final preliminary round game before meeting their first playoff opponent. (Cami Kepke)

Hamilton, Kamas to play at 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship

Troy Gillard — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:03:35 +0000

RED DEER - Two members of the Red Deer Rebels are set to represent their countries at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship in Slovakia. Forward Beckett Hamilton has been named to Canada's final roster for the tournament, while defenceman Jiří Kamas will play for Czechia. Hamilton (Humboldt, SK) led the Rebels with 62 points in 67 games in 2025-26 and was named the club’s Most Valuable Player. He took part in the WHL Prospects Game in February. He is making his Hockey Canada Program of Excellence debut. Kamas (Plzeň, Chechia) joined the Rebels through a trade from the Penticton Vees on January 8 and posted seven points in 32 games. He previously played for Czechia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and World U17 Hockey Challenge. Rebels athletic therapist Terence Robertson is part of Team Canada's staff for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. It's fourth international event and second-straight U18 Men’s World Championship. The tournament goes April 22-May 2 in Bratislava and Trencin, Slovakia. Canada opens play on Wednesday, April 22, facing Slovakia at 10 a.m. MT. Canada will also play Latvia (April 23), Norway (April 25) and Finland (April 27) in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 2. Czechia plays USA on Wednesday and will also take on Sweden (April 23), Germany (April 25) and Denmark (April 26).

Former Rebels star Nugent-Hopkins nominated for NHL’s King Clancy Memorial Trophy

Troy Gillard — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:45:34 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – Former Red Deer Rebels star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, now of the Edmonton Oilers, has been named a finalist for the NHL’s King Clancy Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.

The nominees were selected by their respective NHL teams. The winner will be chosen by a selection committee consisting of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as well as former winners of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and the historic NHL Foundation Player Award.

The nominee with the most votes will be named the winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and receive a $25,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice. The winner will also be eligible to elect that his Club receive a grant from the NHL, up to $20,000, to help organize a special activation related to his humanitarian cause.

Nugent-Hopkins, 33, has been deeply involved in the community, with a particular focus and effort placed on fundraising and awareness for cystic fibrosis, serving for nine years as the honourary chair of the Face Off with CF Gala in Edmonton.

On June 20, 2025, Nugent-Hopkins was presented with the King Charles III Coronation Medal – a commemorative honour recognizing 30,000 Canadians for significant contributions to their community. Nugent-Hopkins was nominated for the special award by Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Over 15 NHL seasons – all with the Oilers – Nugent-Hopkins has appeared in 1,030 regular season games, amassing 803 points (290G-513A). The product of Burnaby, B.C., was selected by the Oilers first overall in the 2011 NHL Draft.

Prior to making his mark with the Oilers, Nugent-Hopkins was selected first overall by the Red Deer Rebels in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. Over 141 career WHL regular season contests, the 6-foot-1, 192-pound pivot registered 177 points (57G-120A) with the Rebels.

The 2009-10 season saw him take home the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL’s Rookie of the Year, after posting 65 points (24G-41A) in 67 games. He finished his WHL career with a 106-point season (31G-75A) in 2010-11, en route to going first overall in the 2011 NHL Draft and eventually making his NHL debut at the age of 18.

First presented following the 1987-88 NHL season, the King Clancy Memorial Trophy has been won by numerous WHL alumni over the years.

WHL Alumni to win King Clancy Memorial Trophy

1987-88: Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames (Medicine Hat Tigers) 1988-89: Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders (Swift Current / Lethbridge Broncos) 1996-97: Trevor Linden, Vancouver Canucks (Medicine Hat Tigers) 1997-98: Kelly Chase, St. Louis Blues (Saskatoon Blades) 2003-04: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames (Kamloops Blazers) 2005-06: Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals (Tri-City Americans) 2009-10: Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes (Kamloops Blazers) 2013-14: Andrew Ference, Edmonton Oilers (Portland Winterhawks) 2019-20: Mathew Dumba, Minnesota Wild (Red Deer Rebels, Portland Winterhawks) 2022-23: Mikael Backlund, Calgary Flames (Kelowna Rockets)

Four Rebels listed in NHL Central Scouting Final Draft Rankings

Troy Gillard — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:09:03 +0000

RED DEER – Four Red Deer Rebels players are listed in the NHL Central Scouting Final Draft Rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft. Beckett Hamilton (Forward, ’08) – 33^rd North American Skaters Cameron Kuzma (Forward, ’08) – 116^th Kalder Varga (Forward, ’08) – 122^nd Jiri Kamas (Defence, ’08) – 134^th Hamilton (Humboldt, SK) led the Rebels with 62 points in 67 games in 2025-26 and was named the club’s Most Valuable Player. He took part in the WHL Prospects Game in February, and this week was named to Canada’s preliminary roster for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. Kuzma (St. Albert, AB) posted 21 points in 34 games with the Rebels after he was acquired on January 2 via trade from the Seattle Thunderbirds. Varga (Geneva, Illinois) was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets on January 2 and went on to record 26 points in 34 games with the Rebels. Kamas (Plzeň, Chechia) joined the Rebels through a trade from the Penticton Vees on January 8 and posted seven points in 32 games. The 2026 NHL Draft takes place in Buffalo, N.Y. Round one goes Fryday, June 26 followed by rounds two to seven on Saturday, June 27.

Hamilton among nine WHL players named to Canada’s pre-tournament camp roster for 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship

Troy Gillard — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:09:17 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – Nine Western Hockey League players have been named to the pre-tournament camp roster for Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team ahead of the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, Hockey Canada announced Monday.

The WHL will be represented by two goaltenders, two defencemen, and five forwards on Canada’s pre-tournament roster. In total, Hockey Canada named three goaltenders, seven defencemen, and 13 forwards to the roster, which was selected by General Manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.) and Head Scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), with support from Director of Hockey Operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), Senior Vice-President of High Performance and Hockey Operations Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), and Coordinator of Hockey Operations Jared Power (Calgary, Alta.).

Seven WHL Clubs will be represented on Canada’s roster, with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Vancouver Giants both boasting two players. Also represented are the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Red Deer Rebels Regina Pats, Seattle Thunderbirds, and Spokane Chiefs.

Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team – Pre-Tournament Camp, WHL Players

Last Name	First Name	WHL Club	Hometown	Ht	Wt	Pos
Oaten	Leif	Lethbridge Hurricanes	Calgary, Alta.	6-3	194	G
Esler	Carter	Spokane Chiefs	Okotoks, Alta.	5-11	165	G
Lin	Ryan	Vancouver Giants	Richmond, B.C.	5-11	176	D
Pantelas	Giorgos	Brandon Wheat Kings	Victoria, B.C.	6-2	214	D
Preston	Mathis	Vancouver Giants	Penticton, B.C.	5-11	176	F
Lansard	Zach	Regina Pats	Ste. Anne, Man.	6-0	174	F
England	Brock	Seattle Thunderbirds	Red Deer, Alta.	5-11	174	F
Jacobson	Jaxon	Brandon Wheat Kings	Brandon, Man.	5-10	183	F
Hamilton	Beckett	Red Deer Rebels	Saskatoon, Sask.	5-11	172	F

Also named to the team is former Victoria Royals defenceman Keaton Verhoeff. Roster additions will be announced in the coming weeks following the conclusion of the second round of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) playoffs, while the final roster for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship will be announced prior to the start of the tournament.

Oaten appeared in 31 games with the Hurricanes this season, going 6-19-2-0. He won gold with Canada Red at the 2025 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Oaten was originally selected by Lethbridge in the third round (58th overall) of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft. He is eligible for the 2028 NHL Draft.

In his second season with the Chiefs, Esler went 24-18-1-0 with a 2.80 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and five shutouts in 44 appearances. Internationally, he most recently helped Canada to a bronze medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was named a finalist for the WHL’s Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually to the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year. Esler is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

Lin enjoyed a second consecutive campaign with 50+ points on the Giants blueline, registering 57 points (14G-43A) in 53 games. He represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and was also named to the roster for Team West at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass, but was unable to compete due to injury. Internationally, Lin most recently helped Canada claim bronze at the 20225 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was also a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Lin is listed 13th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

In his second season with the Wheat Kings, Pantelas posted career highs in goals (6), assists (31), and points (37), while taking to the ice for 68 regular season games. He represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and also competed for Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Internationally, Pantelas most recently represented Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, helping his nation to a bronze medal. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Pantelas is listed 58th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Preston registered 44 points (18G-26A) in 46 games split between the Giants and Spokane Chiefs this past season. He represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and was named to the roster for Team West at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass, but was unable to compete due to injury. Preston was a member of Canada’s bronze-medal squad at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, he is listed 24th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Lansard tallied 56 points (24G-32A) in 68 games in his second season with the Pats. He represented Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. He has yet to represent Canada on the international stage. Originally selected by the Pats in the fourth round (78th overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Lansard is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft and is listed 72nd among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

England impressed in his WHL rookie campaign, posting 51 points (21G-30A) in 64 games with the Thunderbirds. Internationally, he helped Canada Red claim gold at the 2025 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the first round (11th overall) of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, England is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

In his second WHL season, Jacobson excelled with the Wheat Kings, posting 85 points (25G-60A) in 63 games, earning a place on the WHL’s Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team. Internationally, Jacobson earned a silver medal with Canada Red at the 2024 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Originally selected by the Wheat Kings in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Jacobson is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

Recently named captain of the Rebels, Hamilton emerged with 62 points (24G-38A) in 67 games this past season. He represented Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Originally selected by the Rebels in the first round (18th overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Hamilton is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, listed 75th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings. He has yet to represent Canada on the international stage.

Verhoeff spent the 2025-26 campaign with the University of North Dakota following 75 games over two seasons with the Victoria Royals. From 2023-24 through 2024-25, the 6-foot-4, 212-pound right-shot defenceman tallied 47 points (21G-26A) as a member of the Royals. Most recently, he patrolled the blueline for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, bringing home a bronze medal. Verhoeff is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, listed second among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team will play two pre-tournament games, taking on Sweden at Ondrej Nepala Arena in Bratislava on April 17 and Czechia at the Pavol Demitra Ice Hockey Arena in Trencin on April 19. The 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship begins April 22, with Canada taking on Slovakia, Latvia, Norway, and Finland in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with medal games May 2.

For more information on the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, please visit IIHF.com.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca.

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.

Year-end interviews: Brent Sutter

Troy Gillard — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:28:48 +0000

Brent Sutter chats with reporters about the 2025-26 season and what's next for the Rebels