https://chl.ca/whl-royals/category/gallery/ Official Website of The Victoria Royals Hockey Club Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:26:37 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://media.chl.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/63/2024/09/25152040/cropped-Victoria-Royals-Logo-1-1-32x32.png https://chl.ca/whl-royals/category/gallery/ 32 32 https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/odin-vauhkonen-named-to-roster-for-the-2026-chl-usa-prospects-challenge-presented-by-primaris Thu, 12 Nov 2026 17:59:55 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/odin-vauhkonen-named-to-roster-for-the-2026-chl-usa-prospects-challenge-presented-by-primaris Odin Vauhkonen will represent the CHL as part of the 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Primaris.  
Vauhkonen ranks third in Western Hockey League (WHL) defenseman scoring with two goals and 17 assists for 19 points in 16 games this season. His plus-minus rating of +15 places him sixth among all skaters in the WHL and first on the Royals. Currently in his second season with Victoria, Vauhkonen was listed by NHL Central Scouting’ Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2027 NHL Draft with a “B” rating. The Costa Mesa, CA product was originally selected by the Royals in the second round, 25^th overall of the 2023 WHL US Priority Draft.  
The CHL USA Prospects Challenge is entering its third year after launching in 2024, and is a premier best-on-best showcase, featuring top NHL Draft-eligible talent from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL against the U.S. National Under-18 Team in an annual two-game series. The 2026 edition is spotlighting many of the leading prospects eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft. This year’s event is hosted by Chicoutimi & Québec City, with Game 1 taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Chicoutimi at the Georges-Vézina Centre, before heading to Québec City for Game 2 on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Vidéotron Centre.  
Learn more about ticket purchasing and broadcast info at https://chl.ca/prospectschallenge/]]> https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/odin-vauhkonen-named-to-nhl-central-scouting-preliminary-players-to-watch-list Mon, 26 Oct 2026 20:56:26 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/odin-vauhkonen-named-to-nhl-central-scouting-preliminary-players-to-watch-list Odin Vauhkonen has been named to NHL Central Scouting's annual Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2027 NHL Draft. The list assigns each player a letter grade, and Vauhkonen received a B.   Vauhkonen, who hails from Costa Mesa, CA, is in his second season with the Victoria Royals. Through 11 games this season, he has recorded two goals and 11 assists for 13 points, along with a +10 plus/minus rating. Those totals rank him second among league defensemen in assists and third in defenseman scoring.   The Royals originally selected Vauhkonen in the second round, 25th overall, of the 2023 US Priority Draft. This is his first NHL Draft-eligible season as a late-2008 birth.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/victoria-royals-announce-roster-update-oct-8-2026 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:29:39 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/victoria-royals-announce-roster-update-oct-8-2026 Eliot Compton and 2008-born forward Cruz Waltze. The current roster now stands at 14 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders. The Royals begin their CSN Collision Centres Central Division road trip this Saturday against the Medicine Hat Tigers at Co-Op Place. Fans can follow the road trip by listening live to the Victoria Royals broadcast on Mixlr or watching live on the WHL's YouTube page. All Victoria Royals broadcasts are presented by Archie Johnstone Plumbing & Heating.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/leadership-group-2026-27 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 19:59:50 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/leadership-group-2026-27 Miles Cooper, hailing from Calgary, Alta., was named the 12th captain in team history following training camp. Entering his second season as a Royal, Cooper scored 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists) in 50 games in the 2025-26 campaign. Cooper was an Assistant Captain last season.
Hayden Moore, hailing from Winnipeg, Man., is entering his third season with the Royals and his second as an Assistant Captain. Moore has totalled 82 points (30 goals, 52 assists) in 116 games played wearing the Royals uniform. Moore will wear the A in both home and away games.
Cameron Schmidt, hailing from Prince George, B.C., is joining the Royals for his first season on the island. The Dallas Stars prospect is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he scored 51 goals and 49 assists for 100 points in 72 games, leading the WHL in goal scoring. Schmidt will join Savin Virk in wearing the A during home games.
Savin Virk, hailing from Surrey, B.C., joins the Royals following a trade with Tri-City prior to training camp. Virk, who joined the Winnipeg Jets for the Prospects Showcase prior to the season, led the Tri-City Americans in all scoring categories last season, totalling 65 points (27 goals, 38 assists) in 66 games played. Virk will wear the A in home games.
Nolan Stewart, hailing from Edmonton, Alta., is coming into his third season with the Royals. Since joining Victoria as a 16-year-old in the 2024-25 season, Stewart has compiled 73 points (28 goals, 45 assists) in 126 games played. This is Stewart's first season wearing the A, and he will wear it in away games.
Ludovic Perreault, hailing from Winnipeg, Man., is coming into his second season with Victoria. Joining the Royals as a 16-year-old last season, Perreault scored 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists) in 68 games. A former captain of Team Manitoba at the WHL Cup, he is in his first season wearing an A for the Royals and will join Nolan Stewart in wearing it at away games.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/2026-27-chl-top-10-rankings-week-2 Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:33:29 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/2026-27-chl-top-10-rankings-week-2 The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today unveiled its Week 2 edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2026-27 season.  The Victoria Royals (WHL) remain No. 1 after allowing just three goals on 62 shots through two games. The London Knights (OHL) hold second place following a 7-4 win over Owen Sound, while the Guelph Storm (OHL) return to the top three after outscoring Oshawa and Owen Sound 11-1 across two victories.  The Moncton Wildcats climb to No. 7 after another two-win weekend lifted them to the top of the QMJHL standings. The Calgary Hitmen enter the rankings at No. 10, with balanced scoring and just six goals allowed fuelling a 3-0 start.  Fans can watch OHL and QMJHL regular-season and playoff games on FloHockey, while WHL regular-season games are streaming free on YouTube. CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 2 1. Victoria Royals (WHL): The Royals have won both games on their light early-season schedule, outscoring opponents 8-3. In Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Vancouver Giants, Savin Virk (2G-1A) and Nolan Stewart (1G-2A) each had three points, while St. Louis Blues prospect Vladimir Proskurin stopped 25 of 26 shots (.962 save percentage) in his CHL debut. Marek Peroutka’s opening goal less than five minutes in gave him two goals in two games to start the season. Odin Vauhkonen’s assist on the same goal gave him two points in two games from the blue line, and draft-eligible Ludovic Perreault added two assists to give him three on the season. Victoria hosts Swift Current on Friday and Brandon on Sunday as it looks to extend its unbeaten start. Games this week: vs. Swift Current (Oct. 2), vs. Brandon (Oct. 4) 2. London Knights (OHL): A five-goal second period powered London to a 7-4 win over the Owen Sound Attack and a 3-0 start, keeping the Knights at No. 2. Five Knights had multi-point games, including three-point outings from first star of the game Cohen Bidgood, Carson Harmer and Ryan Brown in his first game back from Dallas Stars camp. A pair of goals from Evan Van Gorp gave him four goals and seven points through three games. Continued production from NHL Draft prospects Cooper McAslan and Eloan Le Gallic has added scoring depth. McAslan is tied for the league lead among defencemen with three goals, while Jonathan Kapageridis is tied for first among OHL defencemen with six points and a 2.00 points-per-game average. Debuts in the green and gold for NHL first-round picks Maksim Sokolovskii and Marcus Nordmark further strengthened the Knights’ lineup. London continues its four-game homestand against North Bay on Friday and Flint on Sunday. Both opponents enter the week with two wins. Games this week: vs. North Bay (Oct. 2), vs. Flint (Oct. 4) 3. Guelph Storm (OHL): After opening with two losses while missing nearly half their regular lineup to NHL camps, the Storm rebounded with convincing wins over Oshawa and Owen Sound by a combined score of 11-1. Nine players had multi-point weekends for the Storm, highlighted by five points from Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Tyler Hopkins (1G-4A) and three goals from Tampa Bay Lightning second-rounder Ethan Czata. Carter Stevens recorded four points over the weekend to give him four in as many games, and Ryan Roobroeck, Owen Griffin and Vladimir Dravecky added two points apiece. Draft-eligible Timothy Kazda notched his first OHL goal in the second period of Saturday’s win at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre and added an assist after going scoreless in Guelph’s first two games. In goal, Zach Jovanovski and Ben Hrebik each made 25 saves in their respective victories, with Jovanovski recording his third career OHL shutout. The Storm host Windsor on Friday before welcoming the rival Kitchener Rangers on Sunday for the latest instalment of the Battle of Highway 7. Games this week: vs. Windsor (Oct. 2), vs. Kitchener (Oct. 4) 4. Québec Remparts (QMJHL): The Remparts built a 6-0 lead on their way to a 7-3 win over the Shawinigan Cataractes on Friday. Nathan Quinn’s one-timer 31 seconds into overtime then secured a 5-4 win over the Rimouski Océanic on Sunday, extending Québec’s winning streak to three games. Draft-eligible James Scantlebury’s Friday night hat trick against the Cataractes gave him a team-leading five goals, while Quinn (3G-2A), Maddox Dagenais (2G-2A), Carter Meyer (3A), Bastien Michaud (3A), and Alexandre Taillefer (1G-2A) each recorded at least three points over the weekend. Nikita Ovcharov (1G-1A), Charles-Antoine Dubé (1G-1A) and Samuel Huot (2A) provided additional offence, with Zackary Plamondon joining Taillefer in chipping in goals from the blue line. Draft-eligible Patrick Déniger has started all four games for Québec. Québec now faces a home-and-home series with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, who are currently riding a two-game overtime winning streak. Games this week: @ Blainville-Boisbriand (Oct. 2), vs. Blainville-Boisbriand (Oct. 4) 5. Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL): The Eagles earned their first win of the season during a weekend that marked the season debuts of NHL-drafted offseason acquisitions Lucas Beckman and Liam Lefebvre (1G-1A in 2 GP). In Friday’s 4-1 loss in Charlottetown, Noah Jettelson’s first-period goal stood as the only marker through 40 minutes before the Islanders scored four times in the third, including twice into an empty net. Cape Breton responded on Saturday afternoon against the Saint John Sea Dogs, now ranked No. 9. Three second-period goals erased a 3-0 deficit. After Saint John regained the lead, Lefebvre tied it again with 6:40 remaining before a Reece Peitzsche overtime goal sealed a 5-4 victory. Three assists from Cole Chandler over the weekend gave him a team-leading six points (1G-5A), and multi-point weekend performances from Elias Schneider (1G-2A) and Eliot L’Italien (1G-1A) left five Eagles averaging at least a point per game. The Eagles return to Centre 200 to face Saint John and No. 7 Moncton. They will also be bolstered by the return of Maxim Schäfer from Washington Capitals camp. Games this week: vs. Saint John (Oct. 2), vs. Moncton (Oct. 4) 6. Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): The Tigers responded to their first loss of the season in Red Deer on Saturday with a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday. Medicine Hat welcomed back Liam Ruck, Markus Ruck and Yaroslav Bryzgalov from NHL camps, and all three contributed over the weekend. Bryzgalov scored twice and earned first-star honours in Sunday’s victory. Liam Ruck scored in his first game back, while Markus Ruck had two assists in two games. The Tigers also continued to receive contributions throughout the lineup, with Josh Evaschesen adding another point and Gavin Kor adding a goal and an assist to give him a team-leading five points after putting up just three goals and 13 assists a season ago. Tyson Moss scored again to give him four points in four games (2G-2A), while fellow defencemen Riley Steen (2A), Reilly Pickford (2A) and Mace’o Phillips, with his first goal as a Tiger, provided additional offence from the blue line. In goal, Carter Casey and Cash Christie have combined for a .933 save percentage through four games. They’ll take on the Prince Albert Raiders at Co-op Place on Saturday night as they look to continue a productive start. Games this week: vs. Prince Albert (Oct. 3) 7. Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL): The Wildcats lead the QMJHL with eight points from four straight one-goal wins, three of them decided beyond regulation. They have overcome deficits in three games and twice scored tying goals inside the final three minutes of regulation. In Friday’s shootout win over the Saint John Sea Dogs, Niko Tournas (2G-1A on the weekend) twice put Moncton ahead before Liam Kilfoil (2A) scored the shootout winner. On Saturday, the Wildcats erased a 3-0 deficit to defeat Charlottetown 4-3 in overtime, their second win over the Islanders this season. Rian Chudzinski had two goals and an assist against Charlottetown, including the tying goal with 2:08 remaining. That followed his overtime winner in Halifax on opening weekend. Shayne Gould (1G-3A) and Myles Brosnan (2G) also had multi-point weekends, with Brosnan scoring Saturday’s overtime winner. Both join Chudzinski, Kilfoil and Tournas with at least four points this season. Yegor Rybkin’s .918 save percentage through two games has provided steady goaltending, while Jacoby Weiner has two assists in two games – the only two points recorded by QMJHL goalies so far this year. A Friday night matchup with the Halifax Mooseheads is next, before the No. 5 Cape Breton Eagles host the Wildcats on Sunday afternoon. Games this week: vs. Halifax (Oct. 2), @ Cape Breton (Oct. 4) 8. Saginaw Spirit (OHL): Saginaw remains in the top 10 after an up-and-down uneven opening four games, with its leading scorers providing plenty of offence. Leading the way are Braidy Wassilyn and top 2027 NHL Draft prospect Dima Zhilkin, who sit tied for the top spot in the OHL scoring race with four goals and four assists each. Draft-eligible Levi Harper recorded four assists in two games on opening weekend. Without him in the lineup this past weekend, Saginaw’s defencemen combined for two assists. Wassilyn and Dmitry Savin each had a goal and an assist in both Spirit games this weekend, while Zhilkin (1G-2A), Jacob Cloutier (1G-1A) and Brody Pepoy (1G-1A) also recorded multi-point weekends. The Spirit have also received two points apiece from 2009-born players Sawyer Schmidt and Kade Meyer, whose development will be worth watching as the season progresses. Saginaw will look for more consistency from NHL-drafted netminders Brady Knowling and Stepan Shurygin following mixed results this past weekend. Games this week: @ Kitchener (Oct. 2), @ Brampton (Oct. 3) 9. Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL): Saint John earned two points against ranked opponents this past weekend, falling to Moncton in a shootout on Friday and Cape Breton in overtime on Saturday afternoon. The Sea Dogs have collected points in three of their first four games, but have one win. Alexis Joseph scored with 1:15 left in regulation on Friday night to force overtime and help the Sea Dogs secure a point. Captain Olivier Groulx (1G-2A) and Matyas Cancik (3A) each had three-point weekends, while Dylan Rozzi (1G-2A) has four goals and six points through four games. Alexander Donovan (1G-1A), Oliver Ozogany (1G-1A), Olivier Lemieux (1G-1A) and Zachary Morin (2A) each recorded two points over the weekend, while defenceman Thomas Charbonneau scored his second goal of the season, matching his total from 48 games with Québec last season. The Sea Dogs visit Cape Breton for a rematch on Friday before hosting Halifax on Sunday. Games this week: @ Cape Breton (Oct. 2), vs. Halifax (Oct. 4) 10. Calgary Hitmen (WHL): Balanced scoring, contributions from the blue line and strong goaltending from draft-eligible Eric Tu (.952 save percentage in 2 GP) have helped Calgary open 3-0. After two wins in extra time on opening weekend, the Hitmen beat the Edmonton Oil Kings 6-1 behind Tu’s 25 saves and three-point performances from draft-eligible Artem Katsuro (2G-1A) and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Carter Sanderson (1G-2A), who was making his WHL debut. Brennan Brown’s insurance goal in the second period gave him three goals in three games and matched his total from last season in 58 fewer games. Wyatt Pisarczyk (1G-1A), Charlie Kresl (2A), Julien Maze (2A), Andrei Molgachev (1G) and Hunter Aura (1A) all have at least three points this season. The Hitmen visit Lethbridge on Saturday and Regina on Sunday. The Hurricanes and Pats have combined for one win in six games. Games this week: @ Lethbridge (Oct. 3), @ Regina (Oct. 4)]]> https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/royals-sign-axel-bisbee-to-whl-scholarship-and-development-agreement Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:12:49 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/royals-sign-axel-bisbee-to-whl-scholarship-and-development-agreement Axel Bisbee to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.  
Bisbee, hailing from Minnetonka, Minnesota, has spent the past two seasons with the Blake Bears in Minnesota high school hockey, scoring 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) in 52 games played.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/2026-27-chl-top-10-rankings-week-1 Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:52:57 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/2026-27-chl-top-10-rankings-week-1 The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today the Week 1 edition of its CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2026-27 season. The Victoria Royals (WHL) climb two spots to No. 1 after a 4-2 win in Kamloops, backed by Cole Prelusky’s 34-save WHL debut. The London Knights (OHL) also rise two positions to No. 2 after sweeping Windsor, with Evan Van Gorp recording five points across the two games. The Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL) complete the top three after collecting points in consecutive shootout losses despite missing four NHL-drafted players.  New to the rankings at No. 10, the Moncton Wildcats opened with back-to-back comeback victories on the road. Their 2-0 start was capped by a 6-5 overtime win in Halifax, featuring a Niko Tournas hat trick and Rian Chudzinski’s winner. Fans can watch OHL and QMJHL games on FloHockey, while WHL regular-season games are streaming free on YouTube. 2026-27 CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 1 1. Victoria Royals (WHL): Victoria needed just one game to move into the top spot, opening with a 4-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. After a six-point preseason, Caleb Matthews continued his productive September with two points, while Cole Prelusky earned first-star honours by stopping 34 of 36 shots in his WHL debut. Marek Peroutka also made an immediate impression in his first WHL regular-season game, scoring on the power play and dropping the gloves to finish an assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick. Hayden Moore and Cruz Waltze added goals, while offseason acquisition Savin Virk recorded his first assist as a Royal. Victoria did it without NHL draft picks Cameron Schmidt, Filip Novák and Vladimir Proskurin, whose returns would further strengthen the lineup. Games this week: vs. Vancouver (Sept. 26) 2. London Knights (OHL): A pair of wins over Windsor lifted London two spots, with veterans and newcomers sharing the scoring. Evan Van Gorp opened with five points (2G-3A), putting him in a tie for the OHL scoring lead. Newcomer Jonathan Kapageridis contributed four points (1G-3A), while Thomas Zocco (1G-2A) and 2027 NHL Draft prospect Cooper McAslan (2G-1A) added three apiece. Kapageridis, McAslan and Caleb Mitchell (2A) supplied offence from the blue line in the absence of Maksim Sokolovskii and Henry Brzustewicz. Carson Harmer, and Kane Barch each added two assists, while Eloan Le Gallic and Jake Ritson each scored their first OHL goal and added an assist. The returns of Sokolovskii and Marcus Nordmark provide further support as London awaits Ryan Brown, Jaxon Cover and a possible return by Brzustewicz. Games this week: vs. Owen Sound (Sept. 25) 3. Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL): Two shootout losses left Cape Breton searching for its first win, but the Eagles collected a point in each game despite missing four NHL-drafted players. They outshot their opponents 87-62 across the weekend, including a 59-shot effort against Charlottetown. Reece Peitzsche scored twice and added an assist, joining Cole Chandler, Eliot L’Italien and Brayden Reynolds with three points apiece. The power play converted at 30 per cent, while 2028 NHL Draft prospect Sam Berthiaume handled the goaltending duties with Lucas Beckman at Ottawa Senators camp. Beckman's return, along with those of Liam Lefebvre and Maxim Schäfer from NHL camps and captain Will Murphy once he’s recovered from injury, would give Cape Breton a significant boost. The Eagles visit Charlottetown and No. 7 Saint John this weekend. Games this week: @ Charlottetown (Sept. 25), @ Saint John (Sept. 26) 4. Guelph Storm (OHL): The preseason No. 1 Storm slipped to fourth after an 0-2 start, with NHL camp absences leaving them well short of their projected lineup. There were encouraging firsts: Finley Butler, selected 29th overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, scored in his OHL debut, while Cambridge native Matthew Miller recorded his first league point. Tyler Hopkins remains at NHL camp, but the returning group includes Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Owen Griffin, Tampa Bay Lightning prospects Ethan Czata and Grant Spada, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Ryan Roobroeck, defencemen Rylan Singh, Vladimir Dravecky and Rowan Topp, and goaltenders Ben Hrebik and Zach Jovanovski. Those additions should give Guelph a much different look as it hosts an Oshawa team coming off a 2-0 opening weekend before visiting Owen Sound. Games this week: vs. Oshawa (Sept. 25), @ Owen Sound (Sept. 26) 5. Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): Medicine Hat climbed one spot after sweeping Lethbridge by a combined score of 10-3. Luke Cozens led the way with a hat trick in Saturday's home opener, while newcomer Josh Evaschesen (2G-1A), Gavin Kor (1G-2A) and Tyson Moss each finished the weekend with three points. In all, 14 Tigers recorded at least one point. That production came without Pittsburgh Penguins prospects Liam Ruck and Markus Ruck, Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Yaroslav Bryzgalov and injured 2027 NHL Draft prospect Noah Davidson. Fellow draft prospect Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll was also held off the scoresheet, leaving room for more from an already productive attack. Carter Casey provided a strong foundation in goal, stopping 55 of 58 shots for a .948 save percentage after attending Pittsburgh's development and rookie camps. Games this week: @ Red Deer (Sept. 26), @ Edmonton (Sept. 27) 6. Saginaw Spirit (OHL): Saginaw dropped one spot after a pair of 5-4 losses to the Soo Greyhounds and Flint Firebirds produced one point, but its young core delivered offensively. Dima Zhilkin earned Cogeco OHL Player of the Week honours with three goals and two assists, while fellow 2027 NHL Draft prospect Levi Harper recorded four assists across the two games. Braidy Wassilyn (2G-2A) and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Brody Pepoy (1G-2A) also contributed. Jacob Cloutier is returning from Winnipeg Jets camp, while Stepan Shurygin's return from Tampa Bay and Brady Knowling’s from San Jose should provide help in goal. Up front, a return by Anaheim Ducks first-rounder Nikita Klepov would add another major scoring threat to a group that has already shown it can generate offence. Games this week: vs. Niagara (Sept. 25), vs. Windsor (Sept. 26) 7. Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL): Saint John split a pair of 4-2 decisions against the Newfoundland Regiment in St. John's, led by three goals from Dylan Rozzi. Rozzi scored the Sea Dogs' opening goal in both games, providing an early spark for his club. Alexander Donovan (1G-1A), Jamie Glance (2A) and Alexis Joseph (2A) each recorded two points, while draft-eligible defenceman Thomas Charbonneau scored his first goal as a Sea Dog. Buffalo Sabres prospect Samuel Meloche stopped 25 of 27 shots in his Saint John debut. The Sea Dogs now return home for an early test against two other ranked clubs, hosting No. 10 Moncton and No. 3 Cape Breton on consecutive nights. Games this week: vs. Moncton (Sept. 25), vs. Cape Breton (Sept. 26) 8. Québec Remparts (QMJHL): Québec rebounded from an opening-night loss in Sherbrooke with a 5-2 victory over the defending QMJHL champion Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Special teams helped drive the turnaround: after allowing two power-play goals against the Phoenix, the Remparts went 3-for-6 on the power play and were perfect on the penalty kill Sunday. Top 2027 NHL Draft prospect Carter Meyer led Québec with four points (1G-3A) over the weekend. James Scantlebury scored twice in his second QMJHL game, while Nathan Quinn and Alexandre Taillefer made their season debuts Sunday with three and two points, respectively. Patrick Déniger stopped 50 of 55 shots across the two games for a .909 save percentage. The return of St. Louis Blues first-rounder Maddox Dagenais should add another offensive threat as Québec prepares to host Shawinigan and Rimouski. Games this week: vs. Shawinigan (Sept. 25), vs. Rimouski (Sept. 27) 9. Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): Ilari Kapanen made an immediate impact in Brandon's 5-4 opening-night win over Saskatoon, scoring twice, including the winner, and adding two assists. The 2026 CHL Import Draft second-rounder helped the Wheat Kings build a 4-1 lead through two periods before they held off a late push from the Blades. With newly named captain Jaxon Jacobson and Joby Baumuller held off the scoresheet, Brandon received its other goals from 2027 NHL Draft prospects Prabh Bhathal, Colin Grubb and Chase Surkan. Following the offseason departures of defencemen Giorgos Pantelas and Grayson Burzynski, assists from Nigel Boehm and Josh McGregor were also encouraging signs from the blue line. Ryley Budd stopped 42 of 46 shots for a .913 save percentage. Minnesota Wild fifth-round pick Filip Ruzicka, who posted a .906 save percentage in 42 games last season, would provide another significant boost upon his return from NHL camp. Games this week: vs. Regina (Sept. 25), vs. Moose Jaw (Sept. 26) 10. Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL): Moncton earned its place in the top 10 with two comeback road wins. Four unanswered goals in 12:03 overturned an early deficit in a 4-3 victory in Charlottetown. The following night, Niko Tournas scored a hat trick, including the tying goal with 1:52 remaining, before Rian Chudzinski netted the overtime winner to complete a 6-5 victory in Halifax. Liam Kilfoil led the Wildcats with five points (2G-3A) across the two games, while Chudzinski added four (2G-2A). Los Angeles Kings prospect Yegor Rybkin stopped 34 of 37 shots in his QMJHL debut on Prince Edward Island. The return of Max Vilen should bolster the blue line as a group with just eight returning players continues to come together. Moncton visits No. 7 Saint John before welcoming Charlottetown for its home opener. Games this week: @ Saint John (Sept. 25), vs. Charlottetown (Sept. 26)]]> https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/victoria-royals-announce-roster-update-sept-21st-2026 Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:29:12 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/victoria-royals-announce-roster-update-sept-21st-2026 Seth Badry to the Whitecourt Wolverines in the AJHL. The current roster now stands at 16 forwards, 8 defensemen and 2 goaltenders. The Royals are back at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre this Saturday, Sept. 26th at 6:05pm for the Home Opener presented by REMAX against the Vancouver Giants. Get your tickets here]]> https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/royals-announce-2026-2027-opening-night-roster Thu, 17 Sep 2026 19:00:04 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/royals-announce-2026-2027-opening-night-roster th. Get your tickets now at victoriaroyals.com]]> https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/2026-27-chl-top-10-rankings-preseason-edition Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:27:43 +0000 GSL Marketing https://chl.ca/whl-royals/article/2026-27-chl-top-10-rankings-preseason-edition The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today unveiled the preseason edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for 2026-27, led by the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League (WHL) complete the top three. Compiled with input from NHL Central Scouting, the rankings arrive ahead of tomorrow’s season opener and a campaign expected to feature more than 125 NHL-drafted prospects across the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL. The OHL opens tomorrow when the Peterborough Petes host the Kingston Frontenacs at 7:05 p.m. ET / 4:05 p.m. PT (on FloHockey). Friday’s 21-game slate is highlighted by two championship banner ceremonies. The defending CHL champion Kitchener Rangers will raise their Memorial Cup and J. Ross Robertson Cup banners before hosting the Owen Sound Attack at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, while the Chicoutimi Saguenéens will unveil their Gilles-Courteau Trophy banner before facing the Shawinigan Cataractes at the same time. Guelph opens at home against the Erie Otters at 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT. In the WHL, the No. 10-ranked Brandon Wheat Kings host the Saskatoon Blades at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT before the No. 6-ranked Medicine Hat Tigers visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. FloHockey will stream OHL and QMJHL games throughout 2026-27, while WHL regular-season games will stream free on YouTube. The season will culminate in Guelph during the city’s bicentennial year, when the Storm host the 107th Memorial Cup presented by Kubota from May 20–30, 2027. It will be the first Memorial Cup in Guelph since 2002, when the Kootenay Ice defeated the Victoriaville Tigres in the final. CHL Top-10 Rankings – Preseason 1. Guelph Storm (OHL): The 2027 Memorial Cup hosts did not stand pat this offseason, adding high-end forwards Owen Griffin (25G-42A in 66 GP in 2025-26) and Ethan Czata (25G-28A in 63 GP), goaltender Ben Hrebik—who posted a .920 save percentage in each of the past two seasons—New York Islanders fifth-rounder Vladimir Dravecky (9G-19A in 58 GP) and Czech forward Adrien Bartovič. They join a core led by Toronto Maple Leafs third-rounder Tyler Hopkins (25G-25A in 56 GP) and Chicago Blackhawks second-rounder Ryan Roobroeck (30G-28A in 49 GP). St. Louis Blues prospect Carter Stevens (20G-16A in 53 GP), 2026 CHL Import Draft fourth-overall pick Timothy Kazda and 2027 NHL Draft prospect Jaakko Wycisk (17G-26A in 60 GP) deepen the attack. Anaheim Ducks fifth-rounder Eric Frossard (5G-9A in 51 GP), Tampa Bay Lightning seventh-rounder Grant Spada (6G-15A in 61 GP) and Seattle Kraken seventh-rounder Rylan Singh (4G-19A in 52 GP) headline the blue line. The offseason overhaul gives Guelph 10 NHL prospects in all, underscoring the depth of a roster built to contend immediately. General manager George Burnett and head coach Cory Stillman will now look to guide the reshaped roster to Guelph’s first J. Ross Robertson Cup since 2019 and the franchise’s first Memorial Cup title. Games this week: vs. Erie (Sept. 18), @ Brantford (Sept. 19) 2. Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL): Cape Breton has assembled a legitimate contender, although a deep Eastern Conference featuring Québec, Saint John, Halifax and Moncton will offer little margin for error. An aggressive offseason brought Ottawa Senators prospect Lucas Beckman (2.60 GAA & .917 SV% in 38 GP between Baie-Comeau and Chicoutimi in 2025-26), Los Angeles Kings second-rounder Liam Lefebvre (32G-27A in 59 GP), Washington Capitals third-rounder Maxim Schäfer (21G-28A in 53 GP) and fellow German forward Elias Schneider (23G-30A in 53 GP). They join 2024 fourth-overall QMJHL pick Romain L’Italien (17G-30A in 52 GP), his older brother Eliot L’Italien (16G-18A in 49 GP), Reece Peitzsche (26G-21A in 64 GP) and Boston Bruins prospect Cole Chandler (20G-32A in 62 GP), formerly of Shawinigan, in a deep forward group. On defense, newcomer Alonso Gosselin (7G-21A in 64 GP) adds offense alongside Detroit Red Wings sixth-rounder Will Murphy (4G-4A in 38 GP) and overager Noah Jettelson (4G-22A in 64 GP), who added seven points in six playoff games. With Beckman behind that group, the Eagles have strength at every position. Games this week: vs. Halifax (Sept. 18), vs. Charlottetown (Sept. 20) 3. Victoria Royals (WHL): After finishing two points short of qualifying for a playoff tiebreaker last season, Victoria enters 2026-27 with a win-now roster. The blockbuster addition of Dallas Stars prospect Cameron Schmidt—who tied for the CHL lead with 51 goals and finished with 100 points in 72 games—transforms the attack. The Royals offered an early glimpse of their upside by scoring 10 goals while splitting two preseason games against London. Returning standouts Nolan Stewart (16G-34A in 65 GP) and Hayden Moore (18G-30A in 62 GP) are joined by former Tri-City scoring leader Savin Virk (27G-38A in 66 GP). Captain Miles Cooper (10G-27A in 50 GP), Caleb Matthews (15G-21A in 65 GP), Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Filip Novak and 2026 first-round CHL Import Draft pick Marek Peroutka add further scoring options. On defense, offseason acquisition Nate Yellowaga (7G-20A in 67 GP) joins 2027 NHL Draft prospect Odin Vauhkonen (3G-20A in 65 GP). Victoria has moved quickly from narrowly missing the postseason to looking capable of a deep run in 2026-27. Games this week: @ Kamloops (Sept. 19) 4. London Knights (OHL): After winning consecutive J. Ross Robertson Cups, London’s bid for a third straight title ended with a first-round loss to the Soo Greyhounds. The Knights nevertheless return as contenders in 2026-27, led up front by Ottawa Senators first-rounder Jaxon Cover (20G-32A in 67 GP) and Dallas Stars fifth-rounder Ryan Brown (22G-41A in 67 GP). Anaheim Ducks first-rounder Marcus Nordmark, top 2027 NHL Draft prospect Luca Santala, newcomers Kane Barch and Carson Harmer (18G-26A in 66 GP), overager Thomas Zocco and veterans Evan Van Gorp (12G-27A in 66 GP) and Cohen Bidgood (14G-25A in 51 GP) give London its depth. The 6-foot-8 Maksim Sokolovskii, selected in the first round by Philadelphia, anchors a defense that also includes Caleb Mitchell (5G-23A in 57 GP) and 6-foot-6 Boston Bruins fifth-rounder Jacob Vandeven. A return by Los Angeles Kings first-rounder Henry Brzustewicz would make that group even stronger. Vancouver Canucks second-rounder Aleksei Medvedev is in line for the lead role in goal after sharing the crease with Sebastian Gatto last season. Young players such as Ryan Beaulieu, Cooper McAslan and Alex Campeau give an already-deep lineup additional upside. Games this week: vs. Windsor (Sept. 18), @ Windsor (Sept. 19) 5. Saginaw Spirit (OHL): Saginaw hopes a blend of NHL-drafted talent and emerging players can produce its second Memorial Cup title in four seasons. First-year head coach Brendan Taylor inherits a dynamic forward in Dima Zhilkin (36G-39A in 59 GP), a potential top-10 pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Winnipeg Jets prospect Jacob Cloutier (22G-25A in 64 GP) and Toronto Maple Leafs sixth-rounder Brody Pepoy (16G-13A in 67 GP) also return, while the acquisition of Braidy Wassilyn (19G-27A in 62 GP) gives the young group another proven scorer. Recent first-round OHL picks Ryan Hanrahan (4G-8A in 46 GP) and Drew Bate provide further upside. On defense, 2027 NHL Draft prospect Levi Harper (12G-45A in 68 GP) leads a group that includes Russian blueliner Gordei Khotkov and draft-eligibles Drew Roscoe (2G-1A in 30 GP), Tyler Martyniuk and Kade Meyer. San Jose Sharks fourth-rounder Brady Knowling and Tampa Bay Lightning sixth-rounder Stepan Shurygin give Saginaw two NHL-drafted goaltenders. The biggest swing factor is reigning OHL scoring champion Nikita Klepov (37G-60A in 67 GP): a return from the Anaheim Ducks would materially raise Saginaw’s ceiling. Games this week: @ Sault Ste. Marie (Sept. 18), vs. Flint (Sept. 19) 6. Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): After reaching the 2025 Memorial Cup final, Medicine Hat followed with another deep playoff run last season and remains built to contend. Pittsburgh Penguins prospects Liam Ruck (45G-59A in 68 GP) and Markus Ruck (21G-87A in 68 GP) drive one of the CHL’s most dangerous attacks. Potential 2027 NHL Draft first-rounders Noah Davidson (30G-22A in 67 GP) and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll (12G-25A in 41 GP) add more high-end talent, while Luke Cozens (25G-36A in 69 GP), Yaroslav Bryzgalov (13G-42A in 64 GP) and Kadon McCann (21G-22A in 68 GP) supply proven depth. Offseason addition Josh Evaschesen (33G-40A in 67 GP) and 2026 CHL Import Draft pick Arvid Drott, a Florida Panthers sixth-rounder, make the forward group even deeper. On defense, overager Dayton Reschny (11G-16A in 54 GP), Calgary Flames third-rounder Mace’o Phillips and 6-foot-7 Russian Denis Pasler bring size and experience. The Tigers’ youth creates some questions going into 2026-27, but few teams can match their scoring ceiling. Games this week: @ Lethbridge (Sept. 18), vs. Lethbridge (Sept. 19) 7. Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL): Saint John’s playoff-series drought dates back to its 2017 QMJHL championship run, though the club captured the Memorial Cup as host in 2022. With an experienced core and a busy offseason, the Sea Dogs appear poised not only to end that drought, but to challenge for their first QMJHL title in a decade. Top 2027 NHL Draft prospect Alexis Joseph (24G-36A in 54 GP) leads an attack reinforced by former U.S. National Team Development Program forward Jamie Glance and CHL Import Draft picks Matyas Cancik and Oliver Ozogany. The club’s top-three scorers from last season—Joseph, Alexander Donovan (25G-28A in 63 GP) and Olivier Groulx (20G-46A in 64 GP)—all return, while former eighth-overall QMJHL pick Dylan Rozzi (20G-25A in 64 GP) is another breakout candidate. The Sea Dogs rebuilt their defense by adding former fourth-overall pick Thomas Charbonneau (2G-9A in 48 GP), Brandon Delarosbil (8G-14A in 60 GP) and veteran Julien Lanthier (3G-12A in 43 GP) to a group led by Olivier Duhamel (5G-21A in 58 GP). Buffalo Sabres fourth-rounder Samuel Meloche gives that revamped blue line an established goaltender behind it. Games this week: @ Newfoundland (Sept. 18), @ Newfoundland (Sept. 19) 8. Québec Remparts (QMJHL): Four seasons after winning both the Gilles-Courteau Trophy and Memorial Cup, Québec again has the high-end talent to contend. St. Louis Blues first-rounder Maddox Dagenais (30G-32A in 62 GP), Philadelphia Flyers prospect and returning scoring leader Nathan Quinn (34G-39A in 58 GP) and top 2027 NHL Draft prospect Carter Meyer give the Remparts a formidable top line. The supporting cast includes 2025 first-round import pick Nikita Ovcharov (17G-27A in 64 GP), 2026 first-round import pick Samuel Sramaty and 2025 ninth-overall QMJHL pick James Scantlebury, with Sramaty and Scantlebury set to make their league debuts. On defense, Winnipeg Jets fifth-rounder Alexandre Taillefer (2G-15A in 28 GP) and offseason acquisition Maddox Labre (1G-19A in 59 GP) will be counted on to stabilize the group in front of draft-eligible goaltender Patrick Déniger. The ceiling is high; the question is whether Québec’s depth can hold up in a strong Eastern Conference. Games this week: @ Sherbrooke (Sept. 18), @ Chicoutimi (Sept. 20) 9. Ottawa 67’s (OHL): Ottawa followed a 100-point regular season with a playoff loss to Barrie, who later fell to Kitchener in the OHL Championship Series. Although several veterans have departed, the 67’s return 2027 NHL Draft prospect Kohyn Eshkawkogan and three of their top five postseason scorers as they pursue their first OHL title since 2001. Carolina Hurricanes seventh-rounder Filip Ekberg (24G-22A in 59 GP), New York Rangers fourth-rounder Spencer Bowes (23G-19A in 67 GP) and Nic Whitehead (25G-38A in 64 GP) are the top returning regular-season scorers. 2027 NHL Draft prospect Brock Chitaroni (10G-14A in 60 GP) will look to build on a productive rookie season. On defense, Eshkawkogan, 6-foot-6 Buffalo Sabres third-rounder David Bedkowski (5G-24A in 68 GP) and Colorado Avalanche seventh-rounder Ondrej Ruml (10G-18A in 66 GP) bring both puck movement and size. Jaeden Nelson—who posted a 2.33 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 29 games—returns as half of Ottawa’s 2026 Dave Pinkney Trophy-winning tandem. Games this week: @ Kingston (Sept. 20) 10. Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): Brandon lost five of its top seven scorers from an 82-point season, but the returning core has enough firepower to keep the Wheat Kings in the early contender conversation. Brandon native and top 2027 NHL Draft prospect Jaxon Jacobson (25G-60A in 63 GP) and 40-goal scorer Joby Baumuller lead the attack. Anaheim Ducks seventh-rounder Brady Turko (18G-18A in 66 GP) provides experience, while draft-eligible forwards Chase Surkan (20G-18A in 45 GP) and Prabh Bhathal (8G-23A in 63 GP) are candidates for larger roles. First-round CHL Draft Import pick Kris Muissu and 2025 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft first-overall pick Levi Ellingsen (0G-1A in 5 GP) could add needed depth. With Giorgos Pantelas and Grayson Burzynski gone, the defense will have a new look. Cameron Allard (7G-12A in 62 GP) is the top returning scorer on the blue line, while 2027 NHL Draft prospect Nigel Boehm (2G-14A in 63 GP) and 2025 first-round WHL pick Cruz Jim (0G-1A in 4 GP) should receive larger opportunities. Minnesota Wild fifth-rounder Filip Ruzicka (.906 SV% in 42 GP; .936 in four playoff games) gives the young defense stability behind it. Games this week: vs. Saskatoon (Sept. 18)]]>