Winterhawks Announce 2026 Neely Cup Rosters
Portland, Ore. – The 51st Winterhawks Training Camp kicks off this week, as the team hosts its annual Neely Cup with on-ice sessions from Thursday, August 27 to Saturday, August 29! After a two-year hiatus, the Neely Cup is back in the Glass Palace for the 2026 edition.
In total, 81 players aged 15 to 20 years old will participate in this year’s training camp. The Neely Cup is unique as the camp is divided into four competitive teams that each feature a mixture of Winterhawks veterans, NHL-drafted players, and prospects who have yet to make their WHL debuts. This year, we welcome members of the 2026 WHL Draft class to Portland for the first time, including the Winterhawks’ first-round pick Cullen Stephenson, who signed with Portland on May 22.
The Winterhawks have named the 2026 Neely Cup teams in honor of four alumni who were not drafted into the WHL, but still had storied careers with the Winterhawks and beyond – Paul Gaustad, Cale Hulse, Scott Nichol, and Matt Walker.
Gaustad – Starting his junior career with the Jr. Winterhawks U18 AAA team, Paul Gaustad flipped from going undrafted in the WHL Draft, to a career with the Winterhawks spanning three seasons, 198 games, 53 games, 82 assists, and 135 total points. Gaustad’s success in Portland caught the eye of the Buffalo Sabres, who selected the Fargo, North Dakota native in the seventh round of the 2000 NHL Draft. Following three seasons with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, Gaustad began an 11-year NHL career with Buffalo and Nashville, playing in 727 total games, amassing 231 total points. Gaustad was named to the team U.S.A roster for the 2011 IIHF World Championship, where he also wore the alternate ‘A’. Gaustad’s resilience and strong work ethic led him from Portland to a lengthy and celebrated career in the NHL.
Hulse – Starting his career in the Rose City during the 1991-91 campaign, Cale Hulse played in 142 games across two seasons for the Winterhawks. The blueliner picked up 14 goals and 44 assists for 58 total points during his WHL career. Hulse’s time with the Hawks caught the eye of the New Jersey Devils, who selected the Edmonton native with the 66th overall pick in the third round of the 1992 NHL Draft. Hulse quickly made an impact with the Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Albany River Rats. Albany captured the 1995 Calder Cup with Hulse, who played in 89 games that year. Hulse would play for New Jersey the following season, before skating with the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes, and Columbus Blue Jackets during a 10-year, 619-game NHL career.
Nichol – With the Winterhawks between 1992 and 1994, Scott Nichol exemplified what it means to live the hockey life. Playing in 132 games in the WHL – scoring 71 goals, and tallying 86 assists for 157 total points – Nichol was selected in the 11th round of the 1993 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Nichol captured the Calder Cup with the Rochester Americans in 1996 after making his NHL debut with the Sabres earlier in the season. The Edmonton man would play his NHL career in Buffalo, Calgary, Chicago, Nashville, San Jose, and St. Louis for 662 games across 13 seasons, scoring 56 goals and 71 assists. Following his retirement in 2013, Nichol immediately pivoted to a front office career in the NHL, where he currently works as the Assistant General Manager & Director of Player Development with the Nashville Predators as well as the General Manager for the Milwaukee Admirals.
Walker – Matt Walker owns one of the most impressive careers in Winterhawks history. Winning the 1998 WHL Championship and Memorial Cup, Walker played 170 games with Portland over the span of three seasons, tallying five goals and 30 assists in a lock-down defenseman role. Despite going undrafted into the WHL, the St. Louis Blues selected Walker with the 83rd overall pick in the 1998 NHL Draft. Following his age-out in 2000, the Beaverlodge, Alberta, man immediately began a lengthy professional career with the Blues and Worcester IceCats of the AHL. Walker played for the Blues, Blackhawks, Lightning, and Flyers as part of a 10-year, 314-game NHL Career. He also skated in 220 AHL games over eight seasons.
ROSTERS
(Click each to view/download)
*Cole Slobodian, Kyle McDonough, and Max Pšenička will not be skating in any of the Neely Cup games.
SCHEDULE
All games will be played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum and will consist of two 25-minute games. Immediately following the second game, a 3-on-3 competition for ten minutes will occur. Visit Winterhawks.com to keep track of the standings and view game stats following each day of competition.
Fans can attend Saturday’s Neely Cup Consolation Final and Championship game. Those with a season ticket membership, 34-game flex pack, or 50-game flex pack will receive complimentary general admission tickets.
To purchase $10 general admission tickets, click here. Ticket sales close at 5:00 PM on Thursday, August 27.
All tickets will be emailed on Friday, August 28
For more information about attending the 2026 Neely Cup, including parking information, click here. Doors will open at 3:30 PM.
Thursday, August 27
3:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. • Team Gaustad vs. Team Hulse
5:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. • Team Nichol vs. Team Walker
Friday, August 28
3:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. • Team Nichol vs. Team Gaustad
5:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. • Team Hulse vs. Team Walker
Saturday, August 29
9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. • Team Hulse vs. Team Nichol
11:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. • Team Walker vs. Team Gaustad
4:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. • Consolation Final (3rd vs. 4th)
6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. • Neely Cup Championship (1st vs. 2nd)
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Everyone attending the games is strongly encouraged to pre-purchase parking, as there are dual events at the Rose Quarter on Saturday.
Note: The parking pass will be listed for “Red Clay Strays” on August 29, but those passes will allow entry to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Click here to purchase your parking pass in advance.
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The Winterhawks trust Riverside Payments for all of their credit card processing as the team’s official credit card processors.
