2026 Memorial Cup Semi-Final Player to Watch: Matias Vanhanen, Everett Silvertips

Kelowna, B.C.- In December of 2025, Silvertips Head Coach Steve Hamilton knew it was time for a talk with rookie forward Matias Vanhanen.

Heading into the holiday break, the youngster had shown tremendous ability in his first season of hockey in North America, but his point totals were looking a little lopsided with seven goals and 37 assists.

“We were just noticing early on- powerplays, especially- he was reluctant to shoot,” Hamilton explained. “Everybody does their homework and does the pre-scout, and suddenly they’re just taking away his passing options, and then as soon as he started to turn the corner and go downhill looking to shoot as well, now you can’t just assume that he’s passing, and it’s made him even more valuable, more dangerous on the ice. He has a heck of a shot, you know. It’s just trusting it.

He’s got all the weapons he needs. I think a lot of it is just mindset, too. As soon as you become a shooter, as well as the playmaker that he is, you’re a dual threat.”

Indeed, Vanhanen has enjoyed a monster season in the WHL, closing out the campaign with 21 goals (including six game-winners) and 66 assists for 87 points and a +58 rating in 62 games.

“You always want to score and help the team, so that gets (you) more confident,” Vanhanen said. ” But you know, I don’t care about points that much, just like helping the team win.”

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound winger from Nokia, Finland, has carried the momentum into the postseason with another 24 points (12G-12A) in the 2026 WHL Playoffs.

Now, he’s tied for second in scoring among all skaters at the 2026 Memorial Cup with three goals and two assists in three games.

Vanhanen’s five points have him tied for fourth in all-time points by a Finnish skater at the Memorial Cup, trailing Pentti Lund’s record of eight points for the Port Arthur West Ends way back in 1945.

“I think he really turned up his game during the playoffs, and obviously right now he’s been unbelievable,” Vanhanen’s linemate and 2025 Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Carter Bear said. “I can’t wait for the guy to see (him) in the future, and whoever drafts him is going to get a pretty special player, for sure.”

Vanhanen, 18, is ranked 54th among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the agency’s final rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.

But all the talk of records and NHL clubs is on the back burner as Vanhanen focuses on the match ahead.

Every contribution is twice as valuable as the ‘Tips enter Friday’s semifinal match against the QMJHL Champion Chicoutimi Sagueneens.

The winner will face the OHL Champion Kitchener Rangers in Sunday’s Memorial Cup Final.

Vanhanen and the Tips will battle the Sagueneens at 6:00 p.m. PT on Friday, May 29.

TSN is broadcasting to fans in Canada, while those in the United States and around the world can follow along on Victory+ and NHL Network.