2026 NHL Draft-eligible prospect Vanhanen named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month for April
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today 2026 NHL Draft-eligible prospect Matias Vanhanen of the Everett Silvertips has been named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month for April.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound left winger from Nokia, Finland, recorded 14 points (7G-7A) and a plus-6 rating in 10 games this month as the Silvertips advanced to the 2026 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien.
Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Vanhanen is ranked 54th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.
Vanhanen’s month was highlighted by a three-point (2G-1A) effort Friday, April 10, as the Silvertips dropped the Kelowna Rockets by a 4-1 score in Game 1 of the second round of the WHL Playoffs. The shifty winger registered the game-winning goal 4:20 into the second period of play before capping his night with an empty-net marker. He was named second star of the game for his performance.
During a four-game sweep of the Penticton Vees in the WHL’s Western Conference Championship, Vanhanen contributed five points (3G-2A), including the game-winning goal in the series clinching contest Tuesday, April 28.
Over the course of the month, Vanhanen produced five multipoint games.
With 19 points (10G-9A) in 13 post-season contests, Vanhanen is tied for the WHL Playoff scoring lead with Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Daxon Rudolph.
Originally selected by the Silvertips in the first round (31st overall) of the 2025 CHL Import Draft, Vanhanen enjoyed a great regular season, tallying 87 points (21G-66A) in 62 games. He was named to the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team, and was also a finalist for the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually to the WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player. Vanhanen was a finalist for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually to the WHL Rookie of the Year.
Vanhanen and the Silvertips rest as they await the winner of the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series presented by Nutrien. The Silvertips will host Games 1 and 2 of the 2026 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien, scheduled for Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, respectively.
Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month
September / October: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
November: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
December: Kale Dach, Calgary Hitmen
January: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
February: Matias Vanhanen, Everett Silvertips
March: Vojtech Cihar, Kelowna Rockets
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.
