2026 WHL Championship – Game 3 Player to Watch: Matias Vanhanen, Everett Silvertips
Prince Albert, Sask. – Quietly, Matias Vanhanen continues to make things happen.
Matched up alongside countryman Julius Miettinen, a prospect of the Seattle Kraken, and Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear, how could Vanhanen do anything other than produce?
Through 15 WHL Playoff games, the 18-year-old product of Nokia, Finland, sits second in scoring on the Silvertips with 21 points (10G-11A), trailing only Miettinen.
With an opportunity to take a series lead in Game 3, Vanhanen will once again be a focal point for the Everett offense.
“It’s finals so you just want to win every game,” Vanhanen said prior to Game 3.
“We have a good team, that helps a lot. I play with the best players in the league, that’s been awesome, so I just try to enjoy that.”
In seven games this spring, Vanhanen has recorded multipoint efforts.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound left winger has enjoyed an outstanding first season in North America. NHL Central Scouting has the Finnish forward ranked54th among North American skaters ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. He recorded 87 points (21G-66A) in 62 regular season contests to lead the Silvertips in scoring. Not only was Vanhanen named to the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team, he was a finalist for two major awards – WHL Rookie of the Year and WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player.
There’s a lot to like about one of the Silvertips’ most dangerous setup men.
Vanhanen landed in Everett after being selected in the first round (31st overall) of the 2025 CHL Import Draft.
"It's different, but I kind of like it. The ice is pretty good and it's going to be loud."
2026 #NHLDraft prospect and @WHLsilvertips forward Matias Vanhanen stops by to chat about tonight's game at the Art Hauser Centre. #WHLChampionship pic.twitter.com/OnphDagXdJ
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 12, 2026
Game 3 of the 2026 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien is set for Tuesday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m. MT as the Prince Albert Raiders host the Everett Silvertips. The winner of the best-of-seven series will advance to the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota in Kelowna, B.C., which is scheduled for Friday, May 22, through Sunday, May 31.
All seven games of the WHL Championship Series are available in Canada on TSN. Viewers can also stream the entire series globally and for FREE on Victory+.
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