WHL developed stars showcase talents at 2026 NHL Scouting Combine

By Taylor Rocca June 8, 2026

Calgary, Alta. – The 2026 NHL Scouting Combine concluded this past weekend, with 90 draft-eligible players from North America and Europe participating.

Vancouver Giants forward Mathis Preston found his way into the top 10 across a number of different categories, including isokinetic squat (second), anaerobic fitness – peak power output (T-2nd), 10m sprint (T-3rd), pro agility right (T-3rd), bench press (fourth), pull-ups (T-6th), and pro agility left (T-8th).

Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Ethan MacKenzie also enjoyed a quality showing at the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine, including impressive efforts in anaerobic fitness – peak power output (T-2nd), bench press (third), pro agility right (T-3rd), pro agility left (T-4th), right-hand grip (T-6th), pull-ups (T-6th), and force plate – vertical jump (eighth).

Results below reflect the top 25 finishers in each respective combine test. The 2026 NHL Scouting Combine allowed NHL teams an opportunity to conduct interviews and receive physical and medical assessments of the top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.

The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled for Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, in Buffalo, N.Y.

Horizontal Jump (Inches)

3. Runtso, Timofei (Victoria Royals) – 116.0
9. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 113.3
12. Gustafson, Jake (Portland Winterhawks) – 109.5
T13. Lin, Ryan (Vancouver Giants) – 109.0
T21. MacKenzie, Ethan (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 108.3
T23. McKenna, Gavin (Medicine Hat Tigers*) – 108.0

Aerobic Fitness (VO2max – ml/kg/min)

1. McKenna, Gavin (Medicine Hat Tigers*) – 65.0
8. Vanhanen, Matias (Everett Silvertips) – 58.0
9. Verhoeff, Keaton (Victoria Royals*) – 57.8
T20. Preston, Mathis (Vancouver Giants) – 54.2
T21. Ruck, Liam (Medicine Hat Tigers) – 54.1
T22. Harrington, Chase (Spokane Chiefs) – 54.0

Pro Agility (Left – seconds)

T4. MacKenzie, Ethan (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 4.3
T4. Runtso, Timofei (Victoria Royals) – 4.3
T8. Preston Mathis (Vancouver Giants) – 4.4
T8. Verhoeff, Keaton (Victoria Royals*) – 4.4
T8. Gustafson, Jake (Portland Winterhawks) – 4.4
T8. Sparks, Tyus (Spokane Chiefs) – 4.4
T8. McKenna, Gavin (Medicine Hat Tigers*) – 4.4

Pro Agility (Right – seconds)

T3. MacKenzie, Ethan (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 4.3
T3. Verhoeff, Keaton (Victoria Royals*) – 4.3
T3. Preston, Mathis (Vancouver Giants) – 4.3
T3. Runtso, Timofei (Victoria Royals) – 4.3
T14. Harrington, Chase (Spokane Chiefs) – 4.5
T14. Gustafson, Jake (Portland Winterhawks) – 4.5
T14. Olsen, Zach (Saskatoon Blades) – 4.5
T14. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 4.5
T14. McKenna, Gavin (Medicine Hat Tigers*) – 4.5

Isokinetic Squat (lb/lb BW)

2. Preston, Mathis (Vancouver Giants) – 3.57
4. McKenna, Gavin (Medicine Hat Tigers*) – 3.40
13. Lin, Ryan (Vancouver Giants) – 3.05
20. MacBeath, Ben (Calgary Hitmen) – 2.92
21. Runtso, Timofei (Victoria Royals) – 2.91
24. Vanhanen, Matias (Everett Silvertips) – 2.88

10M Sprint (seconds)

T3. Preston, Mathis (Vancouver Giants) – 2.04
T7. Sparks, Tyus (Spokane Chiefs) – 2.05
T9. Lin, Ryan (Vancouver Giants) – 2.06
T15. Olsen, Zach (Saskatoon Blades) – 2.11
T22. Gustafson, Jake (Portland Winterhawks) – 2.13
T22. Harrington, Chase (Spokane Chiefs) – 2.13
T22. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 2.13
T22. Vanhanen, Matias (Everett Silvertips) – 2.13

Anaerobic Fitness – Peak Power Output (watts/kg)

T2. MacKenzie, Ethan (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 17.2
T2. Preston, Mathis (Vancouver Giants) – 17.2
5. Olsen, Zach (Saskatoon Blades) – 16.8
T11. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 16.5
14. Runtso, Timofei (Victoria Royals) – 16.2
T18. McKenna, Gavin (Medicine Hat Tigers*) – 15.8

Wingspan (inches)

T6. Orsulak, Michal (Prince Albert Raiders) – 78.8
T15. Amrhein, Landon (Calgary Hitmen) – 77.8
18. Verhoeff, Keaton (Victoria Royals*) – 77.5
T22. Runtso, Timofei (Victoria Royals) – 77.0
T22. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 77.0
T24. Rudolph, Daxon (Prince Albert Raiders) – 76.8

Anaerobic Fitness – Fatigue Index (% drop from peak)

T6. Sivertson, Jonah (Prince Albert Raiders) – 42.3
T6. Williams, Cooper (Saskatoon Blades) – 42.3
T11. Pantelas, Giorgos (Brandon Wheat Kings) – 45.0
T11. Hurlbert, JP (Kamloops Blazers) – 45.0
T14. Rudolph, Daxon (Prince Albert Raiders) – 45.5
16. Vanhanen, Matias (Everett Silvertips) – 45.9
T17. Ruck, Liam (Medicine Hat Tigers) – 46.3
19. Sparks, Tyus (Spokane Chiefs) – 46.4
20. MacBeath, Benjamin (Calgary Hitmen) – 47.0
T24. Lin, Ryan (Vancouver Giants) – 48.2
T24. Harrington, Chase (Spokane Chiefs) – 48.2

Force Plate – No Arm Jump (inches)

6. Lin, Ryan (Vancouver Giants) – 20.0
8. McKenna, Gavin (Medicine Hat Tigers*) – 19.5
9. Vanhanen, Matias (Everett Silvertips) – 19.4
T11. Harrington, Chase (Spokane Chiefs) – 18.9
T11. MacKenzie, Ethan (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 18.9
13. Olsen, Zach (Saskatoon Blades) – 18.8
T15. Gustafson, Jake (Portland Winterhawks) – 18.5
T19. Sparks, Tyus (Spokane Chiefs) – 18.3
T21. Williams, Cooper (Saskatoon Blades) – 18.2
T24. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 17.8
T24. Runtso, Timofei (Victoria Royals) – 17.8

Force Plate – Vertical Jump (inches)

3. Vanhanen, Matias (Everett Silvertips) – 24.2
T5. Lin, Ryan (Vancouver Giants) – 22.8
8. MacKenzie, Ethan (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 22.4
T12. Williams, Cooper (Saskatoon Blades) – 21.7
16. Sparks, Tyus (Spokane Chiefs) – 21.5
T17. Olsen, Zach (Saskatoon Blades) – 21.3
19. Runtso, Timofei (Victoria Royals) – 21.1
22. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 20.8
24. Gustafson, Jake (Portland Winterhawks) – 20.5

Bench Press Power (watts/kg)

3. MacKenzie, Ethan (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 6.9
4. Preston, Mathis (Vancouver Giants) – 6.8
T7. Lin, Ryan (Vancouver Giants) – 6.6
T10. Ruck, Liam (Medicine Hat Tigers) – 6.4
T14. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 6.2
17. Harrington, Chase (Spokane Chiefs) – 6.1
T18. MacBeath, Benjamin (Calgary Hitmen) – 6.0

Right-Hand Grip (lbs)

T6. MacKenzie, Ethan (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 175
T6. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 175
T8. Pantelas, Giorgos (Brandon Wheat Kings) – 173
T13. Gustafson, Jake (Portland Winterhawks) – 165
17. Harrington, Chase (Spokane Chiefs) – 163
22. Sparks, Tyus (Spokane Chiefs) – 160

Left-Hand Grip (lbs)

2. Pantelas, Giorgos (Brandon Wheat Kings) – 183
T9. Verhoeff, Keaton (Victoria Royals*) – 168
12. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 166
T13. Sparks, Tyus (Spokane Chiefs) – 165
T15. Sivertson, Jonah (Prince Albert Raiders) – 164
17. Harrington, Chase (Spokane Chiefs) – 161
T20. Gustafson, Jake (Portland Winterhawks) – 160

Pull-Ups (consecutive reps)

T3. Vanecek, Jakub (Tri-City Americans) – 16
T6. MacKenzie, Ethan (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 14
T6. McKenna, Gavin (Medicine Hat Tigers*) – 14
T6. Preston, Mathis (Vancouver Giants) – 14
T11. Lin, Ryan (Vancouver Giants) – 13
T15. Runtso, Timofei (Victoria Royals) – 12
T15. Sparks, Tyus (Spokane Chiefs) – 12
T15. Verhoeff, Keaton (Victoria Royals*) – 12

* = 2024-25 WHL Club

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.

WHL developed stars showcase talents at 2026 NHL Scouting Combine

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