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WHL Western Conference Championship Preview: Everett Silvertips vs. Penticton Vees

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:25:05 +0000

Two of the greatest expansion teams in WHL history are hours away from clashing in Game 1 of the 2026 WHL Western Conference Championship. Back in 2003-04, the Everett Silvertips set a league record for wins by an expansion team with 34 and clawed their way all the way to the league finals to cap off a gutsy season. Now, the Penticton Vees have shattered with wins record with 44 victories and stand four wins away from repeating the Silvertips' feat. Either way, a team from the West will have a chance to lift the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time. The regular-season champion Silvertips will play in the Conference Championship for the fourth time in team history and the first time since 2018 after grounding the 2026 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets in five games. 2027 NHL Draft-eligible Landon DuPont leads all WHL defencemen with 13 points (3G-10A), including the Game 5 overtime winner to clinch the series for Everett. Joining DuPont atop the Silvertips' playoff leaderboard are 2026 NHL Draft-eligible Matias Vanhanen, who has ripped it up with 14 points (7G-7A) in nine games, and Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen, who has the most goals of any active playoff skater with eight. Penticton is riding a wave of momentum after turning a 2-0 series deficit into a jaw-dropping four-game comeback against the Prince George Cougars. New York Islanders pick Jacob Kvasnicka has helmed the attack with 13 playoff points (7G-6A), including potting the series-clinching goal in overtime in Game 6. First-year WHLer Louis Wehmann paced the Vees in second-round scoring by breaking out for seven points (2G-5A) in six games against the Cats, while Andrew (AJ) Reyelts locked in for 40 saves in Game 6. Everett went 3-1-0-0 against Penticton in the regular season, highlighted by a pair of statement wins on March 13 and 14 that saw the Silvertips clinch the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular-season champions for the second straight year. But the Vees' lone win was a big one, with Reyelts making 33 stops and Seattle Kraken prospect Ryden Evers logging four goals in a 7-0 rout that marked Everett's first regulation loss of the season. The Silvertips enter the playoffs having scored the third-most goals of any WHL squad, while allowing the second-fewest goals against. The B.C. Division champs weren't far behind, with the Vees clocking in at 6th in goals for and rankings as the league's third-stingiest team. Game 1 is set for Thursday, April 23, at 7:05 p.m. PT at Angel of the Winds Arena, before the series shifts north for Game 3 at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Monday, April 27. STAT PACK

	Penticton Vees	Everett Silvertips
Record	44-14-6-4 (1st B.C.)	57-8-2-1 (1st U.S.)
Playoff Leaders	Jacob Kvasnicka (7G-6A, 13 pts) Ryden Evers (6G-5A, 11 pts) Louis Wehmann (5G-6A, 11 pts)	Matias Vanhanen (7G-7A, 14 pts) Landon DuPont (3G-10A, 13 pts) Julius Miettinen (8G-4A, 12 pts)
Season Leaders	Jacob Kvasnicka (35G-50A, 85 pts) Ryden Evers (35G-39A, 74 pts) Brady Birnie (22G-48A, 70 pts)	Matias Vanhanen (21G-66A, 87 pts) Carter Bear (36G-41A, 77 pts) Julius Miettinen (35G-41A, 76 pts)
Leading Goaltender (Playoffs)	Andrew Reyelts (8-2-0), 2.44 GAA, .914 save percentage, one shutout)	Anders Miller (8-0-1, 1.55 GAA, .948 save percentage, one shutout)
Power Play (Playoffs)	28.6% (5th)	25% (6th)
Penalty Kill (Playoffs)	75% (11th)	83.3% (3rd)
Second Round	Def. Prince George (4-2)	Def. Kelowna (4-1)
Last WHL Championship	-	–

2025-26 REGULAR SEASON SERIES Everett leads 3-1-0-0 October 17, 2025- Everett 5, Penticton 2 October 25, 2025- Penticton 7, Everett 0 March 13, 2026- Everett 6, Penticton 3 March 14, 2026- Penticton 3, Everett 4

GAME BREAKERS Penticton: Two finalists for 2025-26 WHL Rookie of the Year are set to go head-to-head. New York Islanders prospect Jacob Kvasnicka just continues to come up clutch for Penticton. The 18-year-old leads his team with 13 points (7G-6A) to tie for fifth in scoring and third in goals, but it's his timing that truly stands out. The Burnsville, Minn. product is fresh off scoring the series-clinching goal in overtime against the Cougars, and had a penalty shot strike that gave the Vees some insurance in its Game 5 win over Seattle to send the Thunderbirds packing. Kvasnicka was Penticton's leading scorer against Everett with a goal and six assists for seven points in four matches. Everett: Did someone call for a guy who can put the puck Vanhan-in the net? Finnish sensation Matias Vanhanen is climbing the scoring leaderboard and NHL Central Scouting's list, rocketing up from 76th among North American skaters in the midterm projections to 54th in the agency's final rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft. Vanhanen is tied for third in goals (seven) and points (14) among all WHL skaters in the playoffs, and has only been held off the scoresheet once. Vanhanen only netted two assists in four outings against the Vees in the regular season, but can he elevate his game with a berth in the Championship on the line? GOALTENDING

Penticton: Andrew Reyelts has been a scene-stealer for the Vees. He may rank seventh among all WHL goaltenders in goals-against average (2.44) and ninth in save percentage (.914), but his actual numbers have been stellar and just speak to the strength many teams have found between the pipes. Reyelts made 40 saves to oust Prince George in Game 6 and will try to carry that momentum into the Western Conference Championship. The Proctor, Minn. product went 1-1-1-0 against Everett in his first WHL campaign with a 2.29 GAA, a .929 save percentage and a 33-save shutout. Everett: Anders Miller has looked near-inassailable in the postseason. The Anchorage, Alaska product is second among all goaltenders in playoff goals-against average (1.55), save percentage (.948) and owns a 19-save shutout. Miller went 1-1-0-0 against Penticton in the regular season with a 5.06 GAA and .870 save percentage, but those numbers are mainly marred by the 7-0 loss in early October. Despite that setback, Miller rebounded with a 40-save, .930 save percentage effort in a 4-3 overtime win in March, earning first star and marking the second-busiest game of his WHL career.

X-FACTOR

Penticton: Ryden Evers has been one of Penticton's most reliable scorers from preseason to playoffs. The Seattle Kraken prospect was also one of the Vees' most versatile weapons against the Silvertips in their regular season series. Evers erupted for a four-goal outing in a 7-0 drubbing of the Silvertips in Everett on October 25, and scored twice- including the game-tying goal- in a 4-3 overtime loss in the final clash between the teams on March 14. Everett: Florida Panthers prospect Shea Busch only got one tilt in against the Vees in the regular season before being sidelined with an injury for the bulk of the regular season, but he made it count. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound winger scored in a 5-2 win over Penticton on October 17th while logging three shots and a +2 rating. Busch had 18 points (13G-5A) in 12 games in his truncated regular season and has netted two goals and four assists in his first seven games back in the postseason.

SERIES SCHEDULE

Game	Visitor		Home	Day	Date	Time
1	Penticton	@	Everett	Thursday	April 23	7:05pm PT
2	Penticton	@	Everett	Saturday	April 25	6:30pm PT
3	Everett	@	Penticton	Monday	April 27	7:05pm PT
4	Everett	@	Penticton	Tuesday	April 28	7:05pm PT
5*	Penticton	@	Everett	Friday	May 1	7pm PT
6*	Everett	@	Penticton	Sunday	May 3	6:05pm PT
7*	Penticton	@	Everett	Tuesday	May 5	7:05pm PT

* = if necessary

Chiefs’ Esler bags a shutout, Canada routs Latvia for first win of 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:59:43 +0000

Trencin, Slovakia- Canada has earned its first win of the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship with a 6-0 rout of Latvia on Thursday. 2027 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Carter Esler (Okotoks, Alta. / Spokane Chiefs) earned a 19-save shutout in the win. The Chiefs star led the WHL with five shutouts in 2025-26 and was also a finalist for the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy for Humanitarian of the Year. Thomas Vandenerg (Ottawa 67s / OHL) gave the Canadians their first lead of the tournament just 52 seconds into the game and Tynan Lawrence doubled the advantage before the first period was out. Adam Valentini danced around his check for a beautiful solo effort as the reigning gold medalists slowly built their lead. Finally, Canada erupted for three more goals in the third period to close the night out. Vancouver Giants star Ryan Lin (Richmond, B.C.), who is ranked 16th among all North American Skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final player list for the 2026 NHL Draft, picked up his first point of the tournament with a secondary assist on a Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit / OHL) powerplay goal as Canada flexed its cycle game. Kohyn Eshkawkogan (Ottawa 67s / OHL) tacked on a fifth goal with a strike from the point before Zach Olsen (Calgary, Alta. / Saskatoon Blades) fired the puck top shelf in the final minute for his first international goal. https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/2047322277268635930 Canada (1-0-0-1) will look to build momentum when it faces Norway (0-0-0-1) on Saturday, April 25 at 6:00 a.m. MT. NOTES 2026 NHL Draft-eligible Jakub Vanecek scored the game-winning goal to lift Czechia to a 2-1 win over Sweden... The Tri-City Americans standout is ranked 31st among all North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.

Four WHL Alumni among those ranked No. 30 through No. 21 on CHL Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:57:07 +0000

The Top 50 players were selected through an initial media vote, with the final order determined by a weighted combination of media and fan voting. After unveiling players ranked No. 50 through No. 31 over the past two weeks, the CHL continues the countdown today, with full player bios available at chl.ca/chl50.

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is proud to unveil the players ranked No. 30 through No. 21 on its Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list (see below), a marquee initiative of the CHL’s 50th anniversary season. The countdown recognizes the greatest players from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) since 1975-76, celebrating the stars who have defined major junior hockey over the past five decades. Four WHL Alumni find themselves ranked from 30 to 21 on the CHL's Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years, including Connor Bedard (30), Mike Modano (28), Grant Fuhr (27), and Carey Price (22). As part of the initiative, a panel of media members first selected the Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years (since 1975-76). The final ranking order was then determined using a weighted formula that combined media and fan voting to rank the players from No. 1 through No. 50. Over the last two weeks, the CHL has revealed the players ranked No. 50 through No. 31, beginning with No. 50 through No. 41 and continuing with No. 40 through No. 31. Today, the countdown moves on with the next group of players. KEY FACTS & MEDIA NOTES: CHL TOP 50 PLAYERS MEDIA RESOURCES (PHOTOS, LOGOS, VIDEOS & MORE) 30. Connor Bedard, Forward | WHL | Regina Pats (2020-23) | Chicago Blackhawks (2023-Present): Granted exceptional status in 2020, Bedard became the WHL’s first exceptional player and totaled 271 points in 134 games over three seasons with Regina. He capped his junior career with a CHL-best 143 points in 57 games in 2022-23, sweeping CHL Top Draft Prospect, CHL Top Scorer, and CHL David Branch Player of the Year honours — becoming the first player ever to win all three in one season. Selected first overall in 2023, Bedard made an immediate impact in the NHL by winning the Calder Trophy in 2024. Internationally, he won back-to-back World Juniors gold medals and was named tournament MVP in 2023. 29. Denis Savard, Forward | QMJHL | Montreal Juniors (1977-80) | Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens & Tampa Bay Lightning (1980-97): Savard was a dynamic star with the Montreal Juniors, recording 455 points in 214 games and posting three straight 100-point seasons. He won QMJHL Rookie of the Year in 1977-78 and QMJHL MVP in 1979-80 after a dominant 181-point campaign. Drafted third overall in 1980, Savard became one of the NHL’s elite offensive talents, topping 100 points five times, winning the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993, and finishing with 1,338 career points on his way to the Hockey Hall of Fame. 28. Mike Modano, Forward | WHL | Prince Albert Raiders (1986-89) | Minnesota North Stars / Dallas Stars & Detroit Red Wings (1988-2011): Modano totaled 294 points in 176 games across three WHL seasons with Prince Albert and earned WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team honours in 1988-89. Selected first overall in 1988, he became the first American from the CHL taken No. 1 in the NHL Draft. Modano went on to a Hall of Fame career in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999 and finishing with 561 goals and 1,374 points, long recognized as one of the greatest U.S.-born players in NHL history. Internationally, he won the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and earned Olympic silver in 2002. 27. Grant Fuhr, Goaltender | WHL | Victoria Cougars (1979-81) | Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues & Calgary Flames (1981-2000): Fuhr won 78 games in just two WHL seasons with Victoria, earning WHL Rookie of the Year in 1979-80 and WHL Goaltender of the Year in 1980-81 while helping the Cougars capture a WHL Championship title in 1981. Chosen eighth overall in 1981, Fuhr became the backbone of the Oilers dynasty, winning five Stanley Cups and the Vezina Trophy. A Hall of Famer, he finished with 403 NHL wins and remains one of the most accomplished goaltenders in NHL history. Internationally, Fuhr also won Canada Cup gold in 1984 and 1987. 26. Luc Robitaille, Forward | QMJHL | Hull Olympiques (1983-86) | Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers & Detroit Red Wings (1986-2006): Robitaille amassed 424 points in 197 games with Hull and was named CHL Player of the Year in 1985-86 after a brilliant 191-point season. He also led the Olympiques to a QMJHL title and starred at the Memorial Cup, confirming his status as one of junior hockey’s premier scorers. Drafted by Los Angeles in 1984, Robitaille became one of the NHL’s top goal scorers, winning the Calder Trophy, producing eight straight 40-goal seasons, capturing the Stanley Cup with Detroit, and finishing with 668 goals and 1,394 points en route to the Hall of Fame. Internationally, he won gold at both the Canada Cup and World Championship. 25. Marc-André Fleury, Goaltender | QMJHL | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (2000-04) | Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks & Minnesota Wild (2003-25): Fleury developed into one of the QMJHL’s premier goaltenders in Cape Breton, earning the QMJHL’s Defensive Player of the Year and Top Prospect (Michael-Bossy Trophy) honours in 2002-03. Selected first overall in 2003, he remains the only CHL goaltender ever taken No. 1 in the NHL Draft. Fleury went on to build a remarkable NHL career, winning three Stanley Cups, capturing the Vezina Trophy, playing more than 1,000 games, and finishing among the winningest goaltenders in league history. Internationally, he won Olympic gold with Canada and twice claimed World Juniors silver. 24. Corey Perry, Forward | OHL | London Knights (2001-05) | Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers & Los Angeles Kings (2005-Present): Perry set a London Knights franchise record with 380 points in 253 games and won OHL MVP (Red Tilson Trophy) in 2004-05 after a 130-point season. He then led London to its first Memorial Cup championship, earning both OHL Playoff (Wayne Gretzky 99 Award) and Memorial Cup MVP (Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy) honours along the way and capping one of the finest careers in Knights franchise history. Perry carried that winning pedigree into the NHL, capturing the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007, winning the Hart and Rocket Richard trophies in 2010-11, and building one of hockey’s most decorated professional and international résumés. Internationally, he is one of only two players ever to win all six major titles: the Memorial Cup, Stanley Cup, World Juniors, Olympics, World Championship, and World Cup of Hockey. 23. Doug Gilmour, Forward | OHL & QMJHL | Cornwall Royals (1980-83) | St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres & Montreal Canadiens (1983-2003): Gilmour helped Cornwall win the 1981 Memorial Cup, scoring the championship-winning goal, then exploded after the franchise moved to the OHL. In 1982-83, he led the OHL in goals, assists, and points with 177, winning both the Eddie Powers (OHL Top Scorer) and Red Tilson (OHL MVP) trophies while cementing himself as one of junior hockey’s premier stars. A seventh-round NHL pick in 1982, Gilmour went on to a Hall of Fame career, winning the Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989 and finishing with 1,414 points in 1,474 NHL games. Internationally, he also won Canada Cup gold in 1987. 22. Carey Price, Goaltender | WHL | Tri-City Americans (2002-07) | Montreal Canadiens (2007-22): Price starred over four seasons in Tri-City, earning WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year honours in 2006-07 and finishing with franchise records for career shutouts and shutouts in a season. His junior résumé established him as one of the top goaltending prospects of his generation. Chosen fifth overall by Montreall at the 2005 NHL Draft, he became the winningest goaltender in Canadiens history. Price’s peak in the NHL came in 2014-15, when he won the Hart, Vezina, Ted Lindsay, and Jennings trophies, cementing his place among the defining goaltenders of his era. Internationally, he won gold at the World Juniors, Olympics, and World Cup of Hockey. 21. Patrick Kane, Forward | OHL | London Knights (2006-07) | Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers & Detroit Red Wings (2007-Present): Kane delivered one of the greatest rookie seasons in CHL history in 2006-07, recording 145 points in 58 games with London while capturing the OHL and CHL scoring titles, along with CHL Rookie of the Year honours. His lone season in junior instantly secured his place among the game’s elite talents. Selected first overall in 2007, Kane became one of the NHL’s most decorated stars, winning three Stanley Cups along with the Conn Smythe, Calder, Hart, Ted Lindsay, and Art Ross trophies, and later becoming the all-time leading scorer among U.S.-born players. Internationally, he won Olympic silver and was MVP of the 2018 World Championship. Further rankings from the Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list will be revealed in the coming weeks. CHL Top 50 Evaluation Criteria and Eligibility The CHL’s Top 50 Players were selected by a panel of more than 40 media members who submitted ranked 1–50 ballots guided by a weighted evaluation framework designed to ensure consistency across eras. Panelists considered a player’s impact beyond the CHL — including NHL and international success, major awards and championships, and Hall of Fame recognition — alongside on-ice achievement in the Member Leagues, reflecting what players accomplished during their time in the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL through production, individual honours, team success, and sustained dominance. Selections also accounted for historical significance, recognizing milestones, era-defining influence, generational impact, and lasting contributions to CHL history. To be eligible, players must have competed in at least one full season in the WHL, OHL, or QMJHL during the CHL’s 50-year history beginning in 1975–76; for players who competed in 1975–76 and also played prior to that season, their entire CHL career was considered when evaluating on-ice accomplishments.

Giants’ Preston scores Canada’s lone goal, T-Birds goaltender Sklenicka earns massive win in pair of IIHF U18 World Championship upsets

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:50:16 +0000

Trencin, Slovakia- A sellout crowd of more than 6,000 fans cheered Slovakia on to a 2-1 win over Canada on opening day at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship. The host team's hard-fought victory marked the second of a pair of major upsets on day one, with Czechia also downing the United States 3-2 in overtime. Slovak hockey greats Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa, a WHL and Memorial Cup Champion who reigns as one of the Portland Winterhawks' top players of all time, were on hand to congratulate each country's Player of the Game, goaltender Denis Celko and forward Tynan Lawrence. The Slovaks took advantage of home ice by jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the second period, but Vancouver Giants star Mathis Preston (Penticton, B.C. / Vancouver Giants) levelled the match with a powerplay one-timer off a backdoor feed from Adam Valentini. Preston is ranked 32nd among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and logged 44 points (18G-26A) in a shortened campaign with the G-Men and Spokane Chiefs. https://twitter.com/WHLGiants/status/2047005188356186601 Top 2027 NHL Draft-eligible goaltender Carter Esler (Okotoks, Alta. / Spokane Chiefs) came on in relief in the third period after starter Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) went down with a lower-body injury early in the frame. The WHL Humanitarian of the Year finalist stopped two shots in the home stretch and was only solved by a penalty shot from Timothy Kazda. Canada (0-1-0) returns to the ice to battle Latvia (0-0-0) on Thursday, April 23, at 6:00 a.m. MST. NOTES Seattle Thunderbirds netminder Marek Sklenicka (NHL CSS: 6) made 28 saves for Czechia to shock the United States 3-2 in overtime, while Red Deer Rebels defenceman Jiri Kamas (NHL CSS: 134) picked up a secondary assist on Michal Hartl's game-opening goal.

Eight WHL players named to Canada’s roster for start of 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:19:54 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – Eight Western Hockey League players have been named to the roster for Canada’s National Men’s U18 Team to start the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.

The WHL will be represented by one goaltender, three defencemen, and four forwards on Canada’s roster to start the tournament. In total, Hockey Canada named three goaltenders, eight defencemen, and 14 forwards to the roster, which was selected by General Manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.) and Head Scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), with support from Director of Hockey Operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), Senior Vice-President of High Performance and Hockey Operations Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), and Coordinator of Hockey Operations Jared Power (Calgary, Alta.).

Seven WHL Clubs will be represented on Canada’s roster, with the Vancouver Giants boasting two players. Also represented are the Calgary Hitmen, Red Deer Rebels, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Spokane Chiefs, and Victoria Royals

Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team – WHL Players

Last Name	First Name	WHL Club	Hometown	Ht	Wt	Pos
Esler	Carter	Spokane Chiefs	Okotoks, Alta.	5-11	165	G
Lin	Ryan	Vancouver Giants	Richmond, B.C.	5-11	176	D
Verhoeff	Keaton	Victoria Royals (2024-25)	Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.	6-4	212	D
MacBeath	Ben	Calgary Hitmen	Calgary, Alta.	6-2	181	D
Olsen	Zach	Saskatoon Blades	Calgary, Alta.	6-1	196	F
Preston	Mathis	Vancouver Giants	Penticton, B.C.	5-11	176	F
Jacobson	Jaxon	Brandon Wheat Kings	Brandon, Man.	5-10	183	F
Hamilton	Beckett	Red Deer Rebels	Saskatoon, Sask.	5-11	172	F

In his second season with the Chiefs, Esler went 24-18-1-0 with a 2.80 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and five shutouts in 44 appearances. Internationally, he most recently helped Canada to a bronze medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was named a finalist for the WHL’s Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually to the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year. Esler is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

Lin enjoyed a second consecutive campaign with 50+ points on the Giants blueline, registering 57 points (14G-43A) in 53 games. He represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and was also named to the roster for Team West at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass, but was unable to compete due to injury. Internationally, Lin most recently helped Canada claim bronze at the 20225 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was also a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Lin is listed 16th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

Verhoeff spent the 2025-26 campaign with the University of North Dakota following 75 games over two seasons with the Victoria Royals. From 2023-24 through 2024-25, the 6-foot-4, 212-pound right-shot defenceman tallied 47 points (21G-26A) as a member of the Royals. Most recently, he patrolled the blueline for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, bringing home a bronze medal. Verhoeff is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, listed fourth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

With 51 points (7G-44A) in 67 games, MacBeath finished second in scoring among rookie blueliners this past season. The Hitmen rearguard represented Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, he is listed 22nd among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

Olsen posted a career-high 34 points (18G-16A) in 57 games with the Blades this season. The right winger represented Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Olsen is listed 36th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

Preston registered 44 points (18G-26A) in 46 games split between the Giants and Spokane Chiefs this past season. He represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and was named to the roster for Team West at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass, but was unable to compete due to injury. Preston was a member of Canada’s bronze-medal squad at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, he is listed 32nd among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

In his second WHL season, Jacobson excelled with the Wheat Kings, posting 85 points (25G-60A) in 63 games, earning a place on the WHL’s Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team. Internationally, Jacobson earned a silver medal with Canada Red at the 2024 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Originally selected by the Wheat Kings in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Jacobson is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

Recently named captain of the Rebels, Hamilton emerged with 62 points (24G-38A) in 67 games this past season. He represented Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Originally selected by the Rebels in the first round (18th overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Hamilton is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, listed 33rd among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings. He has yet to represent Canada on the international stage.

The 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship begins Wednesday, April 22, with Canada taking on Slovakia at 9 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. MT. Canada will also play Latvia, Norway, and Finland in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with medal games May 2.

For more information on the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, please visit IIHF.com.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca.

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.

Silvertips and Vees to battle in 2026 WHL Western Conference Championship presented by Nutrien

admin — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:58:49 +0000

The 2026 WHL Western Conference Championship presented by Nutrien will feature the top two teams in the Western Conference, as the No. 1 seed Everett Silvertips take on the No. 2 seed Penticton Vees.

Everett will host Games 1 and 2 on Thursday, April 23, and Saturday, April 25, respectively, before the series shifts to Penticton for Game 3 on Monday, April 27.

The Silvertips took care of the 2026 Memorial Cup-host Kelowna Rockets in five games to advance, while the Vees needed six games to push past the Prince George Cougars.

Everett’s five-game set with the Rockets included a pair of overtime games to wrap things up, as Kelowna fought off the sweep win a Game 4 OT win. Phenom Landon DuPont ended things for the Rockets in overtime of Game 5, sending the Silvertips to the Conference Championship for the first time since 2018.

Penticton’s six-game dance with the Cougars was nothing short of dramatic. After dropping the first two games at the South Okanagan Events Centre, the Vees rattled off four straight victories to stun Prince George. Sunday’s Game 6 triumph came in overtime, with New York Islanders prospect Jacob Kvasnicka delivering the dagger.

Everett laid claim to the season series between the Silvertips and Vees, going 3-1-0-0, with one win coming in overtime. Penticton’s lone victory came October 25 – a 7-0 win at Everett. The Silvertips won the final two tilts between the two Western Clubs, defeating Penticton by scores of 6-3 and 4-3 (OT) on March 13 and 14, respectively.

The aforementioned DuPont led the Silvertips in scoring against the Vees during the season series, registering six points (1G-5A) in three outings.

For Penticton, the aforementioned Kvasnicka was productive, leading the Vees in scoring against the Silvertips with seven points (1G-6A) in four games.

In net, Raiden LeGall went 2-0-0-0 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .895 save percentage for Everett. Anders Miller saw action in two games, going 1-1-0-0.

Andrew Reyelts saw the bulk of time in the Penticton crease, going 1-1-1-0 with a 2.29 GAA and .929 SV%.

Game	Visitor		Home	Day	Date	Time
1	Penticton	@	Everett	Thursday	April 23	7:05pm PT
2	Penticton	@	Everett	Saturday	April 25	6:30pm PT
3	Everett	@	Penticton	Monday	April 27	7:05pm PT
4	Everett	@	Penticton	Tuesday	April 28	7:05pm PT
5*	Penticton	@	Everett	Friday	May 1	7pm PT
6*	Everett	@	Penticton	Sunday	May 3	6:05pm PT
7*	Penticton	@	Everett	Tuesday	May 5	7:05pm PT

* = if necessary

WHL Morning Skate: April 20

admin — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:57:00 +0000

NEED TO KNOW - Islanders prospect Jacob Kvasnicka scored in overtime to eliminate the Prince George Cougars - Penticton won four straight games after initially trailing their second-round series 2-0 - Penticton will face the regular-season champion Everett Silvertips in the Western Conference Championship TOP PERFORMER It may not have been the final result he wanted, but top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Carson Carels was a wrecking ball in the final game of his WHL season. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound defenceman split the Vees' defenders before rifling a shot top corner to open the scoring and had the primary assist on Lee Shurgot's powerplay one-timer. Carels closes out his second trip to the WHL Playoffs with 10 points (1G-9A) in 10 games. The Cypress River, Man. product is ranked third among all North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. RESULTS Prince George 2, Penticton 3 (OT) PEN wins 4-2 It took another comeback, but the Vees' magical inaugural season will continue. The B.C. Division champions were trailing 2-0 after Carels and centreman Lee Shurgot rocketed the Cougars to a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play, but Diego Johnson kickstarted the comeback by scoring 1:58 into the third period. Doogan Pederson found the equalizer as Louis Wehmann teed him up for a one-timer in the slot in the late goings. Finally, in the extra frame, Kvasnicka played hero as he buried a rebound to send his team to the Conference Championship. THREE STARS 1- Bauer Dumanski, PG – 5 shots 2- Joshua Ravensbergen, PG – 22 saves, .880 save percentage 3- Terik Parascak, PG – 1A

Vees win four straight to tame Cougars, advance to Western Conference Championship

admin — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:37:11 +0000

Penticton earned its wins the hard way in Round Two. The B.C. Division Champions earned a 3-2 overtime win to eliminate the Prince George Cougars in Game 6 of their second-round series on Sunday night. New York Islanders prospect Jacob Kvasnicka delivered the series-clinching goal on the road. 2026 NHL Draft-eligible Carson Carels and centreman Lee Shurgot opened the scoring for the home side, but Penticton clawed its way back in the third period. Diego Johnson scored his first goal of the playoffs just over a minute into the final frame, and Doogan Pederson found the equalizer with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation. Penticton collected four straight victories after falling behind 2-0 after the first two tilts in the Okanagan. The Cats routed the Vees 4-1 in Game 1 and 6-2 the following night. It looked like more of the same results were on tap in Game 3 as Prince George jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but alternate captain Brady Birnie scored twice, including a late game-winning goal, for a 5-3 victory. Seattle Kraken prospect Ryden Evers notched a goal and two assists as the Vees came out on top in a 5-2 penalty-filled affair in Game 4 to bring the series to even ground. In front of a passionate crowd at the South Okanagan Events Centre, the WHL newcomers took their first lead of the series in a narrow 1-0 victory that saw Andrew Reyelts deny 25 shots for his first postseason shutout. Penticton went 44-14-6-4 in its first WHL season to claim the B.C. Division title and set WHL and CHL records for most wins by an expansion team in its inaugural season. Now, they'll face the very team whose record they broke- the Everett Silvertips. The mighty 'Tips claimed the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular-season champions with a franchise-best 57-8-2-1 record.

VP Sports & Entertainment presents: Wheat Kings alumnus McQueen inks deal with Anaheim Ducks

admin — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 17:00:48 +0000

Roger McQueen has officially joined the flock. The former Brandon Wheat Kings centreman has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Anaheim Ducks, the NHL club announced Saturday. McQueen's contract is set to take effect in the 2026-27 season. Anaheim selected the 6-foot-6, 198-pound forward with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old recently made his professional debut with the AHL's San Diego Gulls, scoring a goal and adding two assists in seven appearances. McQueen was originally drafted by the Wheat Kings fourth overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. He went on to pot 86 points (35G-51A) in 127 regular-season contests over parts of four seasons, highlighted by a 21-goal campaign in 2023-24. The Saskatoon, Sask. product was poised for a breakout year the following season after burying four goals in the season-opener, but saw his year limited by injury. He managed to return for the home stretch of the regular season and playoffs. McQueen posted another six points (5G-1A) in seven games in two trips to the postseason. He played the 2025-26 season with Providence College, where he netted 27 points (11G-16A) in 36 games, while earning Hockey East Rookie of the Year honours. Of the nine players developed in the WHL who were selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, McQueen is the sixth skater to sign their entry-level contract, joining Radim Mrtka (Buffalo), Ben Kindel (Pittsburgh Penguins), Carter Bear (Detroit), Braeden Cootes (Vancouver), and Lynden Lakovic (Washington).

65 WHL Alumni to compete on NHL rosters as 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway

admin — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 17:13:54 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – Sixty-five WHL Alumni will compete on NHL rosters as the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway Saturday, April 18.

Of the 16 NHL teams to advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, four will be captained by former WHL players, including the Anaheim Ducks (Radko Gudas), Dallas Stars (Jamie Benn), Minnesota Wild (Jared Spurgeon), and Vegas Golden Knights (Mark Stone).

There are a total 190 Canadian Hockey League alumni across NHL rosters in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including 86 from the Ontario Hockey League and 40 from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

KEY STORYLINES

Geekie, Minten guide Bruins back to post-season

Returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2024, the Boston Bruins can thank notable regular season performances from Morgan Geekie – who finished with a career-high 39 goals and 68 points – and Fraser Minten, whose rookie season featured 35 points (17G-18A) in 82 games.

Ruff, Byram & Co., lead Sabres back to Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Buffalo Sabres return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons, led by Head Coach and WHL alumnus Lindy Ruff (Lethbridge Broncos, 1976-77 to 1978-79). Stanley Cup champions Bowen Byram and Luke Schenn help anchor the Sabres blueline.

Jarvis critical to Carolina’s success

Former Portland Winterhawks star Seth Jarvis currently ranks as the fourth highest playoff producer in Carolina Hurricanes / Hartford Whalers franchise history – safe to say that the product of Winnipeg is a catalyst. Jarvis will be vital if the Hurricanes hope to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup for the first time since 2006.

Kelly’s secondary scoring invaluable to Avalanche

WHL Champion and former Prince Albert Raiders forward Parker Kelly enjoyed a breakout season, reaching the 20-goal plateau and securing a career best 35 points for an Avalanche squad that isn’t short on firepower. Winners of the NHL regular season title, the Avalanche now aim to follow through on a Stanley Cup championship run. Kelly’s experience during the 2019 WHL Playoffs will help him be a valuable contributor down the lineup.

Captain Benn back for more with Stars

Jamie Benn won a WHL Championship during his time with the Kelowna Rockets, but he has yet to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup with the Dallas Stars. After 1,252 NHL regular season games and 13 seasons as captain of the Stars, will this be the year Benn reaches the promised land? He’s won an Olympic gold medal and a World Juniors gold medal on top of his WHL Championship. He has 120 games of NHL post-season experience.

Draisaitl ready to return to Oilers after missing time with injury

WHL Champion Leon Draisaitl is ready to return to the lineup for the Edmonton Oilers after missing the final month of the NHL regular season. The former Kelowna Rocket and Prince Albert Raider nearly reached the 100-point plateau for the fifth consecutive season, but injury held him just short as he finished 2025-26 with 97 points (35G-62A) in 65 games. The captain of Germany’s 2026 Winter Olympic team, Draisaitl has been a monster for the Oilers as they have made back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Final (2024, 2025).

Captain Spurgeon brings Championship experience to Minnesota

A veteran of 16 seasons and 1,012 NHL regular season games, Jared Spurgeon’s experience having won a WHL Championship and Memorial Cup with the Spokane Chiefs will serve him well as the Wild make a second consecutive post-season appearance. The Wild haven’t advanced beyond the first round since 2015 – Spurgeon will play an important role if that is to change in 2026.

Cozens helps Sens to second consecutive post-season appearance

Former Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Dylan Cozens enjoyed a 59-point (28G-31A) campaign in his first full season in Canada’s capital, helping the Senators to a second consecutive post-season appearance. The product of Whitehorse, Yukon, is no stranger to post-season play, having laced up for 35 WHL Playoff games with the Hurricanes, where he recorded 29 points (14G-15A) along the way.

Sanheim set for shutdown role on Flyers blueline

Fresh off representing Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, former Calgary Hitmen blueliner Travis Sanheim will be tasked with slowing the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as the Philadelphia Flyers face the Pittsburgh Penguins. During his WHL tenure, Sanheim was a force – tallying 26 points (7G-19A) in 28 WHL post-season appearances with the Hitmen.

Kindel ready for Stanley Cup Playoffs debut

Former Calgary Hitmen star Ben Kindel exploded onto the scene as an 18-year-old rookie this season, registering 35 points (17G-18A) in 77 games. The product of Coquitlam B.C., was a reliable post-season performer in the WHL, collecting 15 points (8G-7A) in 11 WHL Playoff games over two seasons. He will look to compliment a long list of veteran Pens stars as they return to the NHL post-season.

Point looks to power Lightning once again

No NHL team has more post-season appearances (10), series wins (15), or Stanley Cups (2; tied) than the Tampa Bay Lightning have since 2015-16. Former Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Point led all players in post-season goals during Tampa Bay’s most recent Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021.

Guenther & Mammoth make first playoff appearance in Utah history

For the first time in NHL history, there will be playoff hockey in the state of Utah, with two-time WHL Champion Dylan Guenther primed to play a pivotal role for the Mammoth. The former Edmonton Oil King and Seattle Thunderbird hit 40 goals for the first time in his NHL career, finishing the season with 73 points (40G-33A). In 38 WHL Playoff games, he registered 49 points (29G-20A). Will his regular season success and WHL experience translate to the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Golden Knights boast more WHL Alumni than any other Stanley Cup Playoff team

Led by GM Kelly McCrimmon – a longtime staple of the Brandon Wheat Kings – along with captain Mark Stone, the Vegas Golden Knights are boosted by 10 WHL Alumni – more than any NHL team to have qualified for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Stone and defenceman Shea Theodore helped Vegas win it all in 2023 and they both represented Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

LIST OF WHL ALUMNI on ROSTERS FOR 2026 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

(last WHL Club listed) * = injured / non-roster player

ANAHEIM DUCKS (3)

Radko Gudas (Everett Silvertips), Jansen Harkins (Prince George Cougars), Olen Zellweger (Kamloops Blazers)

BOSTON BRUINS (5)

Morgan Geekie (Tri-City Americans), Tanner Jeannot (Moose Jaw Warriors), Henri Jokiharju (Portland Winterhawks), Mark Kastelic (Calgary Hitmen), Fraser Minten (Saskatoon Blades)

BUFFALO SABRES (6)

Zach Benson (Winnipeg ICE), Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants), Tyson Kozak (Portland Winterhawks), Peyton Krebs (Winnipeg ICE), Beck Malenstyn (Swift Current Broncos), Luke Schenn (Kelowna Rockets)

CAROLINA HURRICANES (3)

Seth Jarvis (Portland Winterhawks), Jordan Martinook (Vancouver Giants), Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers)

COLORADO AVALANCHE (2)

Parker Kelly (Prince Albert Raiders), Brett Kulak (Vancouver Giants)

DALLAS STARS (4)

Jamie Benn (Kelowna Rockets), Tyler Myers (Kelowna Rockets), Alexander Petrovic (Red Deer Rebels), Sam Steel (Regina Pats)

EDMONTON OILERS (7)

Colton Dach (Seattle Thunderbirds), Leon Draisaitl (Kelowna Rockets), Connor Ingram (Kamloops Blazers), Tristan Jarry (Edmonton Oil Kings), Curtis Lazar (Edmonton Oil Kings), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels), Matt Savoie (Moose Jaw Warriors)

LOS ANGELES KINGS (2)

Joel Edmundson (Kamloops Blazers), Darcy Kuemper (Red Deer Rebels)

MINNESOTA WILD (2)

Daemon Hunt (Moose Jaw Warriors), Jared Spurgeon (Spokane Chiefs)

MONTREAL CANADIENS (3)

Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades), Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver Giants), Kaiden Guhle (Edmonton Oil Kings)

OTTAWA SENATORS (4)

Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge Hurricanes), Ridly Greig (Brandon Wheat Kings), James Reimer (Red Deer Rebels), Lassi Thomson (Kelowna Rockets)

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (3)

Rodrigo Abols (Portland Winterhawks), Noah Juulsen (Everett Silvertips), Travis Sanheim (Calgary Hitmen)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (5)

Connor Dewar (Everett Silvertips), Caleb Jones (Portland Winterhawks), Ben Kindel (Calgary Hitmen), Stuart Skinner (Swift Current Broncos), Parker Wotherspoon (Tri-City Americans)

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (4)

Oliver Bjorkstrand (Portland Winterhawks), Gage Goncalves (Everett Silvertips), Brandon Hagel (Red Deer Rebels), Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors)

UTAH MAMMOTH (2)

Dylan Guenther (Seattle Thunderbirds), Kailer Yamamoto (Spokane Chiefs)

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (10)

Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips), Adin Hill (Portland Winterhawks), Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors), Keegan Kolesar (Seattle Thunderbirds), Kaedan Korczak (Kelowna Rockets), Brayden McNabb (Kootenay ICE), Akira Schmid (Lethbridge Hurricanes), Colton Sissons (Kelowna Rockets), Mark Stone (Brandon Wheat Kings), Shea Theodore (Seattle Thunderbirds)

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