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2026 NHL Draft Profile | Beckett Hamilton, Red Deer Rebels

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:42:57 +0000

Beckett Hamilton's stock is rising. Just weeks after being named the captain of the Red Deer Rebels for 2026-27, the upstart forward is gearing up to, potentially, hear his name called at the 2026 NHL Draft. "(That) would mean the world," Hamilton grinned. "That's the goal since I was a young kid, so it would be unbelievable to hear my name get called. It's been a lot, like, when you think back on it, even what my parents had to do to help me get here, it's been a long, long road. Obviously, it's not over, and it's kind of just starting." The Canadian-American dual citizen paced the Rebels with 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points in 67 games in his draft year. But to get a full picture of his impact, you need to look not just at how many points he scored, but when he got them. The season marked a new position for Hamilton and saw significant roster turnover for the Central Division club. "He’s a puck possession player, wants it on his stick," President and General Manager Brent Sutter said. "(He's a) smart player that sees the ice well. Very heady player. It's his first yar playing centre, it took time for him to adjust and second half, he felt comfortable." https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2068445217532035557 Once Hamilton settled in, he was pure impact. The 5-foot-11, 174-pound took off for 14 goals (including three game-winners), 22 assists, and an even rating in 34 games. He also picked up as assist in a 5-4 win for Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game. "Obviously, you see this year we're quite a bit younger and don't have the same team as we did last year at all, but I think it's been good for us," Hamilton said of his changing role. "It's looking good for next year." Beyond game winners, the bulk of his tallies tied the game or opened the scoring for the Rebels. Despite entering the postseason as the underdogs in a 1v8 matchup against the Eastern Conference champion Prince Albert Raiders, Hamilton muscled out five points (2G-3A) in five games. Facing elimination and trailing 3-2 in Game 4, Hamilton buried a deceptive shot from the slot to tie the game and force overtime, where he served up the primary assist on Kalder Varga's OT dagger. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2039533855749943559 He scored again in Game 5, though Red Deer would ultimately bow out in a 5-4 heatbreaker. Hamilton was named the Rebels' Most Valuable Player for 2025-26 and has been announced as the incoming captain for September. He also got the nod from Hockey Canada to don the Maple Leaf for the first time at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship. With three goals and a +5 rating in five games, Hamilton finished second in goals by a Canadian skater and garnered further attention from NHL scouts. Hamilton has been leaning on his dad, Lee, who played four years with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers before turning pro and eventually returning to the WHL as a scout, throughout the draft process and looks forward to celebrating with his family- should his name be called. NHL Central Scouting has tagged Hamilton 33rd among all North American skaters in the agency's final rankings leading into the 2026 NHL Draft. Round 1 of the 2026 NHL Draft is set for Friday, June 26, with Rounds 2-7 to follow on Saturday, June 27.

2026 NHL Draft Profile | Giorgos Pantelas, Brandon Wheat Kings

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:04:07 +0000

The rapturous atmosphere inside Montreal's Bell Centre has converted countless kids to hockey fans over the decades. You can count Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Giorgos Pantelas as one of them. Watching the 2026 NHL Playoffs and cascades of fans in scarlet, whipping rally towels and cheering loud enough to shake the broadcast cameras, takes him right back to his childhood in Cartierville, and, later, Laval. "The Montreal atmosphere, it's amazing," Pantelas said. "Every time I'd go attend one of those games, I would just look around at every player. You would just dream to be in that moment in the center stage, really just playing for your team, for hockey, for everything." Pantelas originally played goalie, like his dad, Kyriakos, but had a tendency to stray from his net and jump up in the play. Instead, he found his calling on the blueline just like his original Habs hero, PK Subban. But he didn't know much about how to get to the NHL until his family took on a cross-country move, and he found himself playing at the Rink Hockey Academy in the Okanagan under coach and Hockey Hall-of-Famer Jarome Iginla. "I was in the same academy as players like (projected top 2026 NHL Draft pick) Gavin McKenna and (Dallas Stars prospect) Cameron Schmidt, and watching them move on (to the WHL), it was a great indicator that I should move there," Pantelas added. "I was a little inexperienced with the Western hockey side, coming from Quebec, but I always watched the Laval Rocket, and even in the QMJHL, I'd watch a few teams, and I felt like one of the biggest contributors to moving on would be coming through a league such as this." The Brandon Wheat Kings got their guy with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. In his rookie season, Pantelas made a splash by scoring his first WHL goal and getting in his first fight in the same game- a 4-1 home win over the Seattle Thunderbirds. "That was definitely my favorite game by far," Pantelas recalled. "It was my first real moment of like, 'Wow, like this is the next level'. After the game, I got taken onto the ice and I had a post-game interview in front of everyone else, and talking to the radio, and everyone was cheering for me once the guys got back to the room, it was just one of the most electric and just great moments coming out of the Western League." Wheat Kings General Manager and Head Coach Marty Murray says the 18-year-old approaches every practice, game, and even lengthy road trips with the same level of energy while developing a shutdown role for the East Division squad. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2038432013708075179 The 6-foot-2, 211-pound, right-shot defender logged six goals and 31 assists for 31 points and a +19 rating in 68 regular-season games in 2025-26 while taking on high-pressure matchups and increased minutes in important situations. "I just look at Gio as being a real solid defender," Murray said. "I can't help but think in the Stanley Cup Final, Jaccob Slavin got a lot of attention for good measure, just with his stick, and I kind of see Gio at the junior level being that equivalent. Just an amazing stick, kind of comes out of nowhere, and he can knock pucks down, he can pull pucks away. He's kind of a defence-first guy, I think that is hard to play against, and has some offensive abilities as well. His bread and butter is a defensive game, making it hard for opponents, but I think he's rounded out his offensive game a little bit, and I think that'll continue to grow here as he moves forward." Pantelas made his international debut at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he appeared in five games and put up a +2 rating to help Canada earn bronze, and was also tapped to compete in the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and 2026 WHL Prospects Game, where he scored on the powerplay to help lift Team East to a 5-4 win. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2034460026577056008 In a draft class that's been lauded for its defensive talent, Pantelas counts himself as grateful for being able to measure himself against his peers. "I look at it like, 'I keep playing against all these guys who are doing so good and are really good players'," Pantelas explained. "I'm just looking for more improvement. I get to learn off these guys playing against them, see how they're doing in the same league that I'm playing in." He's ranked 46th among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the agency's final rankings ahead of this weekend's NHL Draft and finished in the top 15 in three events at the annual NHL Combine. Those dreams that were born at the Bell Centre are closer than ever- and it's almost too much to absorb. "Just thinking of it, I'm kind of getting like shivers and stuff," Pantelas grinned. "It's just one of those moments that you never really see coming in your life. Your hope one day that you will make it there, but just hearing your name on the big stage would be amazing... lt's something that I really look forward to hopefully happening." The 2026 NHL Draft begins with Round 1 on Friday, June 26, and resumes with Rounds 2-7 taking place on Saturday, June 27.

Eight WHL players named to 2025-26 CHL All-Star and All-Rookie Teams

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:54:46 +0000

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today announced its First, Second, and Third All-Star Teams for the 2025-26 season, along with its All-Rookie Team.

Media members who regularly cover the CHL and the Member Leagues — the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) — participated in the voting process to determine this year’s CHL All-Star and All-Rookie teams. Ballots were cast based on regular-season performances, with voters selecting the top players from across the CHL’s three leagues to recognize outstanding individual achievements.

CHL First All-Star Team

Goaltender – Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s / OHL): 29-9-2-1 record, 2.07 GAA, .923 SV% & 6 SO in 41 GP during the 2025-26 season; signed by Ottawa as an undrafted free agent last summer, Fetterolf quickly emerged as one of the CHL’s top goaltenders during a historic rookie campaign with the 67’s. The 18-year-old from Sewickley, Pa., led the CHL in both goals-against average and save percentage, while his six shutouts set a new OHL record for the most by a rookie goaltender in a single season. An eligible prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, Fetterolf is ranked No. 11 among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings. Named the CHL Goaltender of the Year, Fetterolf became the first Ottawa 67’s player to receive the honour and just the second rookie or first-year CHL goaltender to capture the award, joining Martin Biron of the Beauport Harfangs in 1994-95.

Defenceman – Bryce Pickford (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 45G-38A, 83 PTS, +55 in 55 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Montreal Canadiens prospect authored one of the greatest goal-scoring seasons by a defenceman in modern CHL history, scoring 45 goals — the highest single-season total by a CHL blueliner in the 21st century and the most since Greg Hawgood’s 48-goal campaign in 1987-88. The 20-year-old captain from Chauvin, Alta., was the only defenceman to finish among the CHL’s top 10 goal scorers, while his 19 power-play goals and 11 game-winning goals both ranked among the league leaders. Named CHL Defenceman of the Year, Pickford became the second Medicine Hat Tigers player to win the award, joining Kris Russell in 2006-07.

Defenceman – Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts / OHL): 28G-42A, 70 PTS, +46 in 56 GP during the 2025-26 season; Aitcheson put together a record-setting season in Barrie, leading all OHL defencemen with 70 points while establishing a new Colts franchise record for goals by a defenceman with 28. The New York Islanders prospect and Toronto, Ont., native also finished among the OHL leaders with a +46 rating and six game-winning goals, while his 15 power-play goals led all OHL blueliners. Named the OHL’s Defenceman of the Year, Aitcheson closed out his Colts career as the franchise’s all-time leader in both goals (63) and points (171) by a defenceman.

Forward – Sam O’Reilly (Kitchener Rangers / OHL): 29G-42A, 71 PTS, +20 in 56 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect was named the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player after making an immediate impact with the Kitchener Rangers following a mid-season move from the London Knights. The 20-year-old from Toronto recorded 43 points and a +31 rating in 28 games with Kitchener, helping the Rangers finish atop the Western Conference standings for the first time since 2008. O’Reilly also won 58 per cent of his faceoffs and was recognized in the OHL Coaches Poll as the Western Conference’s smartest player, best faceoff man, and best defensive forward. He carried that form into the spring, earning both OHL Playoff MVP and Memorial Cup MVP honours while leading Kitchener to a Memorial Cup title. With that sweep, he became just the fourth player in CHL history to win regular-season, playoff, and Memorial Cup MVP honours in the same season, joining Brad Richards, Corey Perry, and Mitch Marner. The championship also marked his second straight Memorial Cup title after winning with London a year earlier, placing him among a rare group of players to win back-to-back Memorial Cups with different teams.

Forward – Maxim Massé (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL): 51G-51A, 102 PTS, +62 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Anaheim Ducks prospect captured the CHL’s David Branch Player of the Year Award after being named the QMJHL’s Most Valuable Player and winning the first scoring title of his QMJHL career. The 20-year-old from Rimouski, Que., finished with 102 points, including 51 goals and 51 assists, to become one of only two CHL players to surpass both the 50-goal and 100-point marks in 2025-26. Massé also tied for the CHL lead in goals, ranked second in the QMJHL with a +62 rating and eight game-winning goals, and helped lead Chicoutimi to its first QMJHL Championship title in 32 years. With his CHL MVP honour, Massé became just the sixth player in CHL history to win both CHL Rookie of the Year and the CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award over his career, joining Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Alex DeBrincat, Alexis Lafrenière, and Gavin McKenna.

Forward – Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 45G-59A, 104 PTS, +47 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; the 18-year-old from Osoyoos, B.C., finished second in scoring among all WHL and CHL skaters with 104 points in 68 games. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Liam is ranked 20th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings. His 45 goals were tied for second in the WHL, while his 59 assists ranked fifth across the league. One of only four CHL players to reach the 100-point mark in 2025-26, Ruck also tied for third in the CHL with 10 game-winning goals and helped Medicine Hat finish atop the Central Division. Originally selected ninth overall by the Tigers in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Ruck was also a member of Medicine Hat’s 2025 WHL Championship team a year ago.

CHL Second All-Star Team

Goaltender – Rudy Guimond (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL): 40-7-1-2 record, 2.27 GAA, .922 SV% & 3 SO in 50 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Detroit Red Wings prospect captured the QMJHL’s Patrick-Roy Trophy after a dominant season with the Moncton Wildcats. Guimond led all QMJHL goaltenders in wins, goals-against average, save percentage, and minutes played, while his 40 victories also led the CHL. The 20-year-old became the first CHL goaltender to reach the 40-win mark since Dustin Wolf in 2018-19 and just the sixth QMJHL netminder since 2000 to do so. Guimond helped guide Moncton to a second consecutive QMJHL regular-season championship and concluded his QMJHL career with a league-record 2.14 career goals-against average.

Defenceman – Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds / OHL): 18G-30A, 48 PTS, +27 in 45 GP during the 2025-26 season; ranked No. 2 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Reid established himself as the highest-ranked current CHL skater in this year’s draft class. The 18-year-old from Chesterfield, Mich., averaged better than a point per game with the Soo Greyhounds and was one of just six first-year draft-eligible defencemen across the CHL to do so. A finalist for the OHL’s Defenceman of the Year Award, Reid was recognized in four categories in the OHL Coaches Poll, including as the Western Conference’s Best Offensive Defenceman. He was also named the CHL’s Top Draft Prospect for 2025-26, becoming the eighth defenceman to claim the award since it was first presented in 1991. Reid also marked the second straight OHL blueliner to receive the honour, following Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer, who won the award a year ago before capturing this year’s Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.

Defenceman – Tommy Bleyl (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL): 13G-68A, 81 PTS, +58 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season; Bleyl delivered a historic rookie campaign from the blue line, setting a new QMJHL record for points by a rookie defenceman with 81 in 63 games. Ranked No. 17 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, he also led the entire QMJHL with 68 assists — the highest single-season total by a CHL rookie defenceman in the 21st century. Bleyl became only the second player in QMJHL history to win both the Émile-Bouchard Trophy as Defenceman of the Year and the Sidney-Crosby Trophy as Rookie of the Year in the same season, joining Dmitry Kulikov. After helping Moncton capture a second consecutive QMJHL regular-season title, he was also named the CHL Rookie of the Year, becoming just the fourth defenceman to win the award after Philippe Boucher, Bryan Berard, and Landon DuPont, as well as the first Wildcats player to receive the honour.

Forward – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit / OHL): 37G-60A, 97 PTS, +9 in 67 GP during the 2025-26 season; ranked No. 8 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Klepov captured the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the OHL’s leading scorer and the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the league’s top-scoring right winger after finishing with 97 points in 67 games. The 17-year-old from Deerfield Beach, Fla., became the first rookie in his first two years of OHL eligibility to lead the league in scoring since Jack Valiquette in 1973-74 and the first rookie to lead any CHL Member League in scoring since Patrick Kane in 2006-07. Klepov’s 37 goals tied Cole Perfetti’s Saginaw Spirit rookie record, while his 60 assists and 97 points established new franchise rookie benchmarks.

Forward – Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 21G-87A, 108 PTS, +45 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Ruck captured the Bob Clarke Trophy and the CHL Top Scorer Award after leading the WHL and the entire CHL with 108 points. Ranked No. 23 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old from Osoyoos, B.C., recorded a CHL-best 87 assists in 68 games, serving as one of the driving forces behind a Medicine Hat team that led the WHL in goals, owned the league’s top power play, and finished atop the Central Division. Ruck’s twin brother, Liam, finished second in both the WHL and CHL scoring races with 104 points, making Markus and Liam the first siblings in CHL history to finish first and second in league scoring in the same season.

Forward – Tij Iginla (Kelowna Rockets / WHL): 41G-49A, 90 PTS, +47 in 48 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Utah Mammoth prospect returned from an injury-shortened 2024-25 campaign to produce at one of the highest rates in the CHL. The 19-year-old from Lake Country, B.C., led all WHL skaters and ranked second across the CHL with 1.88 points per game, finishing with 90 points in just 48 contests. Iginla established new career highs in both assists and points, while his 41 goals ranked tied for sixth among WHL skaters. He was also one of just five players across the CHL to top 40 goals and 40 assists in 2025-26. Selected sixth overall by Utah in the 2024 NHL Draft, Iginla has recorded 225 points in 184 career WHL regular-season games.

CHL Third All-Star Team

Goaltender – Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George Cougars / WHL): 32-13-0-0 record, 2.51 GAA, .919 SV% & 4 SO in 46 GP during the 2025-26 season; the San Jose Sharks prospect became the first Prince George Cougars goaltender to capture the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy and just the third netminder in franchise history to earn the honour. The 6-foot-6 netminder from North Vancouver, B.C., led the WHL in both wins (32) and save percentage (.919), tied for second in shutouts (4), and ranked fourth in goals-against average (2.51). Ravensbergen helped Prince George record a third consecutive 40-win season, while allowing two goals or fewer in 25 of his 46 appearances. Undrafted into the WHL, he owns 91 career regular-season wins across three seasons with the Cougars.

Defenceman – Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / WHL): 18G-55A, 73 PTS, +59 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season; one year after being named CHL Rookie of the Year, DuPont continued to build on his exceptional start in Everett. The 17-year-old from Calgary, Alta., established career highs across the board with 18 goals, 55 assists, 73 points, and a +59 rating in 63 games. Eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft, DuPont finished tied for fourth among all WHL defencemen in points, while his 55 assists were tied for second among league blueliners. The right-shot defenceman also added 28 power-play assists, the second-highest total among all WHL skaters.

Defenceman – Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL): 28G-50A, 78 PTS, +32 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Rudolph posted one of the top offensive seasons by a WHL defenceman in his NHL Draft year, leading the Prince Albert Raiders in scoring while helping the club capture the East Division title. Ranked No. 5 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old from Lacombe, Alta., finished third among WHL defencemen in both goals and points, while his 28 goals tied a Raiders franchise record for goals by a defenceman, matching the mark set by Josh Morrissey in 2013-14. Originally selected first overall by Prince Albert in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Rudolph also represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and captained Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game.

Forward – Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts / OHL): 33G-56A, 89 PTS, +40 in 54 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Barrie Colts co-captain was named the CHL Sportsman Player of the Year after delivering one of the OHL’s most complete seasons. The Utah Mammoth prospect led Barrie with 89 points in just 54 games while taking only 29 penalty minutes, and his 1.65 points-per-game average ranked second in the OHL. Beaudoin also finished tied for the OHL lead with 10 game-winning goals and won 55 per cent of his faceoffs. In the OHL Coaches Poll, the 20-year-old from Kanata, Ont., led all Eastern Conference players with four first-place finishes — hardest worker, best defensive forward, best on faceoffs, and best penalty killer.

Forward – Nathan Aspinall (Flint Firebirds / OHL): 33G-61A, 94 PTS, +21 in 65 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Flint Firebirds captain helped lead his club to the best season in its 10-year history while setting a new franchise record with 61 assists. The 6-foot-7 winger from Markham, Ont., finished with 94 points, a 47-point improvement from the previous season, and placed fifth in the OHL with 250 shots on goal. A fifth-round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2024 NHL Draft, Aspinall also tied for the OHL lead with eight first goals and converted on four of six shootout attempts. His breakout campaign earned him OHL Player of the Month honours in November and recognition in both the hardest shot and best playmaker categories in the Western Conference portion of the OHL Coaches Poll.

Forward – JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers / WHL): 42G-55A, 97 PTS, +13 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Hurlbert enjoyed one of the most productive rookie seasons in Kamloops Blazers history, recording 97 points to surpass Scottie Upshall’s previous franchise rookie benchmark of 87. Ranked No. 12 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2026 NHL Draft, the Allen, Texas product led all WHL rookies in scoring and tied Nikita Klepov for the most points by any CHL rookie in 2025-26. Hurlbert became just the third player in Blazers history to win the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year, joining Upshall and Ron Shudra. He also ranked among WHL leaders in points, goals, first goals, and assists while serving as an alternate captain in his first WHL season.

CHL All-Rookie Team

Goaltender – Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s / OHL): 29-9-2-1 record, 2.07 GAA, .923 SV% & 6 SO in 41 GP during the 2025-26 season; Fetterolf’s first CHL season produced one of the top rookie goaltending campaigns in recent CHL and OHL history. The 18-year-old from Sewickley, Pa., set an Ottawa 67’s franchise record with a 2.07 goals-against average, while his six shutouts established a new OHL rookie record. Fetterolf also shared the Dave Pinkney Trophy with Jaeden Nelson as the OHL’s lowest goals-against tandem and received the F.W. “Dinty” Moore Trophy as the rookie goaltender with the league’s lowest goals-against average. An eligible prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, Fetterolf is ranked No. 11 among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings.

Defenceman – Tommy Bleyl (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL): 13G-68A, 81 PTS, +58 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season; Bleyl finished second among all QMJHL rookies with 81 points, setting a league record for points by a rookie defenceman. His 68 assists led the QMJHL regardless of position and represented the highest single-season total by a CHL rookie defenceman in the 21st century. Ranked 17th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Bleyl ended the season with three QMJHL trophies — the Sidney-Crosby Trophy, Émile-Bouchard Trophy, and Raymond-Lagacé Trophy — before being named CHL Rookie of the Year.

Defenceman – Levi Harper (Saginaw Spirit / OHL): 12G-45A, 57 PTS, -3 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Harper made an immediate impact with Saginaw, setting a new Spirit record for points by a rookie defenceman. The 17-year-old from Tampa, Fla., recorded 57 points in 68 games while seeing significant minutes on the Spirit blue line. A 2027 NHL Draft prospect, Harper joined Saginaw after winning gold with the United States at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and later represented his country at the 2026 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship. He also earned the OHL’s Bobby Smith Trophy as Scholastic Player of the Year after posting a 93.2 per cent academic average and graduating a full year early.

Forward – Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL): 29G-55A, 84 PTS, +33 in 67 GP during the 2025-26 season; Malhotra emerged as one of the OHL’s most productive rookies in his first season with the Brantford Bulldogs. The 6-foot-2 centre recorded 84 points in 67 games, setting a new franchise record for points by a Bulldogs rookie. Ranked sixth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Malhotra also scored eight game-winning goals, produced 30 power-play points, and was a finalist among the Eastern Conference’s top stickhandlers in the OHL Coaches Poll. His strong start included points in 11 of his first 12 games, highlighted by a five-point performance against Sudbury on September 27.

Forward – JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers / WHL): 42G-55A, 97 PTS, +13 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Hurlbert’s outstanding rookie season saw him become the highest-scoring first-year player in Kamloops Blazers history. The 6-foot forward led all WHL rookies and tied for the CHL rookie scoring lead with 97 points, while his 42 goals ranked tied for fourth among WHL skaters. The Allen, Texas, native became just the third rookie in Blazers history to score 40 goals in a season, joining Scottie Upshall and Rudolfs Balcers. He was also named to the WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team and finished as the No. 12-ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings.

Forward – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit / OHL): 37G-60A, 97 PTS, +9 in 67 GP during the 2025-26 season; Klepov became just the third player in OHL history to win both the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy and the Emms Family Award as Rookie of the Year in the same season, joining Jack Valiquette and Patrick Kane. The 17-year-old Saginaw Spirit forward led the OHL with 97 points and became the first rookie to lead any CHL Member League in scoring since Kane did so with London in 2006-07. Ranked No. 8 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Klepov recorded at least three points in a game 13 times and earned OHL Rookie of the Month honours in October, January, and February.

CHL announces order of selection, changes for 2026 CHL Import Draft

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:04:11 +0000

New for this year’s draft, 20-year-old import players will be eligible to be selected in any round, while 16-year-old import players may only be selected in the first round.

The Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) hold the first overall pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, set for Tuesday, June 30, at 11 a.m. ET. The Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) currently hold the No. 2 selection, while the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL) own the third overall pick. The Guelph Storm of the OHL, hosts of the 2027 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota, round out the top four after moving up in the draft order last week through a trade with the Erie Otters (see the complete draft order below).

For the second straight year, the CHL Import Draft will consist of three rounds as the CHL enters its second season with three import player spots available on each club’s roster. Under updated rules for the 2026 CHL Import Draft, 20-year-old import players will be eligible to be selected in any round, while 16-year-old import players may also be selected, but only in the first round. CHL clubs may carry a maximum of one 16-year-old import player per season, and that player cannot be traded or replaced by another import player during his 16-year-old season. If a 16-year-old import player is released to another level of hockey during the regular season or deleted from a club’s roster, that club will be limited to two import players for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs. CHL clubs have been permitted to trade selections in the 2027 CHL Import Draft since May 5, 2026, while 2026 selections may continue to be traded until Monday, June 29.

For the first time in the history of the CHL Import Draft, the Oshawa Generals hold the first overall pick. It also marks the first time the Generals have held a top-five selection at the event, with their only previous top-10 pick coming in 2010 when they chose Danish forward Nicklas Jensen eighth overall. Last year, Oshawa selected Onni Kalto 41st overall with its first pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, and the Finnish forward went on to become one of four Generals skaters to reach the 20-goal plateau, finishing with 29 points over 62 games during the 2025-26 season. Oshawa’s third-round pick, Vadim Smirnov, also contributed 21 points, including 10 goals, across 61 contests. Over the years, the Generals have developed several notable import talents, including Swedish forward Tobias Lindberg, who helped Oshawa capture both the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup in 2015, Danish first-round NHL Draft pick Nicklas Jensen, Czech defenceman Jan Snopek, and recent Finnish standout Rasmus Kumpulainen.

Although the Baie-Comeau Drakkar have twice selected first overall in the history of the CHL Import Draft, 2026 marks the first time the club has held the No. 2 pick at the event. At last year’s CHL Import Draft, the Drakkar used their first-round pick, 36th overall, to select Italian forward Jacopo De Luca, who became just the seventh Italian player ever chosen in the history of the draft. De Luca went on to record 25 points in 56 games during the 2025-26 season, finishing fifth in team scoring, while third-round pick Filip Vlk of Czechia added seven goals and seven assists over 55 contests. Baie-Comeau has also built a strong track record of developing talent through the CHL Import Draft, highlighted by Russian forwards Valentin Zykov and Ivan Chekhovich, who both delivered high-end offensive seasons with the Drakkar, along with Czech forward Matyas Melovsky, a 200-point producer during his time in Baie-Comeau, and Latvian defenceman Niks Fenenko, a steady presence on the club’s blue line over three seasons.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes hold the third overall pick of the 2026 CHL Import Draft, marking the second time in franchise history they have held the No. 3 selection and the third time they have owned a top-three pick at the event. At last year’s draft, the Hurricanes selected Czech defenceman Tomas Malinek in the second round, and he went on to record six points over 59 games during the 2025-26 season. Lethbridge also added Lithuanian forward Mykolas Skadauskas, one of just four Lithuanian players ever selected in the CHL Import Draft and one of the first two taken in 17 years, who registered six assists across 34 regular-season games. Over the years, the Hurricanes have successfully used the CHL Import Draft to add players who made an immediate impact in Lethbridge and carried that success beyond the WHL, from Slovak forward Tomas Kopecky and Swiss defenceman Luca Sbisa to Finnish goaltender Juha Metsola, who helped backstop the club to the 2008 WHL Championship Series.

The CHL Import Draft has long served as an important pathway for international players to develop in the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL before later hearing their names called at the NHL Draft. At the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles, six CHL players selected through the CHL Import Draft were chosen by NHL clubs: Radim Mrtka (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL / Buffalo Sabres), Max Pšenička (Portland Winterhawks, WHL / Utah Mammoth), Julius Sumpf (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL / Chicago Blackhawks), David Lewandowski (Saskatoon Blades, WHL / Edmonton Oilers), Carlos Händel (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL / Montréal Canadiens), and Filip Ekberg (Ottawa 67’s, OHL / Carolina Hurricanes).

The event has also helped bring a number of future NHL standouts to the CHL, including Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL), Zdeno Chara (Prince George Cougars / WHL), Marian Hossa (Portland Winterhawks / WHL), Mikael Backlund (Kelowna Rockets / WHL), Oliver Bjorkstrand (Portland Winterhawks / WHL), Gabriel Landeskog (Kitchener Rangers / OHL), Nikita Zadorov (London Knights / OHL), Rasmus Andersson (Barrie Colts / OHL), Olli Määttä (London Knights / OHL), Alexander Radulov (Québec Remparts / QMJHL), David Krejci (Gatineau Olympiques / QMJHL), and Nico Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL). That list also includes two-time Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies / QMJHL), who captured the award for the second time in his career during the 2025-26 season, as well as recent 2026 Stanley Cup champions Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts / OHL) and Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL), who helped the Carolina Hurricanes capture their second championship in franchise history.

Since the first CHL Import Draft was held in 1992, over 2,310 players from outside of Canada and the United States have been selected at this annual event.

On Tuesday, June 30, fans and media can follow along with the 2026 CHL Import Draft and view full results at chl.ca/draft.

Order of Selections for the 2026 CHL Import Draft (as of 11:00 a.m. ET on June 23)

First Round		Second Round		Third Round
No.	Team	No.	Team	No.	Team
1	Oshawa Generals	62	Brantford Bulldogs (from Oshawa)	123	Oshawa Generals
2	Baie-Comeau Drakkar	63	Baie-Comeau Drakkar	124	Baie-Comeau Drakkar
3	Lethbridge Hurricanes	64	Lethbridge Hurricanes	125	Lethbridge Hurricanes
4	Guelph Storm (From Erie)	65	Erie Otters	126	Erie Otters
5	Rimouski Océanic	66	Chicoutimi Saguenéens (from Rimouski)	127	Rimouski Océanic
6	Everett Silvertips (from Swift Current)	67	Swift Current Broncos	128	Swift Current Broncos
7	Brampton Steelheads	68	Brampton Steelheads	129	Brampton Steelheads
8	Gatineau Olympiques	69	Gatineau Olympiques	130	Gatineau Olympiques
9	Vancouver Giants	70	Vancouver Giants	131	Vancouver Giants
10	Sarnia Sting	71	Sarnia Sting	132	Sarnia Sting
11	Victoriaville Tigres	72	Moncton Wildcats (from Victoriaville)	133	Victoriaville Tigres
12	Tri-City Americans (from Wenatchee)	73	Everett Silvertips (from Wenatchee)	134	Wenatchee Wild
13	Brantford Bulldogs (from Sudbury)	74	Kitchener Rangers (from Sudbury)	135	Sudbury Wolves
14	Saint John Sea Dogs	75	Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (from Saint John)	136	Saint John Sea Dogs
15	Moose Jaw Warriors	76	Moose Jaw Warriors	137	Moose Jaw Warriors
16	Saginaw Spirit	77	Saginaw Spirit	138	North Bay Battalion (from Saginaw)
17	Val-d'Or Foreurs	78	Saint John Sea Dogs (from Val-d'Or)	139	Val-d'Or Foreurs
18	Regina Pats (from Red Deer)	79	Red Deer Rebels	140	Red Deer Rebels
19	Erie Otters (from Guelph)	80	Guelph Storm	141	Guelph Storm
20	Halifax Mooseheads	81	Halifax Mooseheads	142	Halifax Mooseheads
21	Swift Current Broncos (from Tri-City)	82	Calgary Hitmen (from Tri-City)	143	Tri-City Americans
22	Owen Sound Attack	83	Owen Sound Attack	144	Owen Sound Attack
23	Chicoutimi Saguenéens (from Cape Breton)	84	Shawinigan Cataractes (from Cape Breton)	145	Cape Breton Eagles
24	Red Deer Rebels (from Regina Pats)	85	Regina Pats	146	Regina Pats
25	Niagara IceDogs	86	Niagara IceDogs	147	Niagara IceDogs
26	Sherbrooke Phoenix	87	Sherbrooke Phoenix	148	Sherbrooke Phoenix
27	Victoria Royals	88	Penticton Vees (from Victoria)	149	Victoria Royals
28	Flint Firebirds (from Kingston)	89	Flint Firebirds (from Kingston)	150	Kingston Frontenacs
29	Québec Remparts	90	Québec Remparts	151	Québec Remparts
30	Portland Winterhawks	91	Swift Current Broncos (from Portland)	152	Portland Winterhawks
31	Saginaw Spirit (from North Bay)	92	North Bay Battalion	153	North Bay Battalion
32	Charlottetown Islanders	93	Charlottetown Islanders	154	Charlottetown Islanders
33	Seattle Thunderbirds	94	Seattle Thunderbirds	155	Seattle Thunderbirds
34	Soo Greyhounds	95	Soo Greyhounds	156	Soo Greyhounds
35	Shawinigan Cataractes	96	Shawinigan Cataractes	157	Cape Breton Eagles (from Shawinigan)
36	Spokane Chiefs	97	Spokane Chiefs	158	Spokane Chiefs
37	Peterborough Petes	98	Peterborough Petes	159	Peterborough Petes
38	Newfoundland Regiment	99	Newfoundland Regiment	160	Newfoundland Regiment
39	Kamloops Blazers	100	Kamloops Blazers	161	Kamloops Blazers
40	London Knights	101	London Knights	162	London Knights
41	Drummondville Voltigeurs	102	Drummondville Voltigeurs	163	Drummondville Voltigeurs
42	Saskatoon Blades	103	Saskatoon Blades	164	Saskatoon Blades
43	Flint Firebirds	104	Kingston Frontenacs (from Flint)	165	Kingston Frontenacs (from Flint)
44	Saint John Sea Dogs (from Blainville-Boisbriand)	105	Blainville-Boisbriand Armada	166	Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
45	Brandon Wheat Kings	106	Brandon Wheat Kings	167	Brandon Wheat Kings
46	Windsor Spitfires	107	Windsor Spitfires	168	Windsor Spitfires
47	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	108	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	169	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
48	Calgary Hitmen	109	Everett Silvertips (from Calgary)	170	Calgary Hitmen
49	Barrie Colts	110	Barrie Colts	171	Barrie Colts
50	Rimouski Océanic (from Chicoutimi)	111	Chicoutimi Saguenéens	172	Chicoutimi Saguenéens
51	Edmonton Oil Kings (from Kelowna)	112	Kelowna Rockets	173	Kelowna Rockets
52	Ottawa 67's	113	Ottawa 67's	174	Ottawa 67's
53	Moncton Wildcats	114	Moncton Wildcats	175	Moncton Wildcats
54	Saskatoon Blades (from Prince George)	115	Prince George Cougars	176	Prince George Cougars
55	Kitchener Rangers	116	Kitchener Rangers	177	Sudbury Wolves (from Kitchener)
56	Edmonton Oil Kings	117	Edmonton Oil Kings	178	Kelowna Rockets (from Edmonton)
57	Brantford Bulldogs	118	Sudbury Wolves (From Brantford)	179	Oshawa Generals (from Brantford)
58	Victoria Royals (from Penticton)	119	Penticton Vees	180	Penticton Vees
59	Medicine Hat Tigers	120	Medicine Hat Tigers	181	Medicine Hat Tigers
60	Prince Albert Raiders	121	Prince Albert Raiders	182	Prince Albert Raiders
61	Everett Silvertips	122	Everett Silvertips	183	Everett Silvertips

2026 NHL Draft Profile | Ben MacBeath, Calgary Hitmen

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:20:46 +0000

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked(edly good at hockey) this way comes." Ben MacBeath's rookie run with the Calgary Hitmen has been far from a Shakespearean tragedy. Rather, the 6-foot-2.25, 196-pound defender has become Mr. Consistent for his hometown club. The left-shot rearguard logged seven goals and 44 assists for 51 points in 67 regular-season games, highlighted by a pair of six-game point streaks that saw him net 10 points on both occasions. "I feel like my coach can trust me to bring it every night," MacBeath said. "I feel like I'm really proud of that, and I think I'm reliable for my team in that way. It's definitely fast. There are a lot of skilled players, and I feel like finding the pace of play and getting my gaps right for the style of play that it is, I feel like that's been the biggest adjustment. But I feel like I've done it well and my skating allows me to be in the right spot." 2025 WHL Coach of the Year finalist Dustin Friesen is all too happy to confirm that sentiment. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1972124212149342545 MacBeath led all Hitmen defencemen in points, while ranking 16th in scoring and 11th in assists among all WHL blueliners. He also did it on a young Calgary club that saw 10 first-year skaters suit up for more than 50 games. "Just really steady," Friesen said. "Being new to the league, he adjusted really quickly, but he was extremely low-maintenance and a really good teammate. His biggest X factor is moving his feet, getting up in the rush and moving his feet to shut down plays in the D-zone and getting separation on the breakouts... Whether it's a quick tight turn or quick wheel to the net, but just gets that separation, gets the puck up north, and then he activates really well." The 18-year-old also earned some impressive nods during awards seasons as a finalist for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for WHL Rookie of the Year and the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy for Scholastic Player of the Year. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2067261774764888189 For MacBeath, there's some extra meaning in spending his NHL Draft year with his hometown club. It's where he fell in love with the game, saw his first pro matches, and even won a CSSHL U18 Championship with the Edge School (that stacked roster includes fellow 2026 Draft eligible Zach Olsen, 2025 WHL Champion and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Luke Vlooswyk, and projected top 2027 pick Landon DuPont). His NHL dream was sparked by watching and getting to know his neighbour, beloved Flames winger Curtis Glencross. In fact, MacBeath counts a Glencross-signed Hockey Night in Canada towel as one of his most prized possessions. It makes busy nights at the Saddledome feel a little surreal- especially during big games like the annual Teddy Bear Toss, where he assisted the toss-triggering goal in front of more than 16,500 fans. "To see that rink full is pretty cool," MacBeath added. "I go to Flames games, and I went to Hitmen games growing up, so you know, to be on that ice in front of all those people is a really special moment, and I'll definitely remember it forever." MacBeath enters Draft week ranked 22nd among all North American Skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings. He's gained national team experience with five games played and a +5 rating at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship and placed in the top 20 in three events at the 2026 NHL Combine. Now, it's time to see which NHL club will take a chance on the sturdy defender. The 2026 NHL Draft begins with Round 1 on Friday, June 26, at 5:00 p.m. MT and resumes on Saturday, June 27, for Rounds 2-7.

Americans great Price, former WHL franchise owner Burke named to Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:26:54 +0000

All hail King Carey. WHL alumnus Carey Price and Brian Burke have been named to the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2026, along with fellow CHL alum Patrice Bergeron, Cindy Curley, Pekka Rinne and Keith Tkachuk. "Hockey has taught me a lot of life lessons, especially persistence and never giving up," Price said in a press release. "The game has given me the opportunity to work with dedicated and talented people, and I’m especially grateful to live a dream playing my entire career in Montreal." Price, 38, spent 15 NHL seasons backing the bleu, blanc et rouge (2007-2022) and got the call to the hall in his second year of eligibility. The Anahim Lake, B.C. product is Montreal's all-time wins leader with 361 victories in 712 games. He owns a career 361-261-79 regular-season record, a 2.51 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and 49 shutouts. In 2014-15, Price was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender, the Hart Trophy as the player most valuable to his team, the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding regular-season player and the William M. Jennings Trophy for stingiest goaltending tandem. He also earned the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the 'player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey' in 2021-22. Price backstopped Montreal to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final and was a fixture on Canada's national teams, winning gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the World Cup of Hockey 2016 and the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship. He is tied for seventh in NHL history in GAA and tied for fifth in save percentage among goalies with at least 500 games played. It's a long road that had an important stop in Kennewick, Washington. Price suited up for parts of five seasons with the Tri-City Americans from 2002-2007. "Carey was good enough at 16 to be a starter in the Western Hockey League," Former Ams and current Wenatchee Wild bench boss Don Nachbaur said. "There's not many young goaltenders that follow suit. So it's not about your age, it's about whether you're ready to play. Just work ethic, compete every day." Price was named the recipient of the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy in 2007 as WHL Goaltender of the Year and earned Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Year honours that same year. In 2015-16, as part of the WHL's 50th anniversary season celebrations, Price was ranked third on the league's Top 50 Players of All Time list. Burke, who enters the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category, purchased the Americans franchise in the 2002-03 season, when Price was a rookie, before later selling it to members of the current ownership group, including General Manager Bob Tory, Stu Barnes and Olaf Kolzig. The Providence, Rhode Island product also owned the Chilliwack Bruins from 2006-07 to 2010-11. His NHL management career dates back to 1987, when Burke broke into the NHL as vice president and director of hockey operations for the Vancouver Canucks. Burke's storied career saw stops with the Hartford Whalers, NHL office and a return to the Canucks before winning the Stanley Cup as executive vice president of the Anaheim Ducks. The 2006-07 Ducks featured Conn Smythe Trophy winner and WHL legend Scott Niedermayer, as well as up-and-comer Ryan Getzlaf, who was less than two years removed from playing with the Calgary Hitmen. Burke went on to nab team president roles with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins. "I hadn’t expected this today," Burke said in the Hockey Hall of Fame press conference. "No one does. No one starts playing hockey and says, ‘Someday I’m going to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame,’ unless you’re an idiot... You make an all-star team, and then you should never think about it. I never thought about it." The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held in Toronto on November 9, 2026.

2026 NHL Draft Profile | Zach Olsen, Saskatoon Blades

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:10:27 +0000

From the outside, Zach Olsen's rise through the NHL Draft ranks might have some scratching their heads. The bare stats don't necessarily fly off the page- but as Olsen's coaches, teammates and opponents will tell you, goals and assists don't tell the full story. In fact, in a recent poll by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, the Saskatoon Blades winger was voted the most underrated player in the 2026 NHL Draft class by his peers. "He's always moving," Blades star and fellow draft-eligible forward Cooper Williams said. "He's big and he's strong, and when you add his speed to it, he's hard to stop in puck battles, and he's just always competing as hard as he can." https://twitter.com/scottcwheeler/status/2067013040051032424 In a sophomore season that saw him switch from centre to right wing, Olsen posted 18 goals (including three game-winners) and 16 assists for 34 points in 57 regular-season games, along with a team-leading 79 penalty minutes. Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva sees shades of gritty Washington Capitals alternate captain and Stanley Cup champion Tom Wilson in the youngster's game. "He's such a presence when he's on the ice. The opponent knows when Tom Wilson is on the ice, and our opponents know when Zach's out there, " DaSilva explained. "He can play up and down your lineup. He can play a fourth-line checking role, where you need someone to just be responsible defensively, bring energy, and get on the forecheck, and then he can also play in the top six, on your top line, where he's on the forecheck, creating time and space for his teammates, getting them the puck and getting open and getting to the net, and he can finish really well. He's really a complementary player to anyone he's playing with." Clocking in at 6-foot-1.25 and 207 pounds, Olsen prides himself on the work he's put in to round out his 200-foot game without losing his sandpaper approach. "I definitely like to get gritty and get dirty," Olsen added. "I like to go to the dirty areas, go to the corners, get to the net front, and kind of just try to get under people's skin. I know my physicality, definitely, is a huge part of my game, and I know in the NHL there are lots of physical guys out there, so I think it'll translate well." https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2068809172402262021 The Calgary, Alta. product tacked on another six points (2G-4A) in 10 playoff games to upset the Edmonton Oil Kings before falling to the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Prince Albert Raiders and got the call to Team Canada for the first time shortly afterwards. Olsen notched a pair of goals in five games for Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, scored for Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game and has raised his NHL Central Scouting ranking to 36th among all North American skaters. He placed in the top 20 in five of 15 tests at the 2026 NHL Combine, including a fifth-place finish in anaerobic fitness- peak power output (watts/kg). And he's doing this while managing additional health factors. Olsen was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was in the second grade. "I got super, super sick," Olsen said. "My parents noticed even weeks before that, that something was going on with me. I wasn’t acting like myself. I was drinking lots and lots of water, going to the bathroom a lot, and so one day, my mom decided that it’d be best if we'd take me to the Children’s Hospital. They ended up running some tests and found out that I have Type 1 diabetes. So it was definitely scary at first, kind of learning what diabetes is, and I didn’t know if I’d be able to play hockey." Like many young athletes who've faced a similar diagnosis, Olsen dialled into Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi's journey. He leapt back into elite hockey and even captured a CSSHL U18 Championship with Calgary's Edge School before making the jump to the WHL. Now, he's part of a wave of aspiring professionals carrying the torch. Olsen and his Blades teammate, Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Evan Gardner, have advocated for diabetes awareness in Saskatoon and met with local schoolkids to share more about the condition and how it's simply become a part of their game day routines. "(It) feels like I've had it my entire life, so it's kind of just another thing I do," Olsen shrugged. "Got to make sure my blood sugar is right, make sure I'm eating right, just little things like that. (I) just want to help show other younger kids, maybe who are getting diagnosed and they don't know what it is and if they can play, that it's not over and there's always more, and you can keep doing what you do." That leadership extends to the Saskatoon locker room, where DaSilva says Olsen has established himself as a young man that his teammates look up to. "He's a guy that is beloved by his teammates," DaSilva added. "He's a guy that can hold court and everyone's kind of drawn to. He's just got that, you know, great positive energy. He's just emerged as a leader amongst the younger guys, but now, obviously, with some of our older players departing this year, we're going to need guys to step up, and we'll definitely be looking to Zach to do that." Olsen, along with teammates Williams and defenceman Brayden Klimpke, will be glued to the draft boards this weekend. Round 1 of the 2026 NHL Draft begins on Friday, June 26, at 5:00 p.m. MT, with Rounds 2-7 running the following day.

Event-worn memorabilia bundles from 2026 WHL Prospects Game available via DASH Auctions this week

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:30:47 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today event-worn memorabilia from the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass will be available to fans exclusively through DASH Auctions.

Don’t miss your opportunity to own a piece of WHL history from the 2026 WHL Prospects Game. Fans can bid on event-worn memorabilia bundles that include practice-worn jerseys and game-worn red or black Kevlar performance socks beginning Wednesday, June 24, at 6 p.m. MT. The online auction closes Thursday, July 2, at 8 p.m. MT.

Each player’s practice-worn jersey is a one-of-a-kind Under Armour jersey produced exclusively for the 2026 WHL Prospects Game and comes fully crested with the player’s name bar and number.

2026 NHL Draft Profile | Jakub Vanecek, Tri-City Americans

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:35:57 +0000

Jakub Vanecek always wanted to be like his big brother, Jan- especially when he watched him take his first strides on the ice. "He started playing hockey before me," Vanecek explained. "Then I started when I was three years old, so I started because of him." Years later, the brothers got to live out a bit of a childhood dream as they suited up alongside each other with Bili Tygri Liberec in the Czech U20 league. Jakub had already garnered some buzz with a handful of national team appearances and a silver medal at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games. But with one goal and 15 assists across 52 games at the U20 and U17 level, he was a bit of an off-the-radar prospect entering his draft year. Maybe it was time for a change of scenery. Vanecek had been selected by the Tri-City Americans with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 CHL Import Draft, and less than three weeks later, he had committed to make the jump from Czechia to North America. "I think it's the hardest junior league in the world," Vanecek said. "This is why I picked WHL, because I want to play on the highest level." The smaller ice and amped-up checking proved to be a bit of a shock, but Vanecek fell into step quickly, netting 14 goals (including two-game winners) and 21 assists for 35 points in 59 games while growing more confident in his own physicality. Vanecek led all Americans rookies in scoring and ranked sixth in points-per-game among all WHL first-year blueliners. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2018130562658320773 "He's a solid two-way defenceman that skates well, defends well, and will chip in offensively when it's required," Ams Head Coach Jody Hull said. "To me, he's a complete defenceman, and he's only going to get better as he matures. The thing I like about him is that he's the same all the time. He practices the right way, he does his off-ice workouts the right way, he's kind of a consummate pro. That's what he wants to be, and he puts his best foot forward every day, regardless of what happens, and you know, I think he was probably one of our most consistent players." https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1992465493643678083 And NHL scouts have taken notice. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound, left-shot defender is ranked 31st among all North American skaters leading into the 2026 NHL Draft. In addition to packing on more than 10 pounds since joining Tri-City, he also finished in the top 20 in six events at the 2026 NHL Combine, highlighted by a tie for third in pull-ups with 16. "He did it by being Jakub Vanecek," Hull added. "He puts in the work, and at the end of the day, he knows what he wants to be, and that's to be a pro hockey player. He'll go above and beyond, but he'll also just make sure he's doing what's needed for both the team to succeed and himself... He exudes character. He's a guy that'll be part of our leadership group moving forward, not so much by the vocal part of it, but more by example." On the international stage, Vanecek was part of Czechia's silver medal-winning squad at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, though he only appeared in pre-tournament games, and made a statement at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship with five points (3G-2A) in seven outings en route to a bronze medal. Vanecek led all defencemen in goals at U18s and says his next goal is to make his World Juniors debut in December. But first, he'll wait with bated breath to see which team calls his name at this week's NHL Draft. Round 1 kicks off on Friday, June 26, at 5:00 p.m. MT, with Rounds 2-7 following on June 27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

Western Hockey League announces 2026 Preseason schedule

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:59:17 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today the complete schedule for the 2026 WHL Preseason.

The 2026 WHL Preseason features 56 games stretching from Sunday, August 30, through Sunday, September 13, including stops in communities outside of WHL Club markets, providing an opportunity for hockey fans in other areas of Western Canada to enjoy the thrill of WHL hockey.

The 2026 WHL Preseason schedule begins Sunday, August 30, when the Seattle Thunderbirds visit the Everett Silvertips at 1 p.m. PT.

Headlining the 2026 WHL Preseason schedule is inter-league action featuring the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, who visit the Victoria Royals for a pair of games Friday, September 4, and Saturday, September 5, at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

The Edmonton Oil Kings and Prince George Cougars will play a pair of games in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. – Friday, September 4, and Sunday, September 6, while seven other communities will also host WHL Preseason action – see below for complete details.

The 2026 WHL Preseason schedule once again features two U.S. Division tournaments, including events hosted by the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans.

Everett’s seven-game tournament at Angel of the Winds Arena is slated to run from Friday, September 4, through Sunday, September 6, featuring all six U.S. Division Clubs, along with the Vancouver Giants.

Tri-City’s five-game preseason tournament at Toyota Arena in Kennewick, Wash., is scheduled for Friday, September 11, through Sunday, September 13, featuring the Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs, Wenatchee Wild, and the host Americans.

The 2026-27 WHL Regular Season schedule will be released Tuesday, June 30.

2026 WHL Preseason Schedule

Visitor	Home	Date	Time	Location
Seattle	Everett	August 30	1 p.m. PT	Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett, Wash.
Tri-City	Portland	August 30	2 p.m. PT	Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Portland, Ore.
Tri-City	Wenatchee	August 31	2 p.m. PT	Town Toyota Center – Wenatchee, Wash.
Prince Albert	Saskatoon	September 1	2 p.m. ST	SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, Sask.
Medicine Hat	Lethbridge	September 1	7 p.m. MT	VisitLethbridge.com Arena – Lethbridge, Alta.
Swift Current	Regina	September 1	7 p.m. ST	Brandt Centre – Regina, Sask.
Penticton	Kamloops	September 2	7 p.m. PT	Sandman Centre – Kamloops, B.C.
Moose Jaw	Regina	September 2	7 p.m. ST	Brandt Centre – Regina, Sask.
Vancouver	Seattle	September 4	12 p.m. PT	Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett, Wash.
Spokane	Portland	September 4	3:30 p.m. PT	Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett, Wash.
Regina	Brandon	September 4	7 p.m. CT	Assiniboine Credit Union Place – Brandon, Man.
Red Deer	Calgary	September 4	7 p.m. MT	7 Chiefs Sportsplex – Tsuut’ina Nation, Alta.
Kelowna	Kamloops	September 4	7 p.m. PT	Sandman Centre – Kamloops, B.C.
Moose Jaw	Prince Albert	September 4	7 p.m. ST	Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert, Sask.
Edmonton	Prince George	September 4	7 p.m. PT	Tumbler Ridge Arena – Tumbler Ridge, B.C.
Saskatoon	Swift Current	September 4	7 p.m. ST	InnovationPlex – Swift Current, Sask.
Tri-City	Everett	September 4	7 p.m. PT	Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett, Wash.
London (OHL)	Victoria	September 4	7:05 p.m. PT	Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre – Victoria, B.C.
Seattle	Spokane	September 5	2 p.m. PT	Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett, Wash.
London (OHL)	Victoria	September 5	4:05 p.m. PT	Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre – Victoria, B.C.
Portland	Everett	September 5	6 p.m. PT	Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett, Wash.
Kamloops	Kelowna	September 5	6:05 p.m. PT	Prospera Place – Kelowna, B.C.
Lethbridge	Medicine Hat	September 5	7 p.m. MT	Co-op Place – Medicine Hat, Alta.
Swift Current	Moose Jaw	September 5	7 p.m. ST	Southland Co-op Centre – Assiniboia, Sask.
Calgary	Red Deer	September 5	6 p.m. MT	Marchant Crane Centrium – Red Deer, Alta.
Brandon	Regina	September 5	6 p.m. ST	Chief Denton George Memorial Multiplex – Ochapowace, Sask.
Prince Albert	Saskatoon	September 5	7 p.m. ST	Warman Home Centre Communiplex – Warman, Sask.
Tri-City	Wenatchee	September 5	6 p.m. PT	Town Toyota Center – Wenatchee, Wash.
Edmonton	Prince George	September 6	12 p.m. PT	Tumbler Ridge Arena – Tumbler Ridge, B.C.
Wenatchee	Vancouver	September 6	12 p.m. PT	Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett, Wash.
Seattle	Everett	September 6	4 p.m. PT	Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett, Wash.
Regina	Moose Jaw	September 8	7 p.m. ST	Temple Gardens Centre – Moose Jaw, Sask.
Kamloops	Penticton	September 8	6:35 p.m. PT	South Okanagan Events Centre – Penticton, B.C.
Kelowna	Penticton	September 9	6:35 p.m. PT	South Okanagan Events Centre – Penticton, B.C.
Red Deer	Lethbridge	September 10	7 p.m. MT	VisitLethbridge.com Arena – Lethbridge, Alta.
Saskatoon	Prince Albert	September 10	7 p.m. ST	Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert, Sask.
Wenatchee	Seattle	September 11	3 p.m. PT	Toyota Arena – Kennewick, Wash.
Moose Jaw	Brandon	September 11	7 p.m. CT	Assiniboine Credit Union Place – Brandon, Man.
Swift Current	Medicine Hat	September 11	7 p.m. MT	Co-op Place – Medicine Hat, Alta.
Edmonton	Red Deer	September 11	7 p.m. MT	Marchant Crane Centrium – Red Deer, Alta.
Prince Albert	Regina	September 11	7 p.m. ST	Brandt Centre – Regina, Sask.
Portland	Spokane	September 11	7 p.m. PT	Toyota Arena – Kennewick, Wash.
Victoria	Everett	September 11	7:05 p.m. PT	Angel of the Winds Arena – Everett, Wash.
Seattle	Portland	September 12	2 p.m. PT	Toyota Arena – Kennewick, Wash.
Medicine Hat	Swift Current	September 12	5 p.m. ST	LSB Legacy Wickenheiser Centre – Shaunavon, Sask.
Calgary	Edmonton	September 12	6 p.m. MT	Glenn Hall Centennial Arena – Stony Plain, Alta.
Brandon	Moose Jaw	September 12	6 p.m. ST	Temple Gardens Centre – Moose Jaw, Sask.
Kamloops	Prince George	September 12	5 p.m. PT	West Fraser Centre – Quesnel, B.C.
Regina	Saskatoon	September 12	7 p.m. ST	SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, Sask.
Penticton	Kelowna	September 12	6:05 p.m. PT	Prospera Place – Kelowna, B.C.
Spokane	Tri-City	September 12	6:05 p.m. PT	Toyota Arena – Kennewick, Wash.
Victoria	Vancouver	September 12	7 p.m. PT	Jon Baillie Arena – Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Victoria	Vancouver	September 13	2 p.m. PT	Langley Events Centre ARENAS – Langley, B.C.
Wenatchee	Tri-City	September 13	2:05 p.m. PT	Toyota Arena – Kennewick, Wash.
Prince George	Kamloops	September 13	5 p.m. PT	Sandman Centre – Kamloops, B.C.
Lethbridge	Calgary	September 13	4 p.m. MT	7 Chiefs Sportsplex – Tsuut’ina Nation, Alta.

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.