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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.

Regina Pats name David Bell as 44th head coach in franchise history

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:09:35 +0000

Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats Hockey Club is proud to announce the hiring of David Bell as the 44th Head Coach in franchise history. Bell, 49, joins the Pats following seven seasons with the American Hockey League's Belleville Senators, the primary affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. He served as an assistant coach from 2019-23 before being promoted to head coach in 2023, a position he held through December 2025. During his time with the Senators organization, Bell played an integral role in the development of numerous NHL players, including Drake Batherson, Josh Norris, Ridly Greig, Parker Kelly, Cole Reihnhardt, Mark Kastelic, and Zack Ostapchuk. As Belleville's head coach, Bell compiled a 97-78-15-11 record over 201 regular season games, guided the club to the second round of the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, and led the Senators to a franchise-record 45-win season in 2024-25. Following an extensive search, Bell emerged as the unanimous choice because of his proven leadership, outstanding communication skills, exceptional player development record, and clear vision for building a championship culture. "We're excited to welcome Dave and his family to our organization," said Regina Pats General Manager Dale Derkatch. "Dave brings more than 20 years of coaching experience at both the Canadian Hockey League and American Hockey League levels and has a proven track record of developing young talent. Throughout our search, one thing became very clear — Dave was the right person to lead our hockey club into its next chapter. We weren't simply looking for our next head coach—we were looking for someone who could become a teacher, mentor and leader for our players while helping establish the championship culture we believe will define the future of the Regina Pats. Dave embodies everything we were looking for. He is an outstanding communicator and an exceptional bench coach whose preparation, game management and competitive nature immediately stood out throughout our process." A native of Wiarton, Ontario, Bell's coaching career spans more than two decades. He spent 13 seasons in the Ontario Hockey League between 2004 and 2017, serving as an assistant coach with the Owen Sound Attack, Barrie Colts and Niagara IceDogs before being named head coach of the IceDogs during the 2016-17 season. Prior to joining the Ottawa organization, Bell spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League from 2017-19, helping develop prospects within the Los Angeles Kings system. "What impressed us most is the way Dave builds meaningful relationships with his players," Derkatch continued. "He believes trust is the foundation of development and creates an environment where players feel supported while also being challenged every day. He has a unique ability to push players outside of their comfort zones to reach their full potential while genuinely caring about them as hockey players and as people. Dave has a clear vision for where he wants to take this hockey team and shares our belief in building a championship culture through accountability, development, hard work and strong relationships. His values align with who we want to be as an organization. He is the right leader for our hockey club, and we're excited to watch him lead this talented young group as we pursue our ultimate goal of bringing another WHL championship to Regina." Bell joins the Regina Pats at an exciting time for the organization as Brandt Sports & Entertainment continues its long-term investment in the franchise. With the recent acquisition of the Brandt Centre, the organization is committed to creating one of the premier player development environments in the Canadian Hockey League through significant investments in facilities, technology, health and performance resources, and the overall player experience. "I'm incredibly excited to join the Regina Pats organization," said Bell. "I'd like to thank the Semple family for this opportunity and Dale for believing in my coaching and development philosophy and vision. The Regina Pats are one of the premier franchises in junior hockey, with a proud tradition of developing players and competing for championships. Our responsibility is to help every player become the best version of themselves, both on and off the ice, while building a team that our fans and community can be proud of every night. We want to create an environment where players are challenged, supported and inspired to reach their full potential. If we commit to that process every day, we'll give ourselves the opportunity to compete for championships and ultimately bring another championship back to the Queen City." As a player, Bell suited up as a defenceman with the Ottawa 67's from 1994-98, serving as team captain during his final two seasons. In Ottawa, Bell played for Brian Kilrea, the winningest coach in CHL history. Following his junior career, he signed with the San Jose Sharks organization and played professionally in the American Hockey League and ECHL from 1998-2004. Bell captained the Greenville Grrrowl to the 2002 Kelly Cup Championship before transitioning into coaching shortly after his playing career concluded. Bell becomes the 44th head coach in the storied history of the Regina Pats and will immediately begin preparations for the 2026-27 Western Hockey League season. He assumes the role at an exciting time for the franchise as Brandt Sports & Entertainment continues its long-term investment in the Regina Pats, with a vision centered on developing elite players, providing a first-class player experience, and building a team capable of competing for WHL championships year after year. The Regina Pats would like to welcome Dave, his wife Brooke, and children Brandon, Bryanna, Nolan, and Lilah to Regina.

Vees sign veteran blueliner Ronan Buckberger to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:10:53 +0000

2026 NHL Draft Profile | Michal Orsulak, Prince Albert Raiders

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:00:56 +0000

With 2025 WHL Goaltender of the Year Max Hildebrand graduating from the WHL at the end of the 2024-25 season, there were question marks about what the goaltending situation could look like for the Raiders. Much to the delight of fans in Hockeytown North, Michal Orsulak has continued the tradition of spectacular goaltending in Prince Albert- and could see his hard work pay off at next week's NHL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound puckstopper's enthusiasm was apparent from the jump when he arrived in Northern Saskatchewan from his hometown of Tremosna, Czechia, but his gear didn't. Rather than waiting for his setup to arrive, Orsulak and the Raiders' staff cobbled together a set for him to hit the ice right away and get into preseason games. "He is the happiest guy every single day," Raiders bench boss and 2026 WHL Coach of the Year finalist Ryan McDonald said. "He absolutely loves coming to the rink. He's the first guy who walks through the door. His gear wasn't here on time, so it was putting stuff together to get him on the ice. He went on the ice with mismatched, different coloured gear and whatnot, and just went out there and stopped the puck, and did a tremendous job." For the record, Orsulak eventually got his new green and gold setup- plus a helmet that World Juniors fans would later become very familiar with. The 18-year-old put forward a 28-4-3-1 campaign with a 2.22 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage and four shutouts to help the Raiders ice a 52-win campaign and claim first place in the Eastern Conference. Orsulak led all qualified WHL netminders in GAA, tied for second in shutouts and clocked in at fifth in save percentage and wins.

"I'm trying to like be (Sergei) Bobrovsky, but it's like, it's hard style, because he is, in my opinion, (the) best goalie," Orsulak said.

Orsulak was recognized as a WHL Eastern Conference First-Team All-Star and was named a finalist for WHL Goaltender of the Year.

He also went 3-2-0 with a 3.19 GAA and .874 save percentage to backstop Czechia to a silver medal at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Yep, this is the guy who pulled off back-to-back penalty shot stops on Canada's Michael Hage. Orsulak also saw his draft stock rise off the steam of a sterling performance at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game. While splitting goaltending duties with Medicine Hat's Carter Casey, Orsulak denied all 16 shots he faced in a 5-4 overtime win for Team East- which also saw his Raiders' teammate, projected first-rounder Daxon Rudolph, net the game-winning goal. "When you come down the ice, he's a big guy in the net," McDonald added. " He's been tremendous for us and calming situations down where if a team does get one or two or three opportunities in a row, he stood tall for us and has been very sticky. He battles extremely hard, gets out of the net and plays the puck. He's just been an all-around great addition for us." The postseason saw Orsulak go 13-6-1 with a 2.80 GAA, .895 save percentage and three shutouts to reach the 2026 WHL Championship Series, where the Everett Silvertips prevailed in five games.

NHL Central Scouting has listed Orsulak second among all North American netminders in the agency's final draft rankings and invited him to the annual NHL Combine, where he was tied for the sixth-longest winspan of any player at 78.8 inches.

"He's in a special category, technically and mechanically," Central Scouting Director Dan Marr said. "He's got all the tools that you want to see in a prospect. NHL clubs seem to like the goalies that have that size. There's not a lot of net to shoot at, and he doesn't give the shooters much net to aim at. It's his quickness with his reflexes and his reactions, but it's also the compete that he has. He's a very assertive, challenging goalie.

Some of those teams that have multiple picks, if they want to fill a goaltending hole on their depth chart, you know, this is one of the goalies that they might be looking at somewhere in the first round, even."

The 2026 NHL Draft runs from June 26-27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

2026 NHL Draft Profile | Brek Liske, Everett Silvertips

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:44:12 +0000

Brek Liske kept his head up as he skated up the wall in the offensive zone and quickly peeled back to shake off his defender. The Everett Silvertips were nursing a 2-1 lead in Game 5 of the 2026 WHL Championship and were 25 minutes away from hoisting the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in franchise history. No pressure. With one opponent out of the mix, Liske cut in towards the Prince Albert net and ripped a low wrister through traffic to light the lamp and extend Everett's lead, keeping a straight face as he embraced his teammates. But Liske's fourth goal of the playoffs would stand as the championship winner, and he let the emotion pour out as the final buzzer rang out through the Art Hauser Centre and new kings were crowned. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2055515830662881404 "There's a point where it hits you," Liske gushed as the Silvertips celebrated on the ice. "It hit me when we threw our gloves, our helmets, and then it hit me again, and then it hit me again, and it hit me again. This is unbelievable. It's unexplainable." It's been a long road for the 6-foot-2, 188-pound blueliner from Beausejour, Manitoba. Liske's sophomore run with the Everett Silvertips saw him enjoy a career year with 24 points (7G-17A) and a +36 rating in 52 regular-season games. But the playoffs changed almost everything. When Silvertips captain and Anaheim Ducks prospect Tarin Smith went down with an upper-body injury at the end of the first round, Liske was called up to the top pairing to play alongside WHL Defenceman of the Year finalist and projected top 2027 NHL Draft pick Landon DuPont. He erupted for four goals (including two game-winners) and 13 assists for 17 points and a +25 rating in 18 games, highlighted by the aforementioned championship-winner, three assists in Game 4 to eliminate Penticton in the Western Conference Championship, and points in four consecutive games in the Final. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2044607901743108179 And the impact goes beyond points. Liske didn't register a negative rating in a single playoff match. In Game 3 of the Championship, he picked up a pair of assists, but also had four hits and three critical shot blocks. "As cliché as it is, playing the game the right way helps, right?" Liske said. "Those two assists weren't exactly pretty, but shots to the net, yeah, block everything. Play the game the right way, and it pays. It's obviously a lot more playing against better players more, but playing with Dups, he talks so well, he's just a great guy, and even the mental side of it, he helps a lot, and obviously the on-ice part, he's huge." No one was watching more intently than the sidelined Smith, who is making his own pitch for an NHL team to take on Liske at next week's draft. "He's come so far," Smith said. "I remember when he came into Everett when he was 15; he was raw. He was good, but he was raw.’ He kind of came into the season with that chip on his shoulder, and you could tell. It's tough for him because he's in his draft year and he's playing on such a loaded team on the back end, so he might not get the looks he deserved, and then playoffs come around and he steps it up. He became one of the best d-men in the playoffs and we leaned on him so hard." Liske went on to appear in all five of Everett's Memorial Cup matches, which saw the Silvertips bow out in the Memorial Cup Final. Three years after he was selected by the 'Tips with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Liske is ranked 44th among all North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. As he showed in the postseason, all he needs is an opportunity to prove his worth. The 2026 NHL Draft runs from June 26-27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.