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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* = if necessary

WHL Morning Skate: April 20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KEY STORYLINES

Geekie, Minten guide Bruins back to post-season

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

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

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

Jarvis critical to Carolina’s success

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

Kelly’s secondary scoring invaluable to Avalanche

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

Captain Benn back for more with Stars

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

Draisaitl ready to return to Oilers after missing time with injury

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

Captain Spurgeon brings Championship experience to Minnesota

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

Cozens helps Sens to second consecutive post-season appearance

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

Sanheim set for shutdown role on Flyers blueline

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

Kindel ready for Stanley Cup Playoffs debut

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

Point looks to power Lightning once again

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

Guenther & Mammoth make first playoff appearance in Utah history

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

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

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

LIST OF WHL ALUMNI on ROSTERS FOR 2026 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

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

ANAHEIM DUCKS (3)

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

BOSTON BRUINS (5)

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

BUFFALO SABRES (6)

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

CAROLINA HURRICANES (3)

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

COLORADO AVALANCHE (2)

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

DALLAS STARS (4)

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

EDMONTON OILERS (7)

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

LOS ANGELES KINGS (2)

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

MINNESOTA WILD (2)

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

MONTREAL CANADIENS (3)

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

OTTAWA SENATORS (4)

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

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (3)

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

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (5)

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

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (4)

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

UTAH MAMMOTH (2)

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

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (10)

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

About the Western Hockey League

WHL Morning Skate: April 18

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:33:54 +0000

NEED TO KNOW - 2027 NHL Draft-eligible Landon DuPont's overtime blast clinched Everett's series against Kelowna in Game 5 - 2025 Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Carter Bear added a shorthanded goal and an assist to help knock out the Rockets - Everett will compete in the Western Conference Championship for the fourth time in franchise history - Andrew Reyelts iced a 25-save shutout to give Penticton its first series lead in the second round - Penticton will try to eliminate Prince George in Game 6 on Sunday TOP PERFORMER Game 5 demanded perfection from the Penticton and Prince George goaltenders, and Andrew Reyelts delivered with a shutout performance in a narrow 1-0 win. The 20-year-old denied 25 shots, while holding the Cougars' top-ranked powerplay scoreless on two opportunities, to seal his first playoff clean sheet. Reyelts is 7-2-0 in the postseason with a 2.50 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage and one shutout. The 6-foot-1, 178-pound netminder from Proctor, Minn. is a finalist for the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually to the WHL's Goaltender of the Year. RESULTS Kelowna 1, Everett 2 (OT) EVT wins 4-1

On to the next one. This match stayed scoreless well into the back half of the third period, before Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear picked up a drop pass off the rush to rip the game-opening goal far glove side and shorthanded, to boot. For a second straight game, Shane Smith levelled the match to force overtime, but Defenceman of the Year finalist Landon DuPont put the regular-season champions on top with a seeing-eye shot from the point.

THREE STARS 1- Anders Miller, EVT – 30 saves, .968 save percentage 2- Carter Bear, EVT – 1G-1A 3- Josh Banini, KEL – 53 saves, .964 save percentage Prince George 0, Penticton 1 PEN leads 3-2 The B.C. Division champions have won three straight games for their first series lead of the second round. Andrew Reyelts stood on his head with a 25-save shutout, while San Jose Sharks prospect Joshua Ravensbergen was near-perfect with 28 stops. Brittan Alstead had the lone goal of the heated Game 5 affair with a precision one-timer from below the right faceoff dot on the powerplay. Penticton will try to close the series out in Prince George on Sunday. THREE STARS 1- Andrew Reyelts, PEN – 25-save shutout 2- Brittan Alstead, PEN – 1G 3- Ryden Evers, PEN – 3 shots

Regular season champion Silvertips ground Rockets, advance to Western Conference Championship

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:46:58 +0000

Round Two, done and dusted. The Everett Silvertips have advanced to the Western Conference Championship after eliminating the Memorial Cup Host Kelowna Rockets in Round Two of the 2026 WHL Playoffs. Landon DuPont scored 40 seconds into overtime to seal a 2-1 victory in Game 5 on Friday night. The low-scoring affair saw 2025 Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Carter Bear open things up with a shorthanded snipe in the back half of the third period before the Rockets tied the game late to force the extra frame. Everett will advance to the Conference Championship for the first time since 2018. NHL Draft-eligible Matias Vanhanen (NHL CSS: 76) scored twice, including the game-winner, and added an assist as the Silvertips cruised to a 4-1 decision at Angel of the Winds Arena in Game One. Bear, who missed the 2025 postseason, came through with his first career postseason goal in Game 2, while landing a primary assist on the powerplay for a 4-2 win. Vanhanen and Brek Liske (NHL CSS: 34) struck 34 seconds apart to put Game 3 out of reach for the Rockets, with Miettinen and Lukas Kaplan adding some insurance in a 4-1 final. Despite falling behind 3-0 in the first period of Game 4, the Rockets chipped away at the deficit to finally tie the match at three with eight seconds remaining in regulation time. Alternate captain and Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla buried his second goal of the night in overtime to stave off elimination and force Friday's Game 5 showdown. They may be out of the running for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, but the Rockets have plenty to play for as they prepare for the Memorial Cup, which runs from May 21-31, 2026. Everett is coming off the winningest regular season in franchise history- a 57-8-2-1 rampage that saw the Silvertips capture the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions for a second consecutive season and the third time in franchise history. This marks the fourth time the U.S. Division squad had advanced past the second round and the first time since 2018, when they reached the Championship Series, though they'd fall to the Swift Current Broncos in Game 6. Everett is the first team to advance to the Western Conference Championship. The Silvertips will take on the winner of the Penticton Vees/Prince George Cougars series, which is currently tied with two wins each.

Seattle Thunderbirds acquire signing rights to 2008-born blueliner Jonas Kemps

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:06:05 +0000

Kent, Wash. – The Seattle Thunderbirds have traded a pair of 2029 WHL Draft picks to the Tri-City Americans in exchange for the rights to Jonas Kemps. Kemps is a left shot defenseman who played this past season with the USHL’s Chicago Steel and had previously been with the U.S. National Development Team program.

“We are excited to acquire Jonas’ rights,” stated T-Birds General Manager Bil LaForge. “We feel he has the ability to add to our strong group going into next season.”

The 2008-born Kemps is listed at 6’6”, 196 lbs. and hails from Sebastopol, California. He was originally listed by Tri-City in May of 2023. NHL Central Scouting ranks him 67th among North American skaters for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

The Thunderbirds are sending a 2029 seventh round pick and a conditional 2029 third round selection to Tri-City as part of the deal. The third round pick is conditional on Kemps, a Michigan State commit, signing with the T-Birds.

“We will begin the recruitment process with Jonas and his family in the very near future,” said LaForge.

Meanwhile, LaForge and his staff are busy preparing for the WHL Prospects Draft which takes place in early May. The T-Birds hold the eleventh pick in the first round.