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WHL, Stanley Cup champion Lucic retires after 17 NHL seasons

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:33:47 +0000

Power forward Milan Lucic, who won a WHL Championship and Memorial Cup title as a member of the Vancouver Giants prior to hoisting the Stanley Cup as a member of the Boston Bruins, announced his retirement from pro hockey on Sunday.

Lucic, 38, made the announcement via the NHL Players Association.

“Looking back on my career, I feel truly grateful to have fulfilled my dream of playing professional hockey, culminating with a Stanley Cup win in 2011 with the Boston Bruins,” Lucic said in a statement.

“I want to especially thank the Bruins for giving me my start in professional hockey and for instilling the confidence to reach new heights as a player.”

The 6-foot-3, 231-pound Lucic, who hails from Vancouver, B.C., spent two seasons as a member of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. During his rookie season in 2005-06, he emerged as an impact player during the playoffs, registering seven points (3G-4A) in 18 games as the Giants claimed the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions. At the 2006 NHL Draft, the Bruins called Lucic’s name during the second round (50th overall). He broke out during the 2006-07 WHL campaign, recording 68 points (30G-38A) in 70 games, adding another 19 points (7G-12A) in 22 WHL Playoff games.

Though the Giants fell in Game 7 of the WHL Championship, they went on to win the Memorial Cup as tournament hosts. Lucic tallied seven points (2G-5A) in five games and was presented with the Stafford Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player of the 2007 Memorial Cup. Part of Lucic’s championship performance included “The Shift” – where he laid out three heavy hits before taking on Jordan Bendfeld in a spirited heavyweight tilt.

Upon finishing his days with the Giants, Lucic made the immediate jump to the NHL, dressing in 77 games with the Bruins as an NHL rookie in 2007-08.

He spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career with the Bruins, helping Boston win the Stanley Cup in 2011. The 2010-11 season goes into the books as the best of Lucic’s career – he logged 62 points (30G-32A) in 79 regular season games and added another 12 points (5G-7A) during post-season play.

Lucic was once again impactful as the Bruins advanced to the Stanley Cup in 2013. The bruising winger posted 19 points (7G-12A) in 22 games, though Boston ultimately fell in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Over the course of 17 NHL seasons, Lucic posted five 20-goal campaigns. Following his time with the Bruins, he made stops with the Los Angeles Kings (2015-16), Edmonton Oilers (2016-17 to 2018-19) and Calgary Flames (2019-20 to 2022-23), before returning to Boston in 2023-24.

“Later in my career, I had the privilege of playing with some exceptional organizations in Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Calgary,” Lucic said. “I look back with fondness at the time I spent with each organization and for the remarkable teammates I had the pleasure of playing alongside.

“I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the coaches, staff and fans from each team I was apart of. I also want to thank my agent, Gerry Johannson, for his guidance during my playing days.”

After a five-game American Hockey League tryout with the Springfield Thunderbirds this past season, Lucic wrapped up his professional career by playing 26 games with the Fife Flyers of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom.

At the end of the road, Lucic’s ledger includes 1,177 career NHL regular season games, having scored 586 points (233G-353A), along with another 136 Stanley Cup playoff games and 77 points (29G-48A).

Lucic was the first player in Vancouver Giants history to reach 1,000 NHL games played, accomplishing the feat April 13, 2021. Prior to winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, he was named to the Vancouver Giants ring of honour.

In 2023, he represented Canada at the IIHF World Championship and helped his nation to a gold medal finish.

https://twitter.com/NHLPA/status/2063607120436556150?s=20 https://twitter.com/NHLAlumni/status/2064045571514478918?s=20

Red Deer Rebels, Regina Pats swap 2026 CHL Import Draft selections

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:43:58 +0000

Red Deer, Alta. – The Red Deer Rebels have completed a trade today with the Regina Pats. The Rebels and Pats have swapped first-round picks at the 2026 CHL Import Draft. The Rebels also received a third-round pick in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft (via Everett) from the Pats. The 2026 CHL Import Draft takes place on June 30 starting at 9 a.m. MT. The selection order for the draft has not yet been finalized.

WHL developed stars showcase talents at 2026 NHL Scouting Combine

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:34:39 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

Horizontal Jump (Inches)

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

Aerobic Fitness (VO2max – ml/kg/min)

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

Pro Agility (Left – seconds)

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

Pro Agility (Right – seconds)

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

Isokinetic Squat (lb/lb BW)

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

10M Sprint (seconds)

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

Anaerobic Fitness – Peak Power Output (watts/kg)

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

Wingspan (inches)

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

Anaerobic Fitness – Fatigue Index (% drop from peak)

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

Force Plate – No Arm Jump (inches)

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

Force Plate – Vertical Jump (inches)

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

Bench Press Power (watts/kg)

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

Right-Hand Grip (lbs)

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

Left-Hand Grip (lbs)

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

Pull-Ups (consecutive reps)

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

* = 2024-25 WHL Club

About the Western Hockey League

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

Broncos acquire 2007-born defenceman Ruedig from Silvertips

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:44:17 +0000

Swift Current, Sask. – The Swift Current Broncos have acquired 2007-born defenceman Kayd Ruedig from the Everett Silvertips in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft.

Ruedig joins the Broncos after a strong 2025-26 season that saw him suit up for three WHL clubs. The 6-foot defenceman began the campaign with the Portland Winterhawks before being traded to the Kamloops Blazers and later the Everett Silvertips, where he finished the season.

Across 66 regular season games this past season, Ruedig recorded 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points. He added two goals and four assists in 17 playoff games, helping Everett capture the WHL Championship. Ruedig also contributed one goal and two assists in five games at the Memorial Cup.

The Humboldt, Sask., product is no stranger to Swift Current, having previously played for the Swift Current Legionnaires AAA program during the 2023-24 season, where he served as an alternate captain.

“As a former Legionnaire, we are super excited to welcome Kayd back to Swift Current," said Travis Crickard, General Manager and Head Coach of the Broncos. "Kayd brings welcomed mobility and transition offense to our blue line. He also packs 34 games of WHL playoff experience, five Memorial Cup games, and a league championship ring. That experience will be super valuable in our room as we continue to improve everyday."

The Broncos welcome Kayd and his family to the organization.

Broncos acquire first-round import selection from Wild

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:38:23 +0000

Swift Current, Sask. – The Swift Current Broncos have acquired a first-round pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft from the Wenatchee Wild in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2030 WHL Prospects Draft. The pick acquired by Swift Current originally belonged to the Tri-City Americans.

“Acquiring this Wenatchee first round pick will give us some flexibility to acquire additional assets as we continue to improve our team while still giving us a quality chance of getting the guys we want in the import draft,” said Travis Crickard, General Manager and Head Coach of the Broncos.

The 2026 CHL Import Draft is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, at 9 a.m. MT.

The Wild anticipate all three import players the 2025-26 roster will return to Wenatchee for 2026-27 – this includes goaltender Tobias Tvrznik, and defencemen Darian Rolsing and Michal Capos. Both Tvrznik (eighth) and Rolsing (138th) are ranked by NHL Central Scouting for the 2026 NHL Draft.

The 6-foot-5 Rolsing, who originates from Germany, dressed in 62 games, recording nine points (1G-8A), while the 6-foot-4 Tvrznik – a product of Slovakia – went 16-18-2-2 with a 3.10 goals-against average, .910 save percentage, and one shutout. The 6-foot-5 Capos, who hails from Slovakia, saw action in 27 games and tallied eight points (1G-7A).

For the Broncos, they finished the 2025-26 campaign with two import players – 2008-born Russian forward Stepan Kuryachenkov is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, ranked 221st among North American skaters, while Czech defenceman Marek Rocak has now aged out following four seasons in the WHL.

Kuryachenkov logged 28 points (12G-16A) in 47 games after being a first-round pick (59th overall) of the Broncos in the 2025 CHL Import Draft.

2026 NHL Draft Profile | Carson Carels, Prince George Cougars

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:24:08 +0000

Carson Carels is a man of two worlds. On Tuesday, June 9, the Prince George Cougars alternate captain will be one of six top 2026 NHL Draft prospects in attendance for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, one person amidst a roiling crowd of more than 17,500 ravenous fans enjoying the chilly reprieve of the Golden Knights' T-Mobile Arena in a swath of Nevada heat. The solid left-shot defender will be right at home among that contingent of projected first-round picks, but part of his heart will always be on the sprawling family farm near Cypress River, Man., where the cows outnumber the people and he's a short quad ride away from almost pure isolation. Carels says his goal is to make a name for himself in hockey before, one day long down the road, returning to the place that built him- the place he takes the most pride in. "We have 500 head of cattle that we calve out, so when it's all said and done, we have about 1000 (animals) on the farm," Carels said. "We just do cattle and a lot of hay, and besides that, we have a few goats as well. It keeps it interesting. I don't like sitting still, so I mean, when you can do what you want and have a sense of pride when you take care of the animals and get your job done, I think that's what I'm passionate about." https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2025997944542118394 That determination to get the job done is a huge part of why the Prince George Cougars selected Carels with the 16th overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. Cougars Associate Coach Jim Playfair remembers the stark impression the youngster made on him during the veteran coach's first camp with the WHL club. "At the end of that, we had a meeting with the staff, the scouts and the ownership to kind of evaluate who was going to be on the team that year, what type of camp the players had, and I didn't know anybody, so I didn't say nothing until Mark (Lamb) came around to Carson Carels," Playfair recalled. "Mark had asked me, 'Jimmy, what do you think?" And I just said, "Well, he's gonna make $10 million a year playing in the NHL". Adjusted for inflation and an increased salary cap, the Cougars coaching staff has jokingly adjusted that number to $12 million. One thing they aren't kidding about is Carels' dedication to building his game from the defensive zone out and allowing the offensive side of his game to blossom from that. "He could have come in and just rattled up a bunch of points and then not paid attention to the defending details, and so it was like an upfront contract, and he agreed to do it," Playfair added. "And to his credit, he was excellent in his first year. He was a double-digit plus player, was a solid player. Now this year, he's come back with confidence on how to defend. What he's going to provide to an NHL team is he's going to be a real solid player, he's going to be able to play last minute of periods, he's going to be able to play last minute of games, he's going to be able to penalty kill, and on top of that, his offense is going to come from good first passes. It's going to come from good vision at the offensive blue line. So, I think his base of play is defending, and I think that gives him a chance to be a good pro." Carels, who will turn 18 on June 23, reaped the benefits of that training with 20 goals (including three game-winners and a trio of shorthanded strikes), 53 assists, 73 points, and a +23 rating in 58 games in 2025-26. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2012749179123068967 "He really sits me down, and we go over a lot of details with obviously video, and then on the ice, he's always trying to try to help me with just the little things," Carels said. "When Jim takes you under his wing, like he has to me, he shows me so much on and off the ice, and it's just truly developed me into who I am as a person, and I can't get that anywhere else." He finished third in points-per-game among all defencemen, was one of just six blueliners to hit the 20-goal mark in the regular season, cracked the WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team and was named a finalist for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for WHL Defenceman of the Year. Carels tore up an East Division road trip with 11 points (3G-8A) on a six-game East Division swing through Saskatchewan and Manitoba and even got to take his Cougars teammates for a tour of the farm. Much will be made of the hardworking nature that farm life has instilled in Carels as the draft and- potentially- his NHL debut draw closer, but the competitive youngster is always quick to throw in a joke. "It's definitely work ethic," Carels said. "But yeah, when you're sorting cows, you've got to have a good angle on them, or else they might get by you or run you over." https://twitter.com/PGCougars/status/2025990007169953930 In the postseason, Carels netted another 10 points (1G-9A) in 10 games to help the Cats reach Game 6 of the second round despite playing through injury. The 6-foot-1, 198-pound rearguard was also the second-youngest player (he's four days older than former Victoria Royals star Keaton Verhoeff) named to Team Canada for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he netted an assist and a bronze medal- plus invaluable time learning from fellow CHL graduates with professional experience. "I think just confidence," Carels said of lessons learned from the tournament. "That was a great experience, just learning from Zayne (Parekh, Calgary Flames) and Harrison (Brunicke, Pittsburgh Penguins/Kamloops Blazers) there. I think just the way they move around the ice, on the blue line, and how they see plays. When you're following up a player like that, you can always jump in and be an option. So I think just getting more open and going to the good ice." In a draft season that has seen much of the focus locked on a talented crop of defencemen, NHL Central Scouting has ranked Carels third among all North American skaters. He's gotten to flex his game at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and the 2026 WHL Prospects Game, where he nabbed four assists while captaining Team West. "Obviously, you want to compare yourself, but you can't, because everyone in this draft is a little different," Carels mused. "I think just my game is a little different than everyone else's, and I'm happy with how I play and happy with how I carry myself." With a game forged on the farm and molded in the WHL, Carels is ready to bring his two worlds to the big stage- and the draft is no exception. Round One of the 2026 NHL Draft is set for Friday, June 26, at 5:00 p.m. MT at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., but Carels will take in the action surrounded by family, friends, and the nearly 1,000 animals at the farm.

Carson Janko signs WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with Cougars

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:40:48 +0000

PRINCE GEORGE, BC – The Prince George Cougars are pleased to announce the signing of forward Carson Janko (2010) to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

Janko was originally selected by the Cougars eighth overall in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.

The Highland Village, Texas product spent the 2025–26 season with the Dallas Stars Elite 16U AAA program, where he registered 34 points (10G–24A) in 50 games played.

“Carson signing a Development Agreement is a big step and a testament to where our organization is at,” said Cougars Director of Player Personnel Bob Simmonds. “Carson comes out of the Dallas Jr. Stars program and brings a lot of potential. We are excited to welcome him back to training camp and expect him to continue building on a strong season.”

The Prince George Cougars would like to congratulate Carson and his family on this exciting achievement.

Swift Current inks 2011-born blueliner Nathan Roberts to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:40:05 +0000

Swift Current, SK — The Swift Current Broncos are proud to announce the signing of 2011-born defenceman Nathan Roberts to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

Roberts was selected by the Broncos in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft.

The 6-foot-3 defenceman from White Rock, BC spent the 2025-26 season with Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep, where he recorded 25 points in 30 regular season games. He continued his strong play into the postseason, adding six points during the playoffs.

Roberts also impressed at the U16 BC Cup, producing four goals and three assists in four games, showcasing his offensive ability from the backend.

“We are extremely pleased to officially welcome Nathan and the Roberts family to the Broncos organization,” said Broncos General Manager and Head Coach Travis Crickard. “He is someone who we believe has a high ceiling to become a formidable two-way WHL defender. We are excited to be able to play a role in his developmental path in the coming years.”

Pats sign netminder Fletcher MacDonald to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:39:07 +0000

Regina, Sask. — The Regina Pats have signed 2026 first-round pick Fletcher MacDonald to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. MacDonald made franchise history earlier this month when he was selected ninth overall by the Pats in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft on May 6, becoming the highest-drafted goaltender in club history. He also became the first goaltender selected by Regina in the first round since Jordan Hollett was chosen 13th overall in 2014. “The Regina Pats organization is very excited to have signed our first-round pick from the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft,” said Regina Pats General Manager Dale Derkatch. “We believe Fletcher has a very bright future ahead of him, and we’re confident he will bring stability to our goaltending position when he becomes a full-time player with the Pats.” The 14-year-old netminder was also the highest-drafted goaltender selected in the WHL Prospects Draft since Taylor Gauthier was taken 10th overall by the Prince George Cougars in 2016. Prior to MacDonald, the last goaltender selected in the first round was Carter Esler, who went 23rd overall to the Spokane Chiefs in 2023. The last goaltender chosen ninth overall in the draft was Ian Scott by the Prince Albert Raiders in 2014. MacDonald spent the 2025-26 season with the Canadian Athletic Club U15 AA program in the AEHL, where he posted a 2.87 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and one shutout across 28 games. The 6-foot-3, 199-pound goaltender from Edmonton was named to the AEHL U15 AA First All-Star Team following a standout season. Despite facing the most shots against in the entire league with 1,005, MacDonald consistently rose to the occasion, seeing 290 more shots than the next closest goaltender in the AEHL. MacDonald elevated his game even further in the postseason, recording a remarkable .969 save percentage in two playoff appearances while allowing just three goals over 120 minutes of action. On the provincial stage, MacDonald represented Team Alberta at the 2026 Alberta Cup, helping guide his team to a championship while earning First All-Star Team honours. In three tournament appearances, he posted a .942 save percentage.

Silvertips sign Wyatt Bitz to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:22:38 +0000

EVERETT, Wash. -- The Everett Silvertips have signed 13th-overall pick Wyatt Bitz to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Bitz, a 2011-born Saskatoon, SK native, spent the 2025-26 season with the Saskatoon Outlaws 15U AA where he recorded 18 goals and 35 assists for 53 points in 27 games played. He led all SAAHL U15 defensemen in points, and earned a 10-game call-up to the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA, where he had three assists. "I'm extremely excited to get picked by such an amazing organization," commented Bitz. "I can't wait to get started with the team and see what the future holds." The 6-foot-1, 157-pound blueliner posted three goals and 28 assists in 27 games played with the Saskatoon Generals U15 AA in 2024-25. "We're excited to have Wyatt and his family on board," said general manager Mike Fraser. "We're looking forward to him suiting up with us at training camp in August." "Wyatt impressed our scouting staff all season," noted director of scouting Brooks Christensen. "He's a big, mobile left-shot defenseman that can play his off-side. His hockey IQ and vision really stood out to us right away." Wyatt Bitz is guaranteed a WHL Scholarship for every year he plays in the WHL by signing a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.