Western Hockey League - Feed https://chl.ca/whl Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:44:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.3 Warriors ink import-forward Rasmus Kamarainen to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement https://chl.ca/whl/article/warriors-ink-import-forward-rasmus-kamarainen-to-whl-scholarship-and-development-agreement Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:44:26 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/warriors-ink-import-forward-rasmus-kamarainen-to-whl-scholarship-and-development-agreement Moose Jaw, Sask. - The Moose Jaw Warriors have signed 2026 CHL Import Draft first-round selection Rasmus Kamarainen to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.  “We are excited to add Rasmus to our forward group,” said General Manager Jason Ripplinger. “He will bring us speed and skill up front.” In 43 games last season with Assat U20 in Finland, Kamarainen recorded 16 goals, 36 points, and 20 penalty minutes. Named to Team Finland for the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase, Kamarainen recorded an assist and four penalty minutes in five games. The Finnish team completed the tournament with a record of 2-3. Kamarainen will make his first trek to Moose Jaw ahead of 2026 training camp at the end of August. Season tickets for the 2026/2027 season are still available online or by visiting the Moose Jaw Warriors Business Office.   ]]> NHL Prospect Watch: New York Islanders https://chl.ca/whl/article/nhl-prospect-watch-new-york-islanders-5 Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:23:12 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/nhl-prospect-watch-new-york-islanders-5 In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL’s criteria for rookie status. The Islanders contingent includes two of the Western Conference's top rookies from 2025-26.
Burke Hood A rash of injuries spelled doom for the Vancouver Giants' playoff hopes in 2025-26, but netminder Burke Hood was a bright spot for the young squad. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound puckstopper went 18-18-1-1 with a 3.83 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage, while making 40 or more saves on five occasions. The 19-year-old was drafted with the 170th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Hood has spent two seasons in the WHL, both with the Giants, and owns a career 37-31-7-1 record, a 3.48 GAA, a .901 save percentage and three shutouts. Daylan Kuefler  A full season on the ice must have felt like a breath of fresh air for 24-year-old Daylan Kuefler, who missed the bulk of last season with a long-term injury. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward put up 25 points (10G-15A) in 67 outings to finish eighth on the AHL's Bridgeport Islanders in goals and 10th in scoring, while ranking fourth in penalty minutes with 64. Kuefler's resilience was rewarded with a two-year, two-way contract extension that runs until the end of the 2027-28 season. The Stettler, Alta. product snagged back-to-back 30-goal seasons in his last two major junior seasons, totalling 144 points (77G-67A) in 184 regular-season tilts with the Kamloops Blazers. Kuefler was just shy of a point-per-game in playoffs with 24 points (13G-11A) in 30 postseason contests, in addition to four points (1G-3A) at the 2023 Memorial Cup. He was selected with the 174th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Jacob Kvasnicka WHL Rookie of the Year finalist Jacob Kvasnicka paced the Penticton Vees in the team's first WHL season, logging 85 points (35G-50A) and earning a spot on the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound winger led the WHL with four shorthanded goals, while ranking third in points among rookies and tying for 12th in points among all skaters. Kvasnicka, who was chosen 202nd overall in the seventh round of the 2025 NHL Draft, also logged 25 multi-point games. In the playoffs, he tacked on another 15 points (8G-7A) to help the Vees reach the Western Conference Championship, where they fell to the eventual champion Everett Silvertips. Tomas Poletin After scoring six goals in his first six WHL games, Czech forward Tomas Poletin was quickly nicknamed 'The Goal Scoring Machine' for the Kelowna Rockets. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound winger went off for 35 points (20G-15A) in 43 games. Late-season injuries limited his ice in the second half of the season, but he was an undeniable bright spot on a Rockets squad with plenty of firepower. Poletin, 19, put up six points (4G-2A) in seven games to help Czechia win silver at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship and posted another five points (2G-3A) in nine playoff games for Kelowna and an assist at the 2026 Memorial Cup. Poletin was drafted in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft.]]> Rangers prospect Zeb Lindgren signs WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with Red Deer https://chl.ca/whl/article/rangers-prospect-zeb-lindgren-signs-whl-scholarship-and-development-agreement-with-red-deer Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:49:54 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/rangers-prospect-zeb-lindgren-signs-whl-scholarship-and-development-agreement-with-red-deer RED DEER – The Red Deer Rebels are excited to announce that Swedish defenceman Zeb Lindgren has signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team. Lindgren was selected by the Rebels with the 24th overall pick in round one of the 2026 CHL Import Draft. He was selected by the New York Rangers in round five of the 2025 NHL Draft. Lindgren hails from Umeå, Sweden and played last season for Skelleftea AIK in the country’s top U20 league. He was the team’s captain and had 19 points in 36 games, including six goals and 13 assists. Lindgren also appeared in two games in Sweden’s top professional league, the SHL. “He’s a real heady player, a smart player who was an NHL draft pick of the (New York) Rangers last year, so he fit what we were looking for,” said Rebels Owner, President and General Manager Brent Sutter. “He speaks good English and has leadership abilities as he was captain of his team in Sweden. That kind of character is nice.” The six-foot-one, 198-pound blue liner represented Sweden at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2025 World Junior A Challenge, winning medals at both events. Zeb Lindgren Defence Hometown: Umeå, Sweden Date of Birth: April 14, 2007 (Age 19) Height: 6’1 Weight: 198 Shoots: Left 2025-26 Team: Skellefteå AIK U20]]> Tigers sign Reily Pickford to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement https://chl.ca/whl/article/tigers-sign-reily-pickford-to-whl-scholarship-development-agreement Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:41:41 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/tigers-sign-reily-pickford-to-whl-scholarship-development-agreement Medicine Hat, Alta., - The Medicine Hat Tigers are proud to announce the signing of 2007-born defenceman Reily Pickford to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. “Reily is a driven defenceman who competes hard and is always willing to battle. He moves the puck well, activates intelligently and has a deceptive release that makes him a shooting threat." said Assistant General Manager Bobby Fox. "After earning AJHL North Division All-Rookie Team honours last season, he continues to show that his game is on an upward trajectory.” The 5-foot-11 defender's rights were acquired in 2023 trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Pickford split the 2025-26 season between the Camrose Kodiaks and Grande Prairie Storm of the AJHL. He had 6 goals and 19 assists for 25 points over 46 games. The Tigers are excited to welcome Reily to the organization and look forward to his continued development as part of Medicine Hat’s growing core of young talent.  ]]> NHL Prospect Watch: New Jersey Devils https://chl.ca/whl/article/nhl-prospect-watch-new-jersey-devils-5 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:59:11 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/nhl-prospect-watch-new-jersey-devils-5 In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL’s criteria for rookie status. Today, we'll check in on a devilishly talented group aiming to make the jump in New Jersey.
Josh Filmon  Six-foot-3, 170-pound winger Josh Filmon continued to climb in his second season in the pro ranks. After spending the bulk of his first professional season in the ECHL, Filmon earned a much more consistent role with the AHL's Utica Comets, netting six points (4G-2A) and 14 penalty minutes in 31 games, with one brief sojourn in the ECHL with the Adirondack Thunder in late November and early December. New Jersey selected the Winnipeg, Man. product with the 166th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Filmon spent four seasons with the Swift Current Broncos, tallying 189 points (99G-90A) in 212 regular-season games, highlighted by a 75-point (47G-28A) run in 2022-23 that saw him make the WHL East Division First All-Star Team. Jeremy Hanzel 2023 WHL Champion Jeremy Hanzel seems primed to take a step forward in 2026-27. The 23-year-old defenceman finished second in points on the ECHL Thunder with 49 points (8G-41A) in 72 games, while ranking eighth among all ECHL defenders. He's expected to start next season in the AHL ranks. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound rearguard was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft, but was acquired by the Nashville Predators and, later, the Devils as part of the Erik Haula trade in June 2025. Hanzel, from Coquitlam, B.C., suited for the Seattle Thunderbirds for four seasons, posting 149 points (39G-110A) in 218 regular-season contests. He was named to the 2024 WHL U.S. Division Second All-Star Team and logged WHL’s best plus/minus of the 2022-23 season with a +70 rating. Hanzel was Seattle's top-scoring defenceman in the squad's run to the 2023 Ed Chynoweth Cup. He put up 22 points (5G-17A) in 19 games, including three goals and four assists in the Championship Series, and added two assists in five games at the 2023 Memorial Cup. Kasper Pikkarainen 20-year-old Finn Kasper Pikkarainen's brief stint in North America with the Red Deer Rebels was cut short by a knee injury in 2023-24, but the 6-foot-3, 198-pound winger has since refound his form back at home. Pikkarainen netted six points (2G-4A) and 18 penalty minutes in 45 appearances with TPS in Liiga, while registering an assist in six appearances for Finland at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. New Jersey selected Pikkarainen with the 85th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft. Matias Vanhanen After going undrafted in his first season of eligibility, 5-foot-11, 176-pound winger Matias Vanhanen jumped from Finland to Washington in hopes of catching the eye of an NHL team. Few could have predicted how massive his year would be. Vanhanen, 18, led the Everett Silvertips in regular-season scoring with 87 points (21G-66A) in 62 games, including four outings that saw him net four or more points. His mastery bled into the playoffs, where Vanhanen notched 24 points (12G-12A) to help Everett capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in franchise history. Vanhanen was named a finalist for both WHL Rookie of the Year and the WHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player. He also stood in a class of his own at the 2026 Memorial Cup, where he nabbed eight points (4G-4A) in five contests and was named to the CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team. Vanhanen added six assists for Finland at the 2026 World Juniors, and the dream year culminated in having New Jersey choose him with the 37th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Luke Wilfley Englewood, Col.'s Luke Wilfley is one of the newest members of the Devils after hearing his name called 172nd overall in the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 179-pound centreman put up 15 points (9G-6A) in 66 games in his rookie season with the Portland Winterhawks, while adding 189 faceoff wins (42.1%).  He's expected to head to Arizona State University for 2026-27 after playing parts of two season in the Rose City.]]> Danny Ramazanov signs WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with Rebels https://chl.ca/whl/article/danny-ramazanov-signs-whl-scholarship-and-development-agreement-with-rebels Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:53:44 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/danny-ramazanov-signs-whl-scholarship-and-development-agreement-with-rebels Red Deer, Alta. – The Red Deer Rebels are excited to announce that forward Danel (Danny) Ramazanov has signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team. Ramazanov was selected by the Rebels in round one, 17th overall at the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. Originally from Kazakhstan, the Saskatoon, SK resident led the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) U15 Prep in scoring in 2025-26 with 26 goals and 58 points in 29 games. He racked up eight points in six games at the prestigious John Reid Memorial tournament. “He’s an exciting player with the ability to score highlight reel goals and make plays at very, very high speed. He makes everyone around him better and is very competitive for an average size guy,” said Jamie Novakoski, Rebels Director of Player Personnel. “We anticipate him to be a top six forward and score some big goals for us down the road.” Ramazanov will be at Rebels Training Camp this month and is slated to play U18 AAA this season with the Saskatoon Blazers. Danny Ramazanov Forward Shoots: Left Height: 5’9 Weight: 155 Birthdate: Jul 22, 2011 Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Last Team: Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep Nationality: Kazakhstani]]> 2026 WHL Champion DuPont nets four points, Nine WHLers capture gold for Canada at 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup https://chl.ca/whl/article/2026-whl-champion-dupont-nets-four-points-nine-whlers-capture-gold-for-canada-at-2026-hlinka-gretzky-cup Sun, 09 Aug 2026 02:05:13 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/2026-whl-champion-dupont-nets-four-points-nine-whlers-capture-gold-for-canada-at-2026-hlinka-gretzky-cup Edmonton, Alta.- "Canada is golden!" After a 2025-26 season that saw Canada fail to capture a gold medal in a major international men's tournament, a dynamite group returned the country to the top of the podium with an 8-1 victory over the United States at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Captain and 2026 WHL Champion Landon DuPont, who is a projected top pick for the 2027 NHL Draft, logged four assists in the win, marking Canada's 14th gold medal in the last 18 editions of the tournament. The WHL's first exceptional-status defenceman changed the colour of his medal as the lone returning player from the 2025 bronze medal-winning squad. 2025 WHL first-overall pick Maddox Schultz (Regina, Sask.) was named Canada's Player of the Game with a two-goal, one-assist effort. Nine Canadian WHLers picked up a gold medal, while another four Americans, Kaeden Tate (Kamloops Blazers), Gavin Burcar (Spokane Chiefs), Brooks DeMars (Penticton Vees) and Colin Grubb (Brandon Wheat Kings), earned silver. Seattle Thunderbirds standout Brock England was the first on the board with his third goal of the tournament, firing a drop pass from Liam Pue (Regina Pats / Langley, B.C.) top shelf just 84 seconds into the game. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2086230758101053464 England, another projected top pick for the 2027 NHL Draft, posted 21 goals in his rookie season with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Pue's Pats teammate Schultz doubled the lead near the halfway point of the frame with a wicked wrister from above the left faceoff dot. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2086234542722199821 England put his stamp on the period with a powerful one-timer served up by 2026 WHL Rookie of the Year finalist Brock Cripps (Prince Albert, Sask. / Victoria, B.C.) with under five minutes remaining in the frame. But the defending gold medalists got on the board as United States leading scorer Gavin Burcar (Spokane Chiefs / Cota De Caza, Calif.) teed up Gunnar Cowboy. The United States faced an uphill battle in the second period, with Canada outshooting them 17-5, and DuPont didn't make things easier as he forced a turnover to set up Benjamin Veitch (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) for the 5-1 tally. Schultz netted his second goal of the night with a near-automatic one-timer on the powerplay to take the game into blowout territory with the 5-1 marker just past the halfway mark of the game before Pue turned on the jets for his first goal of the night. Pue, a 6-foot, 168-pound winger, added to the party with a breakaway wrister for his tournament-leading sixth goal. https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/2086259270811787773 DuPont added to the party with his fourth assist of the day, teaming up with Kayden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings / Saskatoon, Sask.) to set up Jaakko Wycisk's tally, rounding out the scoring. Lethbridge Hurricanes netminder Leif Oaten (Calgary, Alta.) made 16 saves for a .941 save percentage in the victory. The 6-foot-3, 194-pound netminder went 4-0-0 at the tournament. Canadian assistant coaches Ryan McDonald (Prince Albert Raiders), Kyle Chipchura (Edmonton Oil Kings) and goaltending coach Jeff Harvey (Saskatoon Blades) were also part of the gold medal-winning effort. Additionally, Vancouver Giants prospect Oliver Botka and Max Melicherik (Portland Winterhawks) finished fourth with Slovakia after a 3-2 loss to Finland in the bronze medal match. Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team – WHL gold medalists
Last Name First Name WHL Club Hometown Ht Wt Pos
Oaten Leif Lethbridge Hurricanes Calgary, Alta. 6’3” 185 G
Tait Boston Wenatchee Wild Estevan, Sask. 6’1” 198 D
DuPont Landon Everett Silvertips Calgary, Alta. 5’11” 192 D
Cripps Brock Prince Albert Raiders Victoria, B.C. 5’11” 166 D
England Brock Seattle Thunderbirds Red Deer, Alta. 5’11” 175 F
Schultz Maddox Regina Pats Regina, Sask. 5’10” 183 F
Harvey Ben Prince Albert Raiders Edmonton, Alta. 5’11” 187 F
Stroeder Kayden Edmonton Oil Kings Saskatoon, Sask. 6’0” 165 F
Pue Liam Regina Pats Langley, B.C. 6’1” 188 F
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.
]]> Canada pulls off semifinal comeback to set up rematch against United States in Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal match https://chl.ca/whl/article/canada-pulls-off-semifinal-comeback-to-set-up-rematch-against-united-states-in-hlinka-gretzky-cup-gold-medal-match Sat, 08 Aug 2026 03:33:09 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/canada-pulls-off-semifinal-comeback-to-set-up-rematch-against-united-states-in-hlinka-gretzky-cup-gold-medal-match Edmonton, Alta.- It took two tying goals and a third-period comeback, but Canada overcame a slow start to best Finland 6-3 in semifinal action on Friday evening at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The Canadians will improve on last year's bronze medal at the prestigious U18 tournament, and will get a chance at gold against the reigning champion United States. Lethbridge Hurricanes netminder Leif Oaten was named Canada's Player of the Game with a 24-save effort, highlighted by a massive powerplay stop in the third period. The Finns opened the scoring on the powerplay as Olli Kylmala struck just over five minutes into the opening frame and dominated on the shot clock in the early goings of the game. Projected top 2027 NHL Draft pick and Canadian captain Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / Calgary, Alta.) gave the home team some juice with a ferocious one-timer from the edge of the right faceoff dot to send the teams to the dressing rooms tied after 20 minutes. https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/2085874281439809909 Edmonton Oil Kings forward Kayden Stroeder (Saskatoon, Sask.) served up the primary assist and dished several thunderous hits throughout the game. The middle frame saw Finland regain its momentum as Max Poikela snagged his second goal of the tournament as he tucked the puck home in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it play off the faceoff. Again, Canada had an answer as Benjamin Veitch (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) solved Samuel Heikkinen with a seeing-eye wrister from the blue line to get the crowd going. There were flashes of promise as Maddox Schultz (Regina Pats / Regina, Sask.) fired it off the post moments after the tying goal, and his Pats teammate, Liam Pue (Langley, B.C.), appeared to put Canada in front as he hacked away at a rebound on a shorthanded rush. However, officials called Pue's marker back for goaltender interference, setting the stage for a winner-take-all third period. The 16-year-old came agonizingly close to putting Canada on top again with a partial break in the opening minutes of the third period, but was foiled by Heikkanen. It looked like the knocks would keep coming as Malik L'Italien's long wrister underwent a lengthy review for a potential offside on the play, but the goal stood to give Canada its first lead. Less than three minutes later, Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm / OHL) added some insurance with a tight one-timer teed up by Vietch. Wycisk's massive night saw him bury a goal and three assists. The Finns weren't done as Kylmala was left alone on the Canadian doorstep for a quick snapper to get his team within one with under eight minutes remaining. With the Finnish net empty, Canada dug deep as Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders / Victoria, B.C.) sacrificed for a major shot block that allowed Veitch to give Canada some breathing room with an empty net goal, before Stroeder added another with .6 seconds remaining to close out the scoring. Canada will take on the defending champion United States in Saturday's gold medal game at 5:00 p.m. MT., while Finland and Slovakia will battle for bronze at 12:00 p.m. MT. NOTES Spokane Chiefs forward Gavin Burcar dominated with a goal and three assists to help the United States down Slovakia 5-2... Incoming Brandon Wheat King Colin Grubb added an assist in the win.]]> NHL Prospect Watch: Nashville Predators https://chl.ca/whl/article/nhl-prospect-watch-nashville-predators-5 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:10:16 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/nhl-prospect-watch-nashville-predators-5 In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL’s criteria for rookie status. Today, we'll check on the poor souls who get to rep the infamous 'Preds in the Community' t-shirts.
Hiroki Gojsic Six-foot-3, 203-pound winger Hiroki Gojsic was just shy of his third straight 20-goal season with the Kelowna Rockets, but his production was actually up in a season slightly hampered by injury. The Langley, B.C. product notched 41 points (19G-22A) in 55 games with the Rockets, averaging .75 points per game. Gojsic chipped in another goal and two assists as Kelowna reached the second round of the 2026 WHL Playoffs and suited up for three games at the Memorial Cup, where he had one helper. He was selected by the Predators with the 94th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft and signed his entry-level deal the following fall. Now 20, Gojsic is expected to make his AHL debut in the fall. Should that be the case, he'll wrap up his time in major junior with 128 points (60G-68A) in 184 contests. Kalan Lind  Former Red Deer Rebels alternate captain Kalan Lind saw his first professional season split between the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals and the ECHL with the Atlanta Gladiators. The 6-foot-1, 163-pound winger began the season in the ECHL, putting up four assists in his third game of the season, before earning a number of call-ups to the AHL. He closed out the season with 16 points (5G-11A) in 34 outings with Atlanta and eight points (5G-3A) in 26 turns with Milwaukee. Notably, the Swift Current, Sask. product also piled up 91 penalty minutes between the two teams. Lind, 21, was a career Rebel, amassing 160 points (68G-92A) in 202 games over five seasons. He wore the 'A' for Red Deer for his dinal two seasons and was chosen 46th overall in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Miguel Marques The longtime Lethbridge Hurricanes forward tried his hand at the college ranks at the University of Maine, where he registered 23 points (10G-13A) in 33 games, good for fourth on the team in points. Marques, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound winger, was selected by Nashville with the 87th overall pick in 2024 and sat next to Gojsic during his post-draft interview. He whipped up 138 points (52G-86A) in 165 games over parts of four seasons with the Hurricanes, highlighted by a tremendous 2024-25 that saw him add 17 points (4G-13A) in 16 playoff games to reach the Eastern Conference Championship. However, Lethbridge would fall to our next Predators prospect and the Medicine Hat Tigers... Tanner Molendyk The NHL is warming on smaller defencemen, and 2025 WHL Champion Tanner Molendyk seems to be fitting the bill. The 6-foot, 290-pound rearguard earned 23 points (4G-19A), highlighted by two game-winning goals, in 60 games with Milwaukee. Molendyk ranked 10th in points among all AHL rookie defencemen while finishing 11th on the Admirals in scoring. The 2023 24th overall pick made the jump after a dominant WHL career that saw him net 160 points (31G-129A) in 238 games over parts of five seasons with the Saskatoon Blades and Medicine Hat Tigers. Molendyk, 21, spent most of his time in Saskatoon, where the team's Defenceman of the Year award is named after him, before joining the Tigers for their 2025 WHL Championship run. The Kamloops, B.C. product exploded for 20 points (4G-16A) in 18 games to hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup, and was named to the CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team that spring. Molendyk is also a two-time WHL East Division First Team All-Star. Austin Roest The former Everett Silvertips captain is off to the races with his first season of pro hockey in the books. Roest, 22, spent the bulk of the campaign with the Admirals, with two brief stints with the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators. The 5-foot-10, 186-pound centreman posted seven points (1G-6A) in 41 turns with Milwaukee and was a point-per-game (2G-3A) in five spins in Atlanta, keeping in mind that he missed most of last season with injury. Roest is expected to begin 2026-27 with the AHL club. The Coldstream, B.C. product is an all-time Silvertips great, logging 196 points (89G-107A) in 289 games over parts of five seasons. He put up seven points (3G-4A) in the final seven games of the 2024-25 regular season to help Everett lock up the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions. Roest was selected in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, which was held in Nashville, and signed an entry-level deal in March of 2024.]]> NHL Prospect Watch: Montreal Canadiens https://chl.ca/whl/article/nhl-prospect-watch-montreal-canadiens-5 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 21:34:48 +0000 https://chl.ca/whl/article/nhl-prospect-watch-montreal-canadiens-5 In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL’s criteria for rookie status. Today, we focus on Montreal's up-and-comers, highlighted by the WHL Player of the Year.
Jared Davidson The WHL Champion who was initially passed over in the NHL Draft defied the odds to make his NHL debut in 2025-26. The 24-year-old from Edmonton, Alta. put up four shots and a hit in his debut on November 15, 2025, and finished his NHL stint with an assist in 10 appearances. Davidson logged another 25 points (16G-9A), including a team-best five game-winning goals, in 53 games with the AHL's Laval Rocket and earned a one-year, two-way contract with the Habs. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound forward was drafted by Montreal with the 130th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Davidson spent his entire WHL career with the Seattle Thunderbirds, putting up 99 goals and 111 assists for 210 points in 254 games over five seasons. He earned WHL U.S. Division First Team All-Star honours twice and wore the ‘A’ for Seattle’s 2023 WHL Championship Run. Tyler Deakos Incoming Penticton Vees forward Tyler Deakos holds the dubious honour of being the very last player selected in the 2026 NHL Draft at 224th overall. He'll have a solid opportunity to prove he could have gone higher as he prepares to join the reigning B.C. Division champions after splitting 2025-26 with the AJHL's Drumheller Dragons, where he scored 15 points (8G-7A) in 10 games, and the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks, where he posted 17 points (7G-10A). The 19-year-old from Canmore, Alta. clocks in at 6-foot-1, 174 pounds. Brayden Klimpke 2026 fourth-round pick Brayden Klimpke blew his previous numbers out of the water with a 46-point (4G-43A) campaign with Saskatoon. The 6-foot, 167-pound Blades alternate captain finished fifth on the team in points and ranked 11th in assists among all WHL defencemen. Klimpke, from Calgary, Alta., also potted five points (1G-4A) in 11 playoff games as the six-seed Blades upset the Edmonton Oil Kings before falling to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Prince Albert Raiders. He also suited up for Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game. Hayden Paupanekis Six-foot-five, 203-pound centreman Hayden Paupanekis got to compete with the CHL's best at the 2026 Memorial Cup, where he iced three games with the Kelowna Rockets. Paupanekis picked up 37 points (15G-22A) in 57 regular-season tilts with the Rockets, highlighted by a two-goal, two-assist effort in an 8-5 offensive outburst against the Regina Pats. The Winnipeg, Man. product was selected by Montreal with the 69th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Paupanekis has hit 100 points (47G-53A) in 190 games over parts of four seasons with the Spokane Chiefs and Kelowna Rockets. Bryce Pickford Had two-time WHL Champion and Medicine Hat Tigers captain Bryce Pickford avoided a late-season injury, there was a very real chance he'd lead the WHL in goals. Instead, he had to settle for WHL Player of the Year and CHL and WHL Defenceman of the Year honours. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-shot defender ripped up the league with 45 goals (including a league-best 11 game-winners and three hat tricks) and 38 assists for 83 points in 55 games. Pickford tied for second in the WHL goals race, finished 14th in points and set a franchise record for single-season goals by a defenceman. The 20-year-old added another 12 points (6G-6A) in 15 playoff contests, though the Tigers saw their title defence end in the Eastern Conference Championship. Drafted by the Canadiens with the 81st overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft, Pickford signed his entry-level deal in December of 2025 and is expected to turn pro in 2026-27. Timofei Runtso Six-foot-3, 196-pound Timofei Runtso used his first WHL season to propel himself to a second-round draft position with Montreal. The right-shot rearguard totalled 44 points (11G-33A) and nine multipoint efforts to finish fifth in scoring on the upstart Victoria Royals and 20th among all WHL defenders. Runtso, from Marina Del Rey, Calif., represented Team West at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game, where he picked up an assist. The 19-year-old was selected 57th overall in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo. Ethan Samson  Twenty-two-year-old defenceman Ethan Samson is ready for a fresh start with a new organization after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Montreal on the opening day of the 2026 NHL free agency period. The 6-foot-1, 181-pound rearguard had four assists in 10 games with the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms before a trade to the Syracuse Crunch saw him net another 14 points (5G-9A) in 30 outings. Samson was picked by the Flyers with the 174th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. The Delta, B.C. product played the entirety of his junior career with the Prince George Cougars, where he was an alternate captain for his final two seasons and piled up 122 points (36G-86A) across 211 games in four seasons. Samson was a B.C. Division First-Team All-Star in 2022-23 and made the second team in 2021-22. Tyler Thorpe  Six-foot-5, 220-pound winger Tyler Thorpe had plenty of bright spots in his first season of professional hockey. The former Vancouver Giants standout notched 16 points (4G-12A) and 77 penalty minutes in 68 games with the AHL Rocket, leading all Rocket rookies in scoring and finishing fourth on the team in PIMs. Originally selected by Montreal with the 130th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Davidson will look for an even bigger impact as he enters the second season of his three-year, entry-level contract. Thorpe established himself as a consistent goal scorer and intimidating physical presence over parts of three seasons with the Vancouver Giants, where he earned 102 points (54G-48A) in 167 games. Parker Trottier Eighteen-year-old Parker Trottier will spend his draft-plus-one season with the Regina Pats after plying his trade with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward from Edina, Minn. was chosen in the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Draft (189th overall). He strung together 14 points (8G-6A) in 24 outings with the USHL U.S. NTDP Juniors, in addition to 27 points (11G-16A) in 61 outings with the U.S. National U18 Team in 2025-26.]]>