Calgary Hitmen

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 meet a trio of talented Rangers youngsters who are ready to report for duty. Dylan Garand Talk about a Garand year. Twenty-four-year-old Dylan Garand made his NHL debut and earned a new contract in 2025-26. The Victoria, B.C. product went 2-0-1 in three games with the Rangers, posting a 1.62 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage. Garand made 35 stops in his debut, a 3-2 shootout loss to Winnipeg, and made 27 saves for his first NHL victory on March 27 against Chicago. Per the Rangers, Garand is the first Blueshirts rookie netminder to earn a point in his first three NHL appearances since the great Henrik Lundqvist in 2005-06. At the AHL level, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound puckstopper log

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 Powerhouse Minnesota Wild's contingent includes a pair of WHL Goaltender of the Year finalists who have already inked their first pro deals. Caedan Bankier  Twenty-three-year-old Caedan Bankier showed he was about more than just points in 2025-26. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound centreman notched 20 points (10G-10A) on an Iowa Wild team that struggled to score, but he did tie for sixth in goals among Wild skaters, while nabbing two game winners and converting three of five shootout attempts. While Iowa just missed out on the AHL playoffs, Bankier did earn a one-year, two-way contract that will take effect in 2026-27. The White Rock, B.C. product logged 188 points (76G-112A) in 202 regular-season tilts over

Date: 07/25/2026 Player: Marshall Petersen (F) From: Jersey Hitmen To: Niagara Falls Canucks Source: You need a free account to view Transfer URL Sign In/Up

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're getting greasy with the Edmonton Oilers. Tommy Lafreniere The Quebec-born, B.C.-raised forward made waves with 41 goals and 36 assists for 77 points in 67 games. Lafreniere, 19, tied for sixth in goals among all WHLers while helping the Kamloops Blazers clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2023. After logging two goals and an assist in the WHL postseason, the 6-foot, 183-pound winger made his professional debut with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors on an amateur tryout and notched a goal and two assists in eight regular-season and playoff games. He's currently representing Canada at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase in hopes of hitting Edmonton for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Cha

Date: 07/31/2026 Player: Jakub Seidl (D) From: Calgary Hitmen To: Bílí Tygři Liberec Source: You need a free account to view Transfer URL Sign In/Up

Edmonton, Alta. – The Edmonton Oil Kings announced today that they have signed 2009-born forward Jonas Vanicek to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. “We are proud to welcome Jonas and his family to the Oil Kings organization,” said Oil Kings President and General Manager Michael Chan. “He is an intelligent and skilled forward with the ability to make plays. We are looking forward to him joining our club in the fall after representing his country at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.” Vanicek was drafted in the first round, 56th overall in the 2026 CHL Import Draft back on June 30th by the Oil Kings. The 6’, 168lbs forward from Decin, Czechia split last season with HC Energie Karlovy Vary at the U17 and U20 levels. In 10 games at the U17 level, Vanicek had 29 points in 10 games, while notching 20 points in 15 games with the U20 club. At the international level, Vanicek has played 12 games with Czechia’s U17 team where he has eight points. -

Date: 07/30/2026 Player: Tate Batchelor (D) From: Stillwater High To: Calgary Hitmen Information: Junior contract Source: You need a free account to view Transfer URL Sign In/Up

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. To quote the late, great Prince: 'Baby, I'm a (Dallas) Star'. Jaxon Fuder Six-foot-1, 176-pound forward Jaxon Fuder flipped a mid-season switch to the WHL into an NHL deal. After earning an invitation to Stars Development Camp last summer, the 20-year-old inked a three-year, entry-level contract with Dallas as an undrafted free agent in September of 2025. Fuder responded with 37 points (8G-29A) in 52 regular-season games with the Red Deer Rebels and Edmonton Oil Kings. The Cold Lake, Alta. product has amassed 63 points (19G-44A) in 97 regular-season games over parts of two seasons in the Dub and is expected to make the jump to pro with the AHL's Texas Stars in 2026-27. Brandon Gorzynski

Swift Current, SK – The Swift Current Broncos have acquired 2008-born forward Ty Meunier and a 2030 seventh-round WHL Prospects Draft Pick from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for 2007-born forward Brennan Brown, a 2027 third-round WHL Prospects Draft Pick (Calgary), and a 2029 fourth-round WHL Prospects Draft Pick (Conditional). Meunier, a product of St. Albert, Alberta, is set to enter his third Western Hockey League season after spending the past two years with the Prince Albert Raiders and Calgary Hitmen. Originally selected seventh overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Meunier enjoyed a strong rookie campaign in 2024-25, recording 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points in 68 games with Prince Albert. Last season, the 17-year-old split time between the Raiders and Hitmen. He collected six goals and nine assists in 29 games with Prince Albert before being dealt to Calgary, where he ad

Date: 07/27/2026 Player: Brennan Brown (D) From: Swift Current Broncos To: Calgary Hitmen Information: Traded Source: You need a free account to view Transfer URL Sign In/Up

Date: 07/27/2026 Player: Ty Meunier (F) From: Calgary Hitmen To: Swift Current Broncos Information: Traded Source: You need a free account to view Transfer URL Sign In/Up

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. Much like an avalanche, Colorado's prospect pool is gaining some serious momentum. Beckett Hamilton 2026 74th-overall pick Beckett Hamilton's breakout is underway. The 5-foot-11, 174-pound forward led the Red Deer Rebels with 62 points (24G-38A) in 67 games, with 14 of his goals (including three game-winners) coming in the back half of the season after a switch to centre. He picked up a helper to lift Team East to a 5-4 overtime win at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game and led the Rebels with five points (2G-3A) in five playoff games against the powerhouse Prince Albert Raiders. Hamilton has been announced as the incoming captain for the Rebels in 2026-27. The dual Canadian-American citizen also represented C

Stephen Halliday, Carter Yakemchuk, and Andre Burakovsky have all reclaimed numbers that have served them well in the past. Behind The Numbers: Three Senators Switch Jersey Numbers For Next Season Steve WarneWed, July 22, 2026 at 9:37 p.m. UTC·2 min readThe Senators have announced three player number changes for the coming season. Centre Stephen Halliday is going from the number 83 he wore last season to the number 34 that he regularly wore in Belleville. Given his choice, he might have chosen 19, the number he wore at Ohio State, but that belongs to Drake Batherson, the second-longest-serving active Senator. Defenceman Carter Yakemchuk goes from 58 to 26. Yakemchuk wore 26 in Belleville last season during his first year as a pro and also wore it in junior with the Calgary Hitmen. The number was actually available when Yakemchuk was drafted in 2024. Erik Brannstrom was the last Senator to wear it before Yakemchuk arrived. Only five players in Sens history have had any

Calgary, Alta.- A strong contingent of hockey greats with ties to the WHL will help Canada chase gold at the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship. Three current and former WHL players and coaches will be on the bench for Canada, in addition to two members of the squad's support staff. 2020 WHL Coach of the Year Brad Lauer (Spokane Chiefs / Humboldt, Sask.) will reprise his role as an assistant coach after being part of the bronze medal-winning effort in January. Calgary Hitmen great Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, Sask.) is set to make his international coaching debut as an assistant under Head Coach Misha Donskov (Montreal, Que.), while Dan De Palma (Kamloops Blazers / Kamloops, B.C.) will return for a third stint as goaltending coach. Fellow CHLers Drew Bannister (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL / Belleville, Ont.) and Jim Hulton (Saint John, QMJHL / Wolfe Island, Ont.) will also serve as assistant coaches. They're joined by video coach Adam Filmon (Edmonton Oil Kings / Winnipeg, Ma

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 Anaheim Ducks feature new acquisitions, a pair of 2026 Draftees, and a newly crowned WHL champion. Noah Kosick The 6-foot, 160-pound centreman saw his production take off in his sophomore WHL season. Kosick bagged 16 goals and 38 assists for 54 points in 69 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds and Swift Current Broncos. Kosick made his way to the Pacific Northwest in a midseason trade and ended up finishing third on the Thunderbirds in points and second in assists. The Victoria, B.C. product averaged a point per game in his first trip to the WHL Playoffs with a goal and four helpers in five matches as Seattle bowed out to the B.C. Division Champion Penticton Vees. Kosick, 17, represented Team West at

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 check in on the Buffalo Sabres and the WHL's top active player selected in the 2026 NHL Draft. Riley Fiddler-Schultz The 2020 WHL Humanitarian of the Year continued to show growth in his third season of professional hockey. After earning his first NHL contact as a free agent in the summer of 2025, Schultz popped off for his first 20-goal AHL season, netting 37 points (21G-16A), including his first AHL hat trick, in 62 games with the Rochester Americans. The Sherwood Park, Alta. product tied for second on the team in goals and third in points. The 24-year-old was also named the Amerk's winner of the AHL Man of the Year award for his community contributions for the 2025-26 season. Fiddler Schultz,

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 Calgary Flames' prospect pool ranges from blue-chip and blue-collar pickups to some of the most exciting prospects slated to start their WHL careers in 2026-27. Andrew Basha After starting the season in the professional ranks, 2025 WHL Champion Andrew Basha returned for a final victory lap in Medicine Hat. The 20-year-old registered a goal and four assists in 27 games with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers before being reassigned to Medicine Hat, where he piled up 50 points (18G-32A) in 32 games while making a switch to centre to play alongside the Ruck twins. The 6-foot, 187-pound forward was drafted by the Flames with the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft. Basha will close out

Calgary, Alta. – The Calgary Hitmen have signed Swedish defenceman and Calgary Flames prospect Jakob Leander to a WHL Scholarship and Development agreement. Leander was selected by the Calgary Hitmen with the 48th overall pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft. The 6-foot-4 defenceman was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the seventh round (208th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft. A native of Jönköping, Sweden, Leander spent the past three seasons developing in the HV71 program. During the 2025–26 season, the 18-year-old recorded 12 points (2G, 10A) in 36 games with HV71's U20 team. "We are excited to officially welcome Jakob to our organization," said Calgary Hitmen General Manager Cass Bruni. "He complements our existing group of defencemen as a hard-to-play-against, right-shot defender. His size, competitiveness, and ability to defend make him a valuable addition to our blue line."   JAKOB LEANDER  – DE

Brandon Wheat Kings netminder Filip Ruzicka is the first goaltender selected in the 2026 NHL Draft to sign an entry-level contract with their NHL club. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound puckstopper has put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Minnesota Wild, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced Tuesday. https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/2070942569887137893 Ruzicka is coming off a standout rookie campaign with the Wheat Kings. The 18-year-old went 26-14-1-0  with a 3.19 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage and two shutouts. He ranked seventh among all qualified WHL netminders in save percentage and wins, while being named a finalist for WHL Goaltender of the Year. Ruzicka also went viral for a spirited goalie fight against Regina Pats puckstopper Taylor Tabashniuk on February 27. https://twitter.com/WHLPats/status/2027593835581235327 His penchant for the dramatic bled into the 2026 WHL Playoffs, where Ruzicka turned in an electric perform

Jakob Leander lämnar HV71. Den 19-årige backen fortsätter i stället karriären i Kanada och WHL-klubben Calgary Hitmen. – Det ska bli riktigt spännande och framför allt väldigt lärorikt, säger han till Jönköpings-Posten.