Wenatchee Wild

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Jaime Ringstad to... - WHL Wenatchee Wild

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 pair of skaters aiming to go from the Calgary Hitmen to Canada's capital. Blake Vanek A change of scenery saw 6-foot-3, 210-pound forward Blake Vanek up his scoring. The Stillwater, Minn. product netted 36 points (19G-17A) in 69 games between the Wenatchee Wild and, after the 2026 WHL Trade Deadline, the Calgary Hitmen. The son of former NHLer Thomas Vanek scored a pair of game-winners for the Hitmen and added another goal in the 2026 WHL Playoffs, which saw Calgary bow out in the second round. Vanek, 18, was drafted by Ottawa with the 93rd overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Vanek is primed to take a big step forward in his sophomore WHL season, especially after pott

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are pleased to announce that Aron Branam will return to the c... - WHL Wenatchee Wild

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

Edmonton, Alta.- Sixteen-year-old Liam Pue's Hlinka Gretzky Cup mastery was on full display as Canada trounced Sweden 7-4 in group stage action at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Pue, who played 34 games with the Regina Pats in 2025-26 as an underage player, scored his fourth goal and fifth point of the tournament in a win that guaranteed Canada first place in Group A and eliminated Sweden (0-1-2-0) from medal contention. Fresh off a two-goal performance in his home barn, Kaeden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings / Saskatoon, Sask.) was named Player of the Game with a one-goal, two-assist effort. For a third straight game, Canada opened the scoring in the early goings, this time with 2026 Rookie of the Year finalist Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders / Victoria, B.C.) outwaiting a sprawling Swedish defender to rip a shorthanded goal home from the slot. His defensive partner, Boston Tait (Wenatchee Wild / Estevan, Sask.), picked up the secondary assist. Stroeder bagged his

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

Edmonton, Alta.- Five Western Hockey League skaters, including Edmonton Oil Kings forward Kayden Stroeder, enjoyed a multi-point night as Canada rolled Slovakia 6-1 to improve to 2-0-0-0 at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. 2026 WHL Champion and Defenceman of the Year finalist Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / Calgary, Alta.) was named Canada's Player of the Game with a one-goal, one-assist effort. The opening frame proved to be a much closer affair than Canada's tournament-opener, which saw the Canucks and Switzerland combine for six goals in the first nine minutes. Still, Canada struck first blood as projected top 2027 NHL Draft pick DuPont received a clean pass from Saint John Sea Dogs star Alexis Joseph and beat the Slovakian netminder on a powerplay wraparound. 2025 WHL first-overall pick Maddox Schultz (Regina Pats / Regina, Sask.) picked up a secondary assist on the play. Slovakia briefly tied the game with a point-blank goal from Patrik Rychlik, but Canada re

Edmonton, Alta.- 2027 NHL Draft-eligible Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds / Red Deer, Alta.) and 16-year-old Regina Pats Star Liam Pue (Langley, B.C.) scored twice as Canada routed Switzerland 7-3 to open the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Portland Winterhawks forward Alessandro Domenichelli (Lugano, Sui.) logged a pair of assists in the loss, while the WHL contingent accounted for 10 points. England, a 5-foot-11 forward who logged 21 goals in his rookie season with the T-Birds in 2025-26, was named Canada's Player of the Game. The goals poured in fast and furious as the teams combined for six goals in the first nine minutes of the match. Canada got off to a dream start as 2027 NHL Draft-eligible defenceman Boston Tait (Wenatchee Wild / Estevan, Sask.) broke the puck out of the Canadian zone for an extended offensive zone shift. As the squad piled pucks on the Swiss net, England banked a puck off Switzerland's netminder from behind the net to open the scoring 1:18 in

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 Florida Panthers' prospect pool features three recent WHL Champions. Marek Alscher The 6-foot-3, 205-pound defenceman made his NHL debut in April of 2026 and stayed with the Panthers for their last four games of the regular season. The team went 3-1-0 over that stretch, with Alscher averaging more than 20 minutes on the ice while picking up three assists and a +4 rating. The 22-year-old stayed steady in his second season in the professional ranks, notching 11 points (3G-8A) in 52 games with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers before getting called up to the show. Alscher, from Kladno, Czechia, spent three seasons with the Portland Winterhawks, bagging 66 points (22G-44A) over 178 regular-season games, whil

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are pleased to announce the hiring of DJ McFarland as the tea... - WHL Wenatchee Wild

Edmonton, Alta.- Everett Silvertips defenceman and 2026 WHL Champion Landon DuPont will captain Canada as the country eyes a return to the top of the podium at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The projected top 2027 NHL Draft pick had been invited to participate in the World Junior Summer Showcase, but opted to return to the prestigious U18 tournament in hopes of improving on the bronze medal he won in 2025. "It's exciting," DuPont said during Canada's training camp. "We want to be the team

EDMONTON, Alberta - The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are excited to announce that 2009-born defenseman Boston Tai... - WHL Wenatchee Wild

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild have announced that 2006-born forward Zane Saab and 2006-born defenseman Brandon Osborne have cleared Western Ho... - WHL Wenatchee Wild

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. From centre ice to the blue paint, Columbus boasts a strong table of talent developed in the west. Charlie Elick Six-foot-4, 205-pound defender Charlie Elick's bread and butter is his shutdown defensive play. The 20-year-old had one of his best offensive campaigns in the WHL with a six-goal, 14-assist run in 63 games with the Tri-City Americans. Elick was also named an alternate captain in his first full season with the Ams after being dealt from the Brandon Wheat Kings in a blockbuster trade in 2024-25. Drafted with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Elick signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Columbus in March of 2025. He made his professional debut with the AHL'

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are pleased to announce the hiring of Kenna Behrens as the te... - WHL Wenatchee Wild

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee Wild have announced a trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL), acquiring 2006-born forward Kayden Longley from the Hurricanes in exchange for a pair of WHL Prospects Draft selections. The Hurricanes will receive Wenatchee’s third-round selection in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft originally assigned to the Brandon Wheat Kings, and the club’s fifth-round pick in the 2029 Prospects Draft. Longley is entering his fourth full season of junior competition, and brings a wealth of WHL experience and leadership to the Wild organization. The Wainwright, Alberta native has appeared in 184 WHL contests with Lethbridge and the Kelowna Rockets, appearing in 48 with the Hurricanes after a trade this past November and tallying 37 points. His final point of the 2025-26 campaign was his 100th in WHL play. He earned a leadership role right away with his new team, serving as one of Lethbri

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild have announced a trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL), acquiring 2006-born fo... - WHL Wenatchee Wild

Date: 07/27/2026 Player: Kayden Longley (F) From: Lethbridge Hurricanes To: Wenatchee Wild 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

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. Let's meet some of the up-and-comers aiming to join Regina Pats legend and 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. Nathan Behm Six-foot-2, 208-pound winger Nathan Behm erupted for 38 goals (highlighted by five game-winners, a hat trick and seven multi-goal outings) and 48 assists for 86 points in 67 regular-season games. The Calgarian finished second on Kamloops in points, second in assists and third in goals to help the Blazers return to the WHL postseason. This marks the second-straight campaign that has seen Behm surpass the 30-goal threshold and average more than a point per game. The 19-year-old was selected by Chicago with the 66th overall pick in the third round of the 2

Tri-City Americans general manager Bob Tory announced Monday that the team has signed forward Owen Kraft to a WHL Standard Player Agreement and Development Plan. The Americans acquired Kraft from the Wenatchee Wild in a trade completed on July 14, 2026. “Owen is a highly skilled, dynamic forward with an elite hockey IQ and a high compete level,” stated Tory. "We look forward to having Owen attend training camp this fall and compete for a roster spot this season. We are pleased to welcome Owen and his family to the Tri-City Americans." Kraft is a 5-foot-9, 174-pound forward from Moorhead, Minn. He was originally selected by the Wild with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.  

Calgary, Alta.- Eleven WHL skaters will battle to represent Canada at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Seven forwards, three defencemen and one goaltender have been named to Hockey Canada's 27-man roster for its National Men's Summer Under-18 Training Camp, which runs from July 27- August 1 in Edmonton. Projected top 2027 NHL Draft pick Landon DuPont is set to appear at the tournament for a second straight year after claiming bronze with Canada in 2025. The WHL's first exceptional-status blueliner is coming off a stellar season that saw him help the Everett Silvertips capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in franchise history, while being named a finalist for WHL Defenceman of the Year and logging 73 points (18G-55A) and a +59 rating. DuPont recently squared off against another elite rearguard, 2024 WHL second-overall pick Brock Cripps, and the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2026 WHL Championship Series. Cripps posted 37 points (6G-31A) in his rookie campaign

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are excited to announce that 2009-born defenseman Boston Tait... - WHL Wenatchee Wild