Attached are the respective performances of 2026 draft prospects at the recently-played Memorial Cup. Each team at the tournament had at least one potential draftee, Everett leading the way with three.
Everett Forward Matias Vanhanen (54th-ranked North American skater): Vanhanen had 8 points (4G 4A) in 5 games in Kelowna, to follow up a WHL postseason in which he registered 24 points (12G 12A) in 18 games. He is a threat to generate a scoring chance every time he touches the puck, whether in transition or tight spaces. His #54 ranking is low, and doesn’t reflect his skill set.
Everett D-man Brek Liske (44th-ranked NA skater): Liske served on the first pair with projected 2027 #1 overall pick Landon Dupont, and was tasked with staying in good position while Dupont was creating scoring chances. He also has the skill to contribute, as shown his 24 points (7G 17A) in 52 games this past season. I see him as a 2nd or 3rd pair d-man in the NHL.
Kitchener D-man Alexander Bilecki (49th-ranked NA skater): Bilecki registered three assists in four games for the Memorial Cup champs, in a third-pairing role. Bilecki has good size (6’2″), and distributes the puck well. However, he must engage more on D, and get stronger to effectively compete in loose-puck battles.
Chicoutimi Forward Liam Lefebvre (38th-ranked NA skater): Lefebvre had 4 points (2G 2A) in 4 games in the Memorial Cup, and used his size and a good stick to force turnovers leading to quality chances. His Memorial Cup showing matched his point-per-game scoring consistency during the regular season. He will continue his development next season at the NCAA’s University of Vermont.
Kelowna Goaltender Harrison Boettiger (10th-ranked NA Goalie): Boettiger played in two games for the Rockets, posting a .902 save percentage and 3.64 goals against average for the winless host team. Should he play in the NHL at some point in the future, I see him in a backup role, as he has never struck me as a game-stealer.
Everett Goaltender Anders Miller (Unranked among NA goalies): Miller posted a record of 3-2-0, coupled with an .891 save percentage and 3.02 GAA. I was very disappointed in Miller’s play, especially after he posted such excellent numbers in the WHL playoffs. He surrendered 11 goals in two matchups with eventual champion Kitchener, and did not give his team a chance to win.