During the 2024/25 season the 黑料不打烊 introduced the Student-Athlete of the Month Award for the four different 黑料不打烊 divisions/age brackets: Eastern, West Female, West U18 Male (U18 Prep, U17 Prep, U17) and West U15 Male (U15 Prep and U15) .

This award is aimed at recognizing the student-athletes within the 黑料不打烊 and acknowledges their hard work, dedication, commitment, leadership, academics and community impact.

We would like to congratulate these four student-athletes, who were all nominated by their programs, for their hard work in the month of March.

East Division – Yuri Teo-Berube, Ontario Hockey Academy

“Yuri is a quiet leader in the program. He gets the job done in the classroom and on the ice, and is a particular leader in the gym program. He has top academic marks and shows what hard work can do.”

West Female Division – Bentley Hanson, Northern Alberta Xtreme

“She is one of the players who sets the standards every time she works on the ice and in the gym. She has grown a lot this season. She was a bit quiet when she arrived but grew into a leader who speaks up amongst her peers. She has earned the respect of her teammates. Bentley made a huge impact on the ice.”

West Male U15 Division – Lux Naka, Okanagan Hockey Academy

“Lux has demonstrated outstanding performance during the final stretch of the season and throughout the playoffs, consistently elevating his game when it matters most. His dedication to both his athletic and academic responsibilities exemplifies what it means to be a true student-athlete.

Lux carries himself with professionalism on and off the ice, showing maturity, discipline, and respect in all team environments. He approaches each day with a strong work ethic, committing fully to training and continuously striving to improve. His coachability makes him a pleasure to work with, as he is always receptive to feedback and eager to learn.

In addition to his individual efforts, Lux is an excellent teammate who contributes positively to team culture. He supports those around him, leads by example, and plays an important role in fostering a cohesive and motivated group.

Lux Naka is highly deserving of this recognition for his commitment, character, and performance.”

West Male U18 Division – Tommy Ogee, STAR Hockey Academy

“Tommy consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to excellence both in the classroom and on the ice, balancing his academic responsibilities with the demands of high-level hockey. He approaches his studies with discipline and focus, while also competing with integrity, work ethic, and a team-first mindset. Tommy鈥檚 leadership, accountability, and positive influence within our program embody what it means to be a true student-athlete, making him an excellent choice for this recognition.”

106 teams total will bring their talents to Penticton, bringing with them the top student-athletes in Western Canada in six different division. The U15 Prep, U17 and U18 Prep divisions have already crowned their champions, with U15, U17 Prep and Female U18 Prep yet to come.

If last year鈥檚 Western Championships taught us anything, it鈥檚 that on any given day any team can win. We saw top ranked teams get the job done as expected, and we saw lower ranked teams overcome the odds and even make a finals push.

At this year鈥檚 event we expect the same. With that in mind, here are some teams and 鈥楶layers to Watch鈥� in the U17 Prep Division.

U17 Prep Players to Watch

• Division I
  • F
    • Brady Filmon (RHA Winnipeg), Evan Lynch (Edge School), Adam Neilson (STAR Hockey Academy), Casey Pearson (Delta Hockey Academy), Kayden Pratt (BWC Academy), Colton Ross (RHA Winnipeg)
  • D
    • Luke Edgehouse (Okanagan Hockey Academy), Nolen Miller (Edge School), Jackson Beggs (Yale Hockey Academy), Nash Weyland (Northern Alberta Xtreme).
  • G
    • Griffin Fair (STAR Hockey Academy), Jack Utsunomiya (Delta Hockey Academy)
• Division II
  • F
    • Owen Hyde (Pacific Coast Hockey Academy), Maddox Ramage (Pilot Mound Hockey Academy), Owen Sinclair (Indigenous Sports Academy)
  • D
    • Chayse Fedoriuk (OHA Edmonton), Dexter Spring (Pacific Coast Hockey Academy)
  • G
    • Joffrey Chan (St. George鈥檚 School)

U17 Prep Teams to Watch

Calgary International Hockey Academy 鈥� Four Seed

CIHA went 19-10-1 and is just one year removed from their 2024 黑料不打烊 U17 Prep Western Championships victory. CIHA find themselves top 5 in both goals scored (138) and goal differential (+48), while sitting top 10 in goals against (90). 2009 born Rylan Wood (17-29-46) sits tied for sixth in leagues scoring with 46 points. Vancouver Giants prospect Tomas Figura (13-17-30) joins Wood with 40-plus points, while six CIHA forwards have more than 20 this season. Defensemen Charlie Sarich (5-21-26) and Sam McLean (2-18-20) each found the score sheet 20-plus time this season while Nicholas Edgar (7-12-19) leads the d-core with 7 goals. CIHA netminders Colton Lutz (10-7-1) and Taylor Green (9-3-0) combined for a 2.96 GAA and .906SV% this season, and will be relied upon to elevate their game come playoffs.

Delta Hockey Academy 鈥� One Seed

Delta (26-1-3) lost just once in regulation during the 2025/26 season and come into these Championships as the one seed. A combination of the most goals scored (150) and fewest goals against (59) leaving them with a league best +91 goal differential. Casey Pearson (23-22-45) sits top 10 in scoring with Brady Oatman (14-28-42) and Nicolas Peach (9-33-42) right behind him and on the plus side of 40. Otto Puhakka (9-22-31) sits both fourth on his team and fourth among all defensemen with 31 points in 29 games. A roster that consists of 7 WHL prospect, 16 of the 18 skaters hit double digit points on the season, giving them consistent depth and scoring throughout the lineup. Penticton Vees prospect Jack Utsunomiya (11-1-1) and Quinn Coupland (15-0-2) form one of the best goaltending tandems in the league, with Utsunomiya leading the division with a .950SV%, while both netminders sit top five in SV% and GAA. The core of this Delta team was part of the 2025 U15 Prep Western Championships winning team, and they should be able to use that experience to their advantage again in 2026.

Okanagan Hockey Academy 鈥� Five Seed

OHA (21-6-3) went an impressive 30-3-3 last season to enter the Championships as the one seed, but after a disappointing round robin, failed to qualify for the semis. This year they come in without the pressure of being the top seed, but with the backing of 11 players off last year鈥檚 U17 West Championship winning squad, and another 4 who won U15 Prep Division II. Maddox Slater (12-3-0) leads the division with a 1.59 GAA and 4 shutouts, while sitting second with a .942SV%. Slater and last year鈥檚 U17 Western Championships MVP Tyson Kuiack (9-3-3-) combined to give up the third fewest goals in the division on the season. Offensively the team sits near the bottom of the Division I Championships in goals scored with 121, but their strong defensive game does see them sit fourth with a +54-goal differential. Luke Edgehouse (17-17-34) plays a large role in their offensive output as he led all defensemen with 17 goals and 34 points during the regular season. Beckham Taggart (11-24-35) and Penticton Vees prospect Gage Mark (21-13-34) pace a group that see鈥檚 all 10 forwards have 10-plus points this season. OHA haven鈥檛 won the U17 Prep division since they went back-to-back in 2013-14, but the host squad will be full of optimism this year.

RHA Kelowna 鈥� Three Seed

RHA Kelowna (26-4-0) will look to match the success of their U18 Prep team who were recently crowned Champions for the second straight year. RHA Kelowna scored the third most goals (140) this season but did so with a committee approach as just Kaius Milan (13-25-38) is inside the top 25, 20 points off the division leader. Seven RHA Kelowna forwards had 10 plus goals this season, with Aiden Andrews (16-10-26) leading the charge with 16. All 12 RHA Kelowna forwards hit 10-plus points, with 8 having 20 or more. The d-core is lead by a trio of Colton Deschamps (3-21-24), Baden Glithero (3-18-21) and Nixon Whieldon (7-11-18). A very solid netminding duo of Matthew Palmer (15-1-0) and Moose Jaw Warriors prospect Dylan Mingo (11-3-0) backstopped the team to the fourth fewest goals against this season. RHA Kelowna comes into the Championships on a 10-game winning streak, and if they can keep that momentum rolling, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

STAR Hockey Academy 鈥� Two Seed

At 24-5-1 STAR entering the 2026 Western Championships as the two seed. The Kent, WA side won 13 straight before dropping two of their last three in games against RHA Winnipeg and Delta at the Edmonton, AB showcase at the end of February. With 148 goals scored STAR has the second most potent offence in the division with Vancouver Giants prospect Adam Neilson (19-27-46) leading the charge. A 10^th round pick by Tri-City Americans at the 2025 WHL Draft, forward Colton Brum joined the team midway through the season and has added 22 points in just 9 games. Five other STAR forwards have more than 30 points this season, with another two contributing 20 or more. Like most of the top teams in this division, it is a committee approach offensively, with the scoring coming in waves. An Americans and Giants prospect lead the defensive unit as Dylan Gale (3-19-22) and Tommy Ogee (4-15-19) have recorded 22 and 19 points this season. A 6鈥�4 netminder in Kamloops Blazers prospect Griffin Fair (8-4-1) and goaltending partner Erik Sims (16-1-0) have combined to give up just 62 goals in 30 games this season, second fewest in the division. One major area of strength for STAR is their special teams as they lead the league with a 25.6% power play and 91.7% penalty kill. As STAR looks for their first ever 黑料不打烊 Western Championship, special teams could be the difference.

During the 2024/25 season the 黑料不打烊 introduced the Student-Athlete of the Month Award for the four different 黑料不打烊 divisions/age brackets: Eastern, West Female, West U18 Male (U18 Prep, U17 Prep, U17) and West U15 Male (U15 Prep and U15) .

This award is aimed at recognizing the student-athletes within the 黑料不打烊 and acknowledges their hard work, dedication, commitment, leadership, academics and community impact.

We would like to congratulate these four student-athletes, who were all nominated by their programs, for their hard work in the month of February.

East Division – Liam Befus, King’s-Edgehill School

“Liam is a Grade 12 student who exemplifies excellence both in the classroom and in athletics. He recently earned an outstanding 97.2% average on his most recent report card, demonstrating his strong commitment to academic achievement.

Beyond his academic success, Liam serves as the captain of our team, where he provides exceptional leadership, accountability, and consistency throughout the year. He leads by example every day and has played a significant role in fostering a positive and competitive team culture.

Liam鈥檚 leadership extends beyond the rink. He is a respected leader within our school community, serving as a prefect and as Captain of Osprey House. His ability to balance high-level academics, athletics, and meaningful school involvement makes him a truly deserving candidate for Student-Athlete of the Month.”

West Female Division – Saysha Brace, Delta Hockey Academy

“Saysha has been the definition of commitment to her game and her academics. She is the type of athlete who, no matter what obstacles are in front of her, continues to work relentlessly to create opportunities for herself. Her mindset has led to her earning a college scholarship to play at SAIT in Calgary next year.

Saysha commutes over an hour each way to be part of our program, works multiple jobs, and still balances her academic responsibilities at a high level. Despite the demands on her time, she shows up prepared, focused, and ready to contribute to her team and schooling every single day.

Her work ethic and ability to persevere are well beyond her years. Saysha is a role model within our academy, demonstrating what it truly means to be a Student Athlete, be accountable to your teammates, and represent your program with pride. She is extremely deserving of this recognition.”

West Male U15 Division – Olan Ward, STAR Hockey Academy

“Olan exemplifies what it means to be a true student-athlete, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA through the first semester. He is a leader within our program academically, consistently setting the standard for preparation, accountability, and work ethic in the classroom.”

West Male U18 Division – Linden Andersen, South Alberta Hockey Academy

“Linden exemplifies what it means to be a true student-athlete through his consistent dedication to excellence both in the classroom and within his team environment. He approaches his academic work with focus and pride, demonstrating strong organization, a positive attitude, and a willingness to challenge himself on projects and daily assignments. Linden is a natural leader in the dressing room, setting a standard for work ethic, respect, and accountability that his teammates follow. He consistently supports others, offering encouragement and helping create a culture of unity and brotherhood.

Beyond the classroom and rink, Linden represents his program with integrity through his involvement in school and community activities, showing maturity well beyond his years. His commitment to personal growth, teamwork, and responsibility makes him a role model among his peers. Linden鈥檚 character, leadership, and dedication make him highly deserving of recognition as an outstanding student-athlete.”

鈥淭he addition of these new teams allows for the 黑料不打烊 to continue to be National Leaders in Education-Based Hockey, allowing member programs the ability to better accommodate and further develop our student-athletes,鈥� said 黑料不打烊 COO Kevin Goodwin.

Indigenous Sports Academy (Saskatoon, SK) and Pilot Mound Hockey Academy (Pilot Mound, MB) have both been granted a U17 team. ISA currently operates a U17 Prep team, while Pilot Mound operates at the Female U18 Prep, U15 Prep, U17 Prep, and U18 Prep levels. Pilot Mound has also been granted a U15 team for the 2028/29 season.

The North Shore Warriors (North Vancouver, BC) and RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna (Kelowna, BC) have both been granted a second Female U18 Prep team. Both North Shore and RHA Kelowna currently operate a full slate of teams at the Female U18 Prep, U15, U15 Prep, U17, U17 Prep, and U18 Prep levels. Calgary International Hockey Academy (Calgary, AB) was previously approved last season to join the Female U18 Prep division for the 2026/27 season.

STAR Hockey Academy (Kent, WA) has been granted a U18 Prep team for the 2026/27 season. STAR presently operates a U15, U15 Prep, U17 and U17 Prep team.

Along with approving internal expansion, Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy (Coeur d’Alene Hockey, ID) and Prairie Hockey Academy (Caronport, SK) have both been approved to operate a U15 Prep team, replacing their existing U15 teams. CDA and Prairie both currently operate a U17, U17 Prep and U18 Prep team.

With the addition of the six teams, the 黑料不打烊 has expanded to 135 teams amongst 38 member programs. 23 of those 136 teams will compete in the 黑料不打烊 East Division, with the remaining 112 in the 黑料不打烊 West Division.

Eastern U17 Prep: Alessio Servello, Kuper Academy

A forward from Pointe Claire, QC, Servello tallied four goals and two assists in two games in December. On the season Servello has 11 goals and 13 assists, good enough for third in league scoring with 24 points in 9 games.

Eastern U18 Prep: Adam Clark, Okanagan Hockey Ontario

Clark played just one game in December, but it was a memorable one as the Beaconsfield, QC forward had four goals and two assists. On the season he leads his team while sitting sixth in league scoring with 18 points in 10 games.

Female U18 Prep: Elise Miller, North Shore Warriors

Committed to the University of Alberta for the 2026/27 U SPORTS season, Miller had three goals and three assists in two games in December. Miller leads all North Shore skaters with 16 assists and 24 points this season. Now in her third year of 黑料不打烊 action, Miller has 67 points in 77 career games.

U15: Alex Iaichkin, BWC Academy

Iaichkin led all U15 skaters with 8 assists and 13 points in 5 games in December. On the season the 2012 born Maple Ridge, BC forward sits fifth in the league and second on his team with 48 points in 23 games.

U15 Prep: Loic Lebel, Calgary International Hockey Academy

A forward from Calgary, AB, half of Lebel’s points during the 2025/26 season came in the month of December. Lebel led all skaters with 6 goals and 12 points in 5 games, giving him 14 goals, 10 assists and 24 points on the season. Last year Lebel tallied 39 points in 32 U15 games with CIHA.

U17: Deacon Wilson, STAR Hockey Academy

With 9 goals and 14 points in 7 games, Wilson led all skaters in December. On the season the Seattle, Washington forward has 27 points in 21 games, sitting second in team scoring. In 35 U15 Prep games last season Wilson recorded 6 goals and 14 assists.

U17 Prep: Griffin Fair, STAR Hockey Academy

Having recently been added to the Kamloops Blazers protected list, Fair went 3-0-0 with 2 shutouts, a 0.989 SV% and 0.33 GAA in December. On the season he sits second in the league with a 1.60 GAA and 2 shutouts, and fourth with a 0.939 SV%.

U18 Prep: Ashton McCann, Edge School

December was a successful month for McCann both in the 黑料不打烊 and at the prestigious Circle K Classic Tournament, where he had 8 goals and 10 points in 6 games. In 7 黑料不打烊 games McCann would lead all U18 Prep skaters with 9 goals and 16 points. On the season, the Swift Current Broncos prospect leads his team with 15 goals and 34 points, sitting fifth among all skaters in both categories. Last season McCann was a 黑料不打烊 U17 Prep Prairie Division First Team All-Star after tallying a team high 62 points in 35 games.

William Sumner:聽

The Pasco, WA forward joined STAR Hockey Academy for their inaugural 黑料不打烊 season in 2023/24. That U15 campaign he would tally 16 goals and 19 assists in 22 games.

This past season Ellingsen recorded 24 goals and 30 assists in 34 U15 Prep games, while captaining STAR. His performance this season would earn him U15 Prep BC Division First Team All-Star honours.

For the second straight draft a St. George’s School (Vancouver, BC) defenseman was selected second overall as Holden Wouters was taken by the Edmonton Oil Kings.

STAR Hockey Academy (Kent, WA) captain Levi Ellingsen became the second ever 黑料不打烊 student-athlete selected first overall at the U.S. Priority Draft, joining RHA Kelowna (Kelowna, BC) forward Brody Gillespie, who was selected by the Spokane Chiefs in 2023.

Overall, 11 黑料不打烊 student-athletes were selected in the first round while 84 players were selected in total at the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft. Of those 84, 48 were taken in the first 4 rounds/92 picks. Overall, 37% of the WHL Prospects Draft came from the 黑料不打烊, the third highest percentage total in league history, behind 2021 (45%), 2022 (40%) and tied with 2024 (37%).聽

The 黑料不打烊 three round total of 39 players selected is the second most in league history, trailing 2021 when 40 players were selected in the first three rounds, including a record 16 in round one.

All 16 黑料不打烊 U15 Prep teams saw at least one student-athlete selected at this years draft.

Of the 200 Canadians selected in the WHL Prospects Draft, 80 (40%) were from the 黑料不打烊. The remaining 27 players selected were from the U.S.A. or Europe, with 4 of those having played in the 黑料不打烊 including Luke Warrener and Vladislav Ibragimov, who both played in the 黑料不打烊 U18 Prep division as 2009 born players.

With 16 players selected, the Northern Alberta Xtreme tied the 黑料不打烊 program single draft record held by Edge School, who had 16 in 2024.

By the Numbers

Program Breakdown:

• Northern Alberta Xtreme – 16
• Delta Hockey Academy 鈥� 9
• St. George鈥檚 School – 9
• BWC Academy 鈥� 7
• Edge School 鈥� 7 (+ 1 US Draft)
• RHA Kelowna 鈥� 7
• North Shore Warriors 鈥� 6
• OHA Edmonton 鈥� 6
• Yale Hockey Academy – 6
• Okanagan Hockey Academy 鈥� 4
• Pilot Mound Hockey Academy – 4
• Notre Dame Hounds – 3
• Pacific Coast Hockey Academy 鈥� 2
• RHA Winnipeg 鈥� 2
• Shawnigan Lake School 鈥� 1
• South Alberta Hockey Academy 鈥� 1
• STAR Hockey Academy 鈥� 1 (+ 2 US Draft)

WHL Prospects Draft Round Breakdown:

• First Round: 11/23
• Second Round: 14/23
• Third Round: 14/23
• Fourth Round: 9/23
• Fifth Round: 8/23
• Sixth Round: 6/23
• Seventh Round: 5/23
• Eighth Round: 7/23
• Ninth Round: 3/18
• Tenth Round: 2/12
• Eleventh Round: 3/7
• Twelfth Round: 0/3
• Thirteenth Round: 0/1
• Fourteenth Round: 1/1
• Fifteenth Round 1/1
• Total: 84/227

WHL U.S. Priority Draft

WHL Prospects Draft

Former 黑料不打烊 Student-Athletes WHL Prospects Draft

鈥淪ince our inception the 黑料不打烊鈥檚 goal has been supporting Hockey Canada鈥檚 objective to facilitate the integration of Grade 8-12 education-based hockey/accredited school programming within the Hockey Canada programming model. The addition of these teams allows for that goal to continue with greater retention in our member programs,鈥� said 黑料不打烊 COO Kevin Goodwin.

Okanagan Hockey Ontario (Whitby, ON) has been granted a U17 team to compete in the Eastern U17 division. OHO currently has a U18 team playing in the 黑料不打烊 Eastern Division.

Calgary International Hockey Academy (Calgary, AB) has been granted a U15 Prep team for the 2025/26 season. CIHA currently operates a U15, U17 Prep and U18 Prep team.

Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy (Coeur d’Alene Hockey, ID) has been granted a U15 team for the 2025/26 season. CDA currently operates a U17, U17 Prep and U18 Prep team.

Like CIHA, South Alberta Hockey Academy (Dunmore, AB) has been granted a U15 Prep team for the 2025/26 season. SAHA currently operated a U17 Prep, U18 Prep and Female U18 Prep team.

STAR Hockey Academy (Kent, WA) has been granted a U17 and U18 Prep team for the 2025/26 season. Currently in their second 黑料不打烊 season, STAR presently operates a U15, U15 Prep and U17 Prep team.

With the addition of the six teams, the 黑料不打烊 has expanded to 130 teams and 38 member programs. 21 of those 129 teams compete in the 黑料不打烊 East Division, with the remaining 109 in the 黑料不打烊 West Division. Future external expansion, with the addition of new member programs, is expected to be voted on in the spring.

U15: Brody Antignani, Edge School

It was a dominant month for Antignani as he record a division best 9 goals and 19 points in just five games for Edge School. On the season the Calgary, AB forward leads all U15 skaters with 56 points and a 2.95 Pts/GP in 19 games played.

U15 Prep: Peter Banicevic, Delta Hockey Academy

Banicevic started the season with 23 points in 14 games before exploding for 15 points in 4 games in December, launching him from 30th to 13th in league scoring. His 15 points and 9 assists in December led the U15 Prep division. Now in his second 黑料不打烊 season, the Burnaby, BC forward has 74 points in 45 career games.

U17: Luke Edgehouse, Okanagan Hockey Academy

A defenseman from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Edgehouse led all skaters with 6 goals, 7 assists and 13 points in December. In his first season in the 黑料不打烊 he sits third among all defensemen with 25 points in 20 games.

U17 Prep: Sam Trnecka, STAR Academy

Trnecka went 2-0-0 with 1 shutout, a .959 SV% and 1.00 GAA in December for STAR. In his first 黑料不打烊 season the Issaquah, Washington netminder holds a 6-3-0 record with 2 shutouts, a 2.67 GAA and .915 SV%.

U18 Prep: Liam Ryan, Shawnigan Lake School

The St. John’s, NL netminder went 3-0-0 with 1 shutout, a 1.33 GAA and .959 SV%, allowing just 4 goals in wins over North Shore, Notre Dame and Indigenous Sports Academy. Having previously played for Shawnigan in 2022/23 and Stanstead College in 2023/24, Ryan is 8-3-0 with 2 shutouts, a .935 SV% and 2.37 GAA this season.

Female U18 Prep: Riley Cooper, OHA Edmonton

With three goals and five assists in four games, Cooper finished second among all Female U18 Prep skaters with eight points in December. A 2009 born forward from Edmonton, AB, Cooper sits tied for eighth in league scoring with 29 points. Her 10 goals, 19 assists and 29 points are all a team best.

Eastern U17: Alexis Lavoie, Stanstead College

Lavoie led all East U17 skaters with 5 goals, while his 10 points were second behind teammate and November POTM, Emanuel Ganz. In his first 黑料不打烊 season the 2009 born Sherbrooke, QC forward sits third in league scoring with 25 points in 13 games.

Eastern U18: Zachary Roussy, Bishops College School

Selected in the sixth round of the 2024 QMJHL Draft by the Gatineau Olympiques, Roussy had one goal and four assists in three games for Bishop’s. Now in his second 黑料不打烊 season, the Chambly, QC product leads all defensemen with 10 assists and a 1.44 Pts/GP, while his 13 points sits second, one off the division lead.