7 Standouts from the 2026 WHL Top Prospects Game

Two things stood out about Carels skillset throughout the game. First was his work ethic. As previously mentioned, he was everywhere for Team West, and although they didn’t end up with the win, he was the primary reason the game was as close as it was. Secondly, there is his skating. In one play, he used reverse crossovers – essentially, skating backwards – to build up speed and enter the offensive zone. I have not seen a lot of players do that, especially so easily. Ranked third among North American skaters on Central Scouting’s Midterm list, he might have done enough to boost his already high draft projection.

Daxon Rudolph, RD, Prince Albert Raiders (Team East)

Team East’s captain wasn’t as dominant as Carels, but Rudolph still showed that he was one of the top WHL prospects eligible for the 2026 Draft. He played a remarkably consistent game on both offence and defence, shutting down top forwards and showcasing surprisingly subtle soft skills with the puck. There was no better example than in overtime, where he pinched forward while his two forwards hung back. With one defender between him and the net, he quickly moved the puck under his opponent’s stick, creating just enough space for him to get a strong wrist shot off to beat Marek Sklenicka.

Rudolph is often at his best when he has time to take everything in. Throughout the game, he consistently demonstrated a well-developed two-way game, patrolling the blue line, surveying for openings and ensuring the puck stayed in play. He had excellent mobility and awareness of the situations around him, enabling him to make quick decisions when needed. But he can really turn it on when he needs to, which has made him one of my favourite defenders up for the draft.

Tyus Sparks, RW, Spokane Chiefs (Team West)

Team West was given an unexpected disadvantage heading into the Top Prospects Game, as four players were ruled out of competing due to injury: Lin, forward Mathis Preston, defenceman Brek Liske, and goalie Tobias Tvrznik. That elevated players like Sparks into more prominent positions, which worked out very nicely for the underrated winger, as he finished the game with two goals and many more eyes on him.

Ranked 63rd among North American skaters on the Midterm list, Sparks showed off his blistering shot as much as he could, but also his incredible work ethic. He identified weak spots and openings in Team East’s defence and put himself in the perfect position to capitalize on them, and his teammates were more than happy to feed him pucks. Everyone loves a smart, hard-working player, and with that shot, Sparks should start to get a lot more draft attention.

Liam and Markus Ruck, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (Team East)

It might seem unfair to group Liam and Markus Ruck together in the same category, as they both bring different skills to the ice. Markus has been described as more of a playmaker and set-up man, while Liam has garnered more draft attention thanks to his ability to be the finisher for the Medicine Hat Tigers. But their chemistry was on full display at the Top Prospects Game, where they combined for an excellent tic-tac-toe goal to put Team East up 4-3. The Rucks were also crucial for Rudolph’s overtime goal, with Markus finding the defenceman up near the opposing blueline that led to the game-winner.

It’s getting increasingly harder to distance the Rucks from the Sedins; the two Tigers’ forwards were able to find each other through traffic and were great on the forecheck and in the offensive zone together. While Liam and Markus don’t have the same upside as Daniel and Henrik, it might be worth seeing if an NHL team can draft both players, especially after seeing how well they performed in this game.

JP Hurlbert, RW, Kamloops Blazers (Team West)

Like Carels, JP Hurlbert was doing everything he could to help get Team West on the board after falling 3-0 in the first period. But it wasn’t until time was winding down in the third period that the WHL’s leading scorer finally got on the board, wiring a shot by Casey to tie the game at 4-4.

But Hurlbert was drawing attention long before his late goal. He was all over the place in the offensive zone and put four good shots on net before one finally went in. He attacked the puck with speed and confidence, which made him difficult to contain whenever he went on the forecheck. Considered a fringe first-round pick heading into the 2025-26 season, he’s now all but a lock to go in the top 20 picks. He’s a special player.

Michal Orsulak, G, Prince Albert Raiders (Team East)

It’s always tough for goalies to stand out in these games, playing just 30 minutes before switching with their “backup” and having little time to get into a rhythm while getting peppered with high-quality scoring chances. But Michal Orsulak was easily the most impressive of the four goalies featured, stopping all 16 shots he faced before Casey replaced him halfway through the second period. The Czech goalie may not have had any highlight-reel saves, but he was calm and consistent between the pipes, giving his team a chance to get out to an early lead. There’s a reason he’s ranked second among North American goalies.

Honourable Mentions: Zach Olsen, Cooper Williams, Timofei Runtso, Noah Kosick, Matias Vanhanen, Landon Amrhein