The inaugural WHL Prospects Game went down to the wire, with Team East avoiding a total collapse to win the game 5-4.
The game featured many of the WHL’s top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. Ryan Lin and Mathis Preston were two potential first-rounders who missed out due to injury, but there were still plenty of notable players worth keeping a close eye on.
At one point, the game looked absolutely one-sided. Landon Amrhein scored the lone goal in the first period, while Zac Olsen and Giorgos Pantelas each added one before the halfway point of the game.
But West would bounce back with three straight goals of their own. Tyus Sparks scored a pair of goals, including a power-play blast – to make it 3-2. Then, Brody Gillespie completed the comeback at 43:37, only for Liam Ruck to answer back five minutes later. It looked like East was going to cruise to the victory, but JP Hurlbert scored with under seven minutes to go to force the game into overtime.
It didn’t take long into extra to find the victor. Daxon Rudolph needed just 14 seconds into the extra frame to join in from the point before firing it home, giving East the 5-4 victory.
Here’s a look at the top performers from both games:
East
#5 Noa Ta’amu, D: Ta’amu is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. At 6-foot-2 and nearly 240 pounds, he’s an absolute beast. He’s so physically strong, and even dropped the gloves against 6-foot-7 Sean Burick. Ta’amu is more than just a strong dude: he’s defensively responsible and uses his brute force to push opponents to the outside. I think he’s fine with the puck, and while his numbers are nothing to get excited about, Ta’amu makes up for it with his play away from the puck.
#10 Daxon Rudolph, D: Rudolph snagged an assist today and then scored the game-winner in what was definitely a strong game for him. With no Ryan Lin to contend with, Rudolph was the best puck-moving blueliner in this game. Rudolph is having an excellent season in Prince Albert, where he serves as a leader despite being 17. He’s strong, defensively responsible and moves well, too. Look for Rudolph to challenge for a top 10 spot in the draft.
#84 Giorgos Pantelas, D: Every time Pantelas’ name was mentioned on the broadcast, he was making something happen. Just smart, consistent plays all game long with little to no mistakes under pressure. He scored the 3-0 goal on the power play – and I’m glad they let him play on the man advantage because he doesn’t let it go to waste. I’ve teetered on him as a first-round pick this year but you can absolutely consider me a Pantelas fan.
#9 Zac Olsen, RW: Olsen was my favorite player in the first half. He had a goal, landed some hits, and made some excellent passes up the ice. He’s smart, nimble, and has a powerful wrister he loves to show often. Olsen is a hard-working forward who has really impressed scouts the past few months for his commitment to detail and his improving hockey sense. This should help his draft stock.
#18 Cooper Williams, C: Williams does a lot away from the puck. He can shoot, but is better chasing after guys and forcing turnovers. His shot can be deceptive, forcing defenders to make quicker decisions than they’d probably like. Today, though, he was known more for what he does with the puck – he has a pair of assists to help get East up ahead early. He definitely came to play with the spotlight, which is good because I’ve had some hit-or-miss viewings of him this season.
West
#4 Carson Carels, D: Carels looks more physical than I remember from him at the World Juniors when I last got to see him in person. Carels is confident in his puck play and doesn’t let anyone bother him. But he’s not afraid to lay the body when he needs to – it felt like he was extra fired up in front of the scouts. I really liked his pass to Tyus Sparks on the first WHL goal, and it was nice to see him with three in the end.
#5 Timofei Runtso, D: I know Runtso was on the ice for a pair of goals against, but he intrigues me. The WHL rookie is always trying to make things happen, and often is the best player on the ice in any given game for Victoria. His offensive game continues to improve, and I think it’s because he’s shown a greater willingness to be aggressive on the attack. He’s fearless, and you notice him every time he hits the ice because he’s either shutting someone down or getting the puck down the ice.
#2 JP Hurlbert, RW: Hurlbert was one of the only West forwards who consistently seemed to make things happen on the attack. He had four shots in the first and showed some flashes of skill that eventually led to the 4-4 goal. He’s the most skilled forward out of the Dub in this draft class and it felt like he had the energy to match that today.
#17 Brody Gillespie, C: With a goal and five shots, it was hard to ignore Gillespie out there. He hasn’t put many points on the board this year but he came alive today. Gillespie is so energetic, checks hard and works well in a support role. Today, I thought he looked really good in the comeback effort because he gave it his all every time he hit the ice.
#88 Tyus Sparks, RW: A two-goal game? Yeah, he was good. I think Sparks has been underrated for most of the season. He has been productive across the board between Vancouver and Spokane this year, and he’s a great shooter, as he showed today. He’s one of the hardest-working players in the WHL and he was obviously huge in West’s comeback efforts. I think he has scored in every game I’ve watched from him this year.
