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The 2026 Red Deer Rebels U15 Fall Classic has come and gone, and there were plenty of standout plays as well as players. OHA Edmonton took home gold, while Calgary International Hockey Academy and South Alberta Hockey Academy took silver and bronze, respectively. I have compiled a list of my five favourite players to come out of the weekend, and to note, this is not a top five. These are simply a few of the players I liked watching the most.
#1: Deacon Gillespie (OHA Edmonton)
Perhaps the most skilled blueliner of the tournament, Gillespie showed elite skating ability as well as a large amount of offensive poise. Not everyone can be Cale Makar or Lane Hutson, but the OHA defender has that profile. With that said, when he wasn’t generating offense with his elusive edge work and snappy release, Gillespie was equally a shutdown defender. Multiple times, an opponent would fire a pass or clear down the ice, and he’d simply swat it down with his stick. Whichever team is lucky enough to select him next spring will be some very happy campers.
#2: Ian Kim (EDGE Prep)
Now on to arguably the most skilled player of the tournament. Kim lit the lamp 10 times over the weekend, netting three hat tricks- one of them against the eventual champions in OHA Edmonton. The name of Kim’s game is speed, and he does it incredibly well; the way in which he will come out of a turn, facing the play, faster than he went into it is similar to that of Antonio Stranges from a few years ago. Pair that with an elite shot, and even better vision, and Ian Kim will likely be a top-five pick come May.
#3: Miles Hartmann (OHA Edmonton)
This was, for all intents and purposes, my favourite player of the tournament. There is so much to love about Hartmann’s game, and he’s so easy to root for. First and foremost, what stands out right away is his motor; it simply does not end. This makes him an incredible penalty killer (which he was, alongside Marek Fetter) and enables him to score shorthanded goals on work ethic alone. With that said, the OHA forward’s game is not flashy. It could be compared to a slightly higher-skilled Zach Hyman, with dogged effort, but he is known to make a smart pass or two when the time comes. His shot is quick, not allowing goaltenders to get set up, and he is a complete 200-foot player. Hartmann may not be selected high in the draft, but whatever team does get him should consider themselves lucky.
#4: RJ Celebrini (North Shore Winter Club)
The youngest of the Celebrini trio, RJ is the total package. Before he missed the final two games of the weekend, he could not be stopped. Quick, shifty skating, an unbelievable nose for the puck (as well as the net) and a shot that could potentially be already described as NHL-ready. However, only two of Celebrini’s 13 points were goals; the North Shore superstar found himself much more of a playmaker, and with the amount of attention he demands on the ice with his presence alone, it makes open targets much easier to see. RJ Celebrini is already commanding a top-five spot in the upcoming WHL Draft next May, and he could hear his name called sooner than later.
#5: Alex Ubongen (EDGE Prep)
While not considered a “points guy” for EDGE (though he did post three points), he didn’t need to be. Alex Ubongen was a transition machine over the weekend, playing impressively sound positional hockey and just physical enough to free opponents from the puck. Yes, getting the puck up the ice is much easier when your forwards are Ian Kim and Nazar Shmatok, but Ubongen proved to the crowds that he could hold his own; he rarely got caught out of position, forcing attackers into uncomfortable positions, and moved the puck with relative ease. Similar to Hartmann, Ubongen may not be a top-five or ten selection, but he will be a substantial impact player for any WHL franchise.
L’Italien is a big, rangy defenceman who was one of Halifax’s brighter spots in a difficult 6–0 loss. Playing nearly 25 minutes, he handled a heavy workload at even strength, on the penalty kill and on Halifax’s second power-play unit. He retrieved pucks effectively in the defensive zone and consistently moved them out with ease. He showed good composure under pressure, rarely appearing rushed, and generally made smart, simple decisions rather than forcing plays that were not available.
For his size, L’Italien moves well. His pivots were smooth, and his mobility allowed him to defend effectively in space. He used his length particularly well against the rush, extending his stick to disrupt attacks and take away passing or shooting options before they could develop. Offensively, his game was relatively simple but effective, moving pucks quickly and taking what the defence gave him.
Despite the blowout, L’Italien made very few noticeable mistakes. His most significant came following a defensive-zone faceoff, where he was slow to identify and stay with his assignment, allowing his man to get open at the back door for an uncontested tap-in. Moving forward, L’Italien should continue to handle major minutes for Halifax. His combination of size, mobility, reach, composure and defensive reliability gives him an intriguing foundation, and based on this viewing, he looks like a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Connor Bedard is back practicing with the Blackhawks for the second day in a row, taking part in both 5-on-5 line rushes and powerplay drills.
The Blackhawks powerplay has struggled early on, only converting once on 14 attempts (7.1%). Their one goal coming from Sam Rinzel in the Blackhawks only win of the season.
Obviously, not having Connor Bedard hurts the powerplay, but he is back practicing, and may even play Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Blackhawks powerplay lines in practice:
Bertuzzi (net front)
Bedard (left wall) – Kantserov (bumper) – Kane (right wall)
Byram (point)
The biggest change here isn’t the addition of Connor Bedard, it’s Patrick Kane being moved back to the right wall.
Patrick Kane has been one of the best powerplay distributors in the league throughout his career, and he has always done so from the right wall.
Being a left-handed player on the right side allows Kane to open up on his forehand and survey his options. This forces the penalty kill to respect the pass as well as the shot. Patrick Kane is one of the best playmakers in the NHL, but is not afraid to put a shot on net.
I speculate the reason Kane was on the left wall up until now was because the Blackhawks have an abundance of left-handed players and this allowed Kane to find a one-timer from either the right wall, bumper, or point. Now, Kane has Bedard as a one timer option on the left wall.
Throughout his career, Kane has always been the play driver on the powerplay, so it only makes sense to have the driver in his most comfortable spot.
Having Bedard back will be a massive boost for the powerplay. If the Blackhawks want to start winning games, it is crucial that they convert far more often than the 7.1% they have been.
#4 Wenatchee Wild. Left shot defenseman, 6.02 / 197
DOB: April 13, 2009
Boston Tait is a good-sized defensive defenseman who uses his frame effectively to win puck battles, establish possession, and protect the puck during transitions. He displays a good first pass, allowing him to move the puck efficiently out of the defensive zone and help initiate the attack. Defensively, he does a good job closing the gap early, limiting opponents’ time and space to generate offense.
Tait also brings some offensive ability to his game, possessing a good shot with a nice release. He can get pucks through traffic and toward the net, creating opportunities for rebounds and deflections. His combination of size, defensive awareness, puck protection, and ability to move the puck makes him an intriguing prospect with top-four potential at the professional level.
Projection: Early second round. Projects as a top-four defenseman at the professional level.
He’s only been the number one defenseman in Chicago for five games, but the doubts surrounding Bowen Byram’s ability are getting louder and louder.
After a 5-2 beatdown from the Carolina Hurricanes, the Blackhawks have fallen to 1-5-0. This rocky start is particularly frustrating given that the players spent all summer talking about playoffs, and how this season needs to be different.
It’s only been six games and things could change, but if the Hawks don’t turn this thing around real soon, they can kiss any playoffs hopes goodbye.
Analyzing the Blackhawks without Connor Bedard is like evaluating the San Jose Sharks without Macklin Celebrini, but the Hawks’ inability to play without him is concerning.
Still, the biggest storyline of the Blackhawks season so far has been the underwhelming play of Bowen Byram.
The Blackhawks made a statement when they gave up the fourth overall pick, Louis Crevier, and a second round pick for Byram. Then they signed him to a six-year, $75 million deal.
Those transactions told the hockey world two things. The Blackhawks are ready to compete, and Bowen Byram is a number one defenseman.
six games into the season and neither look to be true.
Byram has played five games this season, it would be six, but he missed his return to Buffalo because his wife was giving birth to twins.
Through those five games, Byram has zero points and is a -8. Byram was initially deployed on his off side with Alex Vlasic. The idea was to play Byram with a shutdown defenseman who can successfully retrieve pucks and allow Byram to flourish offensively, even if it means playing his off side.
Unfortunately, that duo wasn’t working out, so Jeff Blashill made a change after just two games. Since then, Byram has been playing on his natural left side with Artyom Levshunov.
Byram has looked better since the change, but still isn’t playing anywhere near the level he is supposed to be.
At 5-on-5, Byram has been on the ice for seven goals against, two goals for, and has a 47.06% corsi (via NaturalStatTrick).
Beyond just the numbers, Byram has looked slow, at times not engaged, and is struggling to connect on passes. This is especially concerning given how dominant he looked in the preseason.
Bowen Byram oozes confidence off the ice, and yet, through five games, he seems to have non when the puck drops.
The team as a whole has been struggling in pretty much every area of the game, so it’s not all on Byram. However, great players find a way when others can’t, that’s who Byram is supposed to be.
The main issue isn’t that Byram hasn’t been able to elevate his play to that of a number one defenseman, it’s that he hasn’t even been able to play to the level he has throughout his career so far.
Byram has been a reliable second/third defenseman with number one potential. However, so far in Chicago he’s looked more like a fifth or sixth.
Like I stated earlier, adding Connor Bedard to this lineup is going to help the team win games, but his presence alone can’t fix the individual performances of 23 other guys.
There are 78 games left to play, a lot can change, and a lot will change. The question is when will things change, and how drastic will that change be.
#17 Tri-City Americans. Right-shot right wing. 5.10 / 184
DOB: January 19, 2009
McKamey is a skilled two-way forward who keeps his feet moving, draws penalties, and shows strong offensive instincts. He has excellent vision as a playmaker, moves the puck efficiently, and can find teammates in scoring positions. When given the opportunity to shoot, he has the release and accuracy to beat goaltenders. He also sees time playing the point on the power play, where his puck distribution and offensive awareness can be valuable assets.
Defensively, McKamey needs to make better decisions when operating at the point on the power play, as mistakes in that position can lead to short-handed opportunities for the opposition. Adding more physicality to his game would also help him become a more complete player.
His point production is beginning to trend upward, and he is showing signs of growing confidence. As he matures and continues to develop, I believe he has the potential to become a productive offensive contributor.
Projection: Middle of the fourth round in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. Despite standing 5’10”, McKamey’s playmaking ability, offensive vision, and scoring touch give him the potential to develop into a top-six forward at the professional level. His size may be a consideration for some NHL teams, but continued production and improvement could strengthen his draft stock.
It’s October 11th, and Connor Bedard is once again on the ice for Blackhawks practice. This time, however, he is wearing a regular jersey and looks to have fewer contact restrictions.
Sounds like Connor Bedard has been cleared for some practice contact, but not a full go just yet. pic.twitter.com/t7CKtsr1SD
As of today, Bedard is a participant in normal practice once again. It looks as though he is taking contact, as well as taking part in line rushes. According to Scott Powers, however, he isn’t “full go” just yet.
The Blackhawks next game is Tuesday against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins and according to Scott Powers, Jeff Blashill did not rule out Tuesday as a possible return for Bedard.
Blackhawks forward lines with Bedard in practice:
Kantserov – Bedard – Kane
Bertuzzi – Frondell – Teravainen/Nazar
Smith – Greene – Greenway
Moore – Toninato – Donato
With Bedard slotted in to the lineup, things looks much better, and guys fall into their more appropriate places.
There has been a lot of speculation about whether or not Bedard will play with Patrick Kane. If today’s practice lines are any indicator, it looks like Bedard will be centering Kane and Roman Kantserov.
Bedard was asked today about his potential return. According to Scott Powers, Bedard said he is feeling good, but there isn’t a specific game for his return yet. He also added, “I want to play as soon as possible” (via Charlie Roumeliotis on X)
Given that the initial timeline had him returning in November, things look to be progressing well.
The 1-5-0 Blackhawks are desperate for their captain, and superstar forward to return to the lineup in hopes of getting things back on track while there is still time.
The Rangers started this one off with a goal very late into the 1st period; Tanner Lam made a quick pass to Luca Romano for a short one-timer to make it 1-0 going into the 2nd. The game was end-to-end action, but neither team could capitalize on any opportunities, and it would remain 1-0 going into the 3rd. Kitchener opened the 3rd perfectly as top 2027 NHL prospect Luca Santala fired a shot from the circle; it deflected more than once but found its way past Vermirovsky for a 2-0 lead. Brady Smith would bring the hounds within one with a beautiful one-handed tuck five-hole, and with 2 minutes remaining, Rangers goaltender Jason Schaubel would make his first mistake all game: a bad puck bounce off the boards, and he ended up dropping his stick before swatting it away, where Ryan Kaczynski would tap it in the empty net. Jakub Winklehofer would win it for the Greyhounds a minute into overtime.
The Standouts
Luca Santala – Luca had a slower start to the game, but looked great in the 2nd and 3rd. An ability of his that really stood out to me was his puck protection; he was very strong on his skates and used his body to distance the puck from defenders while keeping his head up, looking to make plays. He showed very good vision and made many slick passes, especially on the power play; he thinks ahead of the play and is able to put himself in scoring opportunities before they develop.
Trevor Daley Jr – Daley was on the best line for the hounds again; he, along with his line, were punishing on the forecheck, not only hitting but his relentless work ethic and pace; he is extremely effective along the boards as well, often won’t just crash and bang in the battles but will sneak in, lift a stick and take it with perfect timing.
Jason Schaubel – Schaubel was incredible, stopping 33/36 with one of them being an unlucky bounce off the boards; the Greyhounds had plenty of high-danger chances, and he kept the Rangers in it all night. He has extremely fast lateral movement, is very quick down low, and showed great positioning throughout the game, especially while on the penalty kill.
Tonight is game one of a seven game home stand for the Blackhawks, and it starts with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
Despite the fact that the Hawks have got better as the season’s gone on, they are still 1-4-0 entering tonight.
“the last two games have been a huge step in the right direction, last game i thought we did tons of good stuff, i thought we played the way we need to play to be effective.” Jeff Blashill (via CHGO Blackhawks)
Not only are the Hawks really feeling the absence of Connor Bedard, but now they have to go without Frank Nazar for two games while he serves his suspension.
Blackhawks projected lines:
Lardis – Greene – Kane
Bertuzzi – Frondell – Kantserov
Donato – Toninato – Teravainen
Smith – Moore – Greenway
Byram – Levshunov
Vlasic – Cole
Kaiser – RInzel
Spencer Knight will start tonight.
Ryan Greene moved up to the first line center spot. I’ve said multiple times lately that Ryan Greene could be the stability that the top six needs, and now he gets his shot. “he’s not chaotic…he can help settle any line down” Jeff Blashill after morning skate (Via CHGO Blackhawks)
Nick Lardis might be the most underwhelming forward so far this season. He’s mostly played bottom six minutes but was moved up to the top line last game. It looks as though Lardis will start tonight with the top line.
Jeff Blashill talked about depth scoring being an issue, if Lardis can find his game that will be a big boost for the Hawks. Lardis scored at a 20-goal pace last season.
Roman Kantserov has an underwhelming zero points in his first five games this season, leaving fans wanting more. Kantserov was expected to be a top six contributor upon arrival this season.
Jeff Blashill came to the young Russian’s defense this morning “I don’t believe in small sample sizes, if he keeps doing what he is doing he is going to have plenty of points in this league.” (Via CHGO Blackhawks)
Kantserov has done the little things right, and at times has been very noticeable with his speed and physicality. The change from the KHL to the NHL is a big one and it may take time for Kantserov to find his best game.
It has been stated many times, but the key to success tonight for the Blackhawks is simple, smart hockey. Make the safe play, gets pucks on net, and play as a unit. Often these are cliches, but if the Hawks want to beat the Hurricanes they need to play that way.
What I’ll be watching for:
Special teams: the Hawks powerplay has been a non factor this season, only converting on an embarrassing 8.3% of opportunities. I may sound like a broken record, but clean zone entries are key. If they can get in, they already move the puck well. Maybe shoot more? The penalty kill hasn’t been much better, only clicking at a 64.3% success rate.
Bowen Byram: through four games, Byram is a -6 with zero points. I don’t think anyone expected a start like this, especially after how dominant he was in preseason. Byram is a huge part of this team, if things are going to turn around, he needs to lead the charge.
Spencer Knight: Having a goalie like Knight gives your team a chance to win every night. The Hawks haven’t given Knight enough help offensively this season, and they need to tonight. Knight has the ability to win them this game, but the offense needs to do it’s part and pot more than 1-2 goals.
Entering Friday night’s matchup, the Brampton Steelheads were still searching for their first win of the season, having dropped their opening seven games and remaining the OHL’s only winless team. Standing in their way were the Kingston Frontenacs, who arrived in Brampton with a 4-4 record. With home-ice advantage and Kingston playing the second half of a back-to-back, this presented a great opportunity for Brampton to end its slump.
Adam Goljer made an immediate impression with his strength on the puck, particularly when carrying it in stride. Brampton’s defenders struggled to separate him from the puck, allowing him to dictate play in the offensive zone.
Kingston controlled much of the play through the opening 10 minutes, generating the majority of scoring opportunities. Despite the pressure, Brampton remained disciplined defensively, keeping Kingston to the perimeter and limiting high-danger chances.
Despite Kingston’s early pressure, Brampton struck first when 2027 NHL Draft-eligible forward Keaton Ardagh flew through the neutral zone, finding a gap between three Kingston defenders to create a breakaway. Ardagh made no mistake, finishing glove side to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead.
Brampton’s lead nearly evaporated moments later when Adam Goljer found Aleks Kulemin with a dangerous cross-crease pass. Kulemin had positioned himself for a potential tap-in but was unable to corral the puck.
Kingston wasted little time finding the equalizer. On the following shift, André Mondoux sent a wrist shot from the point through traffic that found the back of the net. It was a shot Brampton goaltender Oskari Ahmajärvi likely should have stopped, tying the game at 1-1.
While Matthew Henderson didn’t have a particularly flashy first period, his steady defensive play provided Goljer with the freedom to take risks offensively. Goljer frequently joined the attack, often finding himself below the faceoff dots in the offensive zone, trusting Henderson to provide defensive coverage.
Kingston picked up right where it left off, applying immediate pressure to start the second period. Nolan Snyder delivered a perfectly placed pass from the slot onto Aleks Kulemin’s tape, creating a golden opportunity to take the lead, but Kulemin was unable to convert. Although he had yet to find the back of the net, Kulemin was consistently finding ways to get open in dangerous areas. For the second time in the game, he slipped behind Brampton’s defenders to put himself in prime scoring position.
Kulemin’s persistence paid off on the very next shift when Matthew Henderson sent a shot toward the net from the point. Kulemin got his stick on the puck, redirecting it past Ahmajärvi to give Kingston its first lead of the night, 2-1.
While Kingston continued to generate offense, Brampton defenseman Peter Green stood out for his ability to stretch the ice with long, tape-to-tape passes. Whenever the puck found its way onto his stick, Green demonstrated an ability to facilitate clean zone exits and quickly transition play up ice.
Continuing an impressive night for both Kingston players, Kulemin led a two-on-one rush, finding Goljer with a pass that the defenseman converted to extend the Frontenacs’ lead to 3-1.
Brampton cut the deficit to one thanks to an impressive individual effort from Nathan Amidovski. Battling multiple Kingston defenders in the high slot, Amidovski managed to maintain possession before firing a shot glove-side to make it a 3-2 game. Throughout the night, Amidovski had been Brampton’s best offensive facilitator, creating opportunities with a number of creative and dangerous passes. His goal was a well-deserved reward for his efforts.
In the dying seconds of the second period, Ardagh once again showcased his high-end speed, squeezing between a Kingston defender and the boards to create open ice ahead of him. He followed up with a pass to a teammate in a scoring position, but the teammate was unable to convert.
Kingston came out strong to start the third period, with Landon Wright generating two scoring opportunities in quick succession. After his first attempt was blocked, Wright made the most of his second chance, beating Ahmajärvi high to restore Kingston’s two-goal advantage at 4-2.
Wright’s goal appeared to spark a response from Brampton, as the Steelheads spent the next several shifts hemming Kingston in its own zone and applying sustained offensive pressure.
With approximately 10 minutes remaining, a frightening moment unfolded when Brampton’s Stepan Kuryachenkov delivered a hit from behind on Matthew Henderson, leaving the Kingston defenseman down on the ice for an extended period. Kuryachenkov was assessed a five-minute major, leaving the Steelheads facing a lengthy penalty kill while trailing by two goals. Fortunately, Henderson was able to return to the game.
Despite being shorthanded, Brampton nearly found a way back into the game when Kingston’s Landon Wright tripped in the offensive zone, creating a two-on-one rush in the opposite direction. The Steelheads were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, leaving the score at 4-2.
Brampton successfully killed off the entire five-minute major, keeping its hopes of a late comeback alive. With two minutes remaining, the Steelheads pulled Ahmajärvi for an extra attacker in a final attempt to erase the deficit. Despite sustaining offensive pressure with the empty net, Brampton was unable to find the back of the net, falling 4-2 to Kingston and suffering its eighth consecutive loss to open the season.
