DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Ethan Belchetz

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Ethan Belchetz (LW)

    Ethan Belchetz is a hulking winger for the Windsor Spitfires whose physicality and upside could make his potential in the NHL higher than his production in the OHL this season would indicate. His overwhelming size and strength make him a threat at the OHL level in the offensive zone, winning puck battles with ease and consistently getting to high-danger spots while fighting through checks. 

    Belchetz has great hands and vision with the puck, beating opponents one-on-one and taking advantage of his wingspan and frame to capitalize on chances in those dangerous areas. While his foot speed leaves something to be desired, he has decent top end speed once he gets going and is capable of making plays at a high pace and not looking out of place while playing with high skill linemates. He’s hard nosed and knows how to take advantage of his strength, proving himself as an elite net-front presence and not backing down from physical challenges. He’s battled inconsistency throughout this season, but he’s an athletic beast who could gain confidence and produce more as he grows into his frame and continues to develop his offensive acumen. He’s a fairly safe bet to become a heavy and effective NHL winger who should go in the top half of the first round.

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Ethan Belchetz (LW)

    Ethan Belchetz #61, F 

    Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

    6’5”, 227 lbs, DOB 2008-03-30

    Belchetz’s goal in this game was a strong example of his identity as an effort-driven forward. The play stemmed from his eagerness to attack inside ice rather than staying to the perimeter. He drove to the net with purpose, establishing body position to get the deflection. He consistently supported pucks well in the offensive zone, staying involved in cycles and presenting himself as a passing option. Belchetz’s fight in this game showed his willingness to engage physically and stand up in emotionally charged moments. He showed no hesitation dropping the gloves, which speaks to both toughness and a team-first mentality. Importantly, he maintained balance and composure during the exchange rather than throwing himself out of control. Beyond the fight, his overall physical engagement was consistent. He finished checks, applied pressure on the forecheck, and made life difficult for opposing defenders. Belchetz’s skating was reflective of his size in the sense that his stride is functional rather than explosive, however, it’s supported by a high motor that allows him to stay involved shift after shift. His pace was most effective when combined with his physicality, where he closed spaces quickly on the forecheck and forced rushed decisions. This game highlighted Belchetz’s competitive identity clearly. Scoring a hard-area goal and then engaging in a fight in the same game points to a player who is emotionally invested and willing to influence the game in different ways. 

    Overall, Belchetz projects as a high-energy forward with a physical edge and scoring ability. His game is built around compete level, net-front presence, and a willingness to engage physically. Games like this, where he contributes both on the scoresheet and emotionally, reinforce his value as a momentum player. If he continues refining his skating explosiveness, he has the foundation to fill a reliable bottom-six role at the NHL level. 

    Skater Category Summarization:

    Skating: 6

    Puck Skill: 6

    Scoring Ability: 7

    Hockey IQ: 7

    Character: 8

    Physicality: 7

    Defensive Play: 6

  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Ethan Belchetz (LW)

    Ethan Belchetz:
    Projection: Middle 6 Winger
    Strengths: Physically mature game, Ability to drive the play, Strong shot
    Weaknesses: Needs to grow into his skates, Lack of creativity and
    adaptability, Weak transition game

    Analysis:
    Ethan Belchetz is another big power forward in this draft class. He
    has a very physically mature game for being 6’5 230lbs and isn’t
    afraid to use it to his advantage. He likes to lean on defenders along
    the boards, forcing the puck to his stick before driving the net.
    Through the use of his size, he is also a force when planted in front
    of the goalie for rebounds, deflections, or backdoor passes. Where he
    is the most dangerous is inside the circle without the puck, where he
    can make use of his very powerful shot.

    That’s kind of where I see his strengths begin to fall off. Apart from
    his size and heavy shot, he lacks anything that is super outstanding
    or noteworthy. I find that he still hasn’t found his stride due to his
    size, so he lacks any monumental speed or dangerous explosiveness. He
    doesn’t have any special stickhandling or vision abilities, so the
    only way I find he beats defenders is by making use of his body to
    protect the puck and drive wide or cut to the middle before releasing
    his shot. He also has a very weak transition game in my eyes. He
    struggles to make pinpoint passes on the rush, and when he decides on
    what he’s going to do, he has a hard time adapting and deviating from
    that plan based on how the play develops. With some extra time and a
    good development path, he has the potential to be a solid middle-six
    play driver.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    While most of the hockey world was locked on the Olympic tournament in Milan over the last couple of weeks, prospects across the globe continued to play games. In this week’s draft-eligible three stars, a prospective number one overall pick in 2026 shows why he still deserves the hype, a Russian winger makes his first appearance after a productive week, and a Czech winger reaches a big milestone as his strong season continues.

    Gavin McKenna | LW | Penn State (NCAA)

    Gavin McKenna may not have the firm grip on being the first overall pick in 2026 as it seemed to be prophesied, with challengers in Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg and Canadian NCAA defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, but the phenom is doing everything he can to remind people why he got that distinction in the first place.

    The former CHL Player of the Year was downright dominant this week in a pair of games against Ohio State, picking up 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in two games. The Whitehorse, YT, native had a night for the ages. With five primary assists, two secondary helpers, and a goal, McKenna set program records for most points and assists in a game. The former Medicine Hat Tiger is the first player to have eight or more points in a single game against another Division 1 program since Bob Joyce had nine points in a game on Jan 2, 1987.

    The number one overall ranked player on the Draft Prospect Hockey 2026 NHL Draft Rankings followed up his historic night with eight shots on goal in almost 27 and a half minutes of ice time. He sent a perfect backdoor slap pass for a helper on Penn State’s third goal in the comeback from down 4-2. The freshman made an Ohio State defender look silly before he sniped the overtime winner over the blocker to complete the rally.

    Oleg Kulebyakin | LW | Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

    Russian winger Oleg Kulebyakin leads the Halifax Mooseheads in points with 60 (26 goals, 34 assists) in 55 games and is fourth in league scoring among 2026 draft-eligible prospects. The St. Petersburg native is no stranger to North American hockey, having come to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights during the 2023-24 season and staying since.

    The University of Massachusetts commit for 2027-28 was the number 68 ranked skater on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Ranking for North American skaters. The Lincoln Stars alumnus picked up at least a point in all four games this week for a total of nine points (three goals, six assists).

    After a pair of two-point outings to start the week, he notched one goal in a 7-4 loss to Drummondville before his signature game of the period. Kulebyakin was named the first star while registering four points (one goal, three assists) against the Rimouski Oceanic. After falling behind 1-0, the Mooseheads headed to the power play, where Kulebyakin set up the first of seven unanswered goals for the visitors. He set up a second power play marker in the third period. With 51 seconds left to go in the game, Kulebyakin found himself open in the slot and picked the corner with a wrist shot to make it 7-1.

    Adam Novotný | LW | Peterborough Petes (OHL)

    Czech winger Adam Novotný continues to impress in his first season of North American hockey. The slick shooter is third in the OHL among draft-eligible players in goals with 30, behind only Nikita Klepov (33) of the Saginaw Spirit and Ethan Belchetz (32) of the Windsor Spitfires. Novotný, who served as the captain for Team East, was sensational in January at the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game with a pair of goals.

    The Hradec Kralove, Czechia, native opened the week on Family Day with a goal and an assist to earn first-star honors in a 3-2 shootout win for the Petes over the Kitchener Rangers. He followed it up with a goal on a great individual effort to pot a goal with just under two minutes left in the contest against the North Bay Battalion to make it 5-4 in a game the Petes would ultimately fall in. The former Mountfield HK player added a goal and an assist in his team’s third contest of the week against the Brampton Steelheads.

    Novotný saved his best for last, helping the Petes in a big way to take down the Brantford Bulldogs on Sunday. Early in the first period, the 6-foot-1 winger swiped down a clearing attempt by the Bulldogs and stepped in to snipe a wrist shot off the bar and in to open the scoring. He continued to hound the Bulldogs all game with nine shots, but none was bigger than his overtime winner. With the Petes on the power play, Novotný took a pass before a couple of strides and picked his spot with a seeing-eye wrist shot over the glove of David Egorov.

  • Weekly 2026 Draft Eligible Three Stars

    As the 2026 NHL Draft picture continues to develop, a trio of emerging major-junior standouts are forcing scouts to take notice. Across the CHL, high-end skill, production, and poise are coming into focus—whether it’s the dynamic twin-driven surge in Medicine Hat, a Russian playmaker redefining “instant impact” in Victoriaville, or a towering OHL power forward bulldozing his way up draft boards. Liam Ruck, Yegor Shilov, and Ethan Belchetz aren’t just off to hot starts—they’re building cases to hear their names called early on draft night in June. Here’s a closer look at why all three are rapidly rising prospects to watch.

    Liam Ruck | RW | Medicine Hat Tigers

    Liam Ruck and his identical twin brother, Markus, have both had hot starts to their respective draft-eligible seasons in Medicine Hat. The twins are both producing at a point-per-game level with 21 points each. Liam has found a little bit more of a scoring touch with seven goals and 14 assists, while Markus is dishing the puck with just three goals to go with 18 assists.

    In a pair of games over the weekend, Liam showed off his offensive prowess, collecting six points. Early in the first period against the Regina Pats, Ruck settled into some open ice near the faceoff dot on the left side before taking a pass and ripping a wicked wrist shot that hit the crossbar and went in. With the game tied at two in the second, Ruck broke the tie. After taking a feed on his backhand, the Osoyoos, BC native tried to feed the puck across the slot, but his pass was redirected back to him, and he popped it in. Ruck added a secondary assist on the overtime winner to pick up points on all four Tigers goals.

    The 45th-ranked skater on the 2026 Draft Prospects Rankings added a goal and an assist to his weekend total in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

    Yegor Shilov | C | Victoriaville Tigres

    Russian center Yegor Shilov is leading the way for draft-eligible prospects in the QMJHL with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 21 games. After lighting it up in minor hockey in Russia, he had 76 points in 30 U17 games in 2023-24; the crafty playmaker moved across the ocean to play for the Long Island Gulls 16U program. The transition to North American ice didn’t seem to faze him, as he scored 48 points in 31 games with the Gulls and another 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 39 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers.

    The Boston University commit for next season was picked third overall by Victoriaville in the 2025 CHL Import Draft and acclimatized to major junior hockey extremely well. After picking up an assist in Victorville’s Wednesday tilt with Baie-Comeau, Shilov exploded for a hat trick and a five-point outing against Shawinigan. In on a three-on-two, Shilov used the Shawinigan defender as a screen and fired a wrist shot over the goalie’s glove-side shoulder. He added another marker on a shorthanded breakaway, slipping a backhand through the goalie’s pads. He capped the hat trick with a breakaway goal on an empty net. The 49th-ranked skater on the 2026 Draft Prospects Rankings was held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 win over Gatineau, but it wasn’t for lack of trying, as the pivot had six shots on goal.

    Ethan Belchetz | LW | Windsor Spitfires

    Ethan Belchetz has always had a nose for the net, and the monster power forward is currently leading the OHL draft-eligible group with 16 goals in 21 games. After potting 17 goals in his rookie season last year with the Spitfires, Belchetz is set to soar past that number in his sophomore campaign. The Oakville, ON, native, standing at 6-foot-5 and 227 pounds, has the kind of size NHL teams dream about and a toolkit of offensive skills to go with it.

    Belchetz opened the scoring for the Spitfires on Thursday night against the Soo Greyhounds. Finding some open ice in the slot, the gargantuan winger walked in uncovered and wired a wrist shot over the Greyhounds keeper’s blocker-side shoulder. Belchetz found the back of the net less than two minutes into the second period for the daily double. After gaining the zone, Belchetz dropped the puck off for Philadelphia Flyers prospect Jack Nesbitt and settled into some open ice in the left-side faceoff circle. As he drifted towards the Soo cage, Nesbitt fed him the puck. Despite not being able to get a clean shot off, the puck rattled around and found its way in.

    The 5th-ranked skater on the 2026 Draft Prospects Rankings had nine shot attempts with six on target during Saturday’s game against the Guelph Storm. He managed to find the back of the net off a play he created in his own zone. After blocking a point-to-point pass by the Storm, Belchetz took off and received a feed to give himself a breakaway. With all kinds of time and space, the 2024 first overall pick in the OHL Draft faked a shot to get the goalie to drop and then roofed a quick forehand wrist shot up and over.