Madden Daneault, Jett Evans headline standouts from 2026 John Reid Memorial Tournament
ST. ALBERT, Alberta – The John Reid Memorial Tournament, held annually in St. Albert, Alberta, is the marquee event on Western Canada's scouting calendar.
16 teams from the best programs around compete in a four-day tournament. Over the years, the John Reid has seen hundreds of future WHL draft picks walk through the doors, including the likes of Jarome Iginla, Jordan Eberle, Morgan Rielly, Mathew Barzal, and many more to come.
This year’s tournament was no different, showcasing many, if not most, of the talents expected to be top-10 picks during this spring’s WHL Prospects Draft. The presumptive No. 1 pick, Madden Daneault, took MVP honours for the second straight time, Parker McMillan filled the net, and Artello Forestal made a statement.
Our team had two scouts on site, myself, Tyson Soobotin, and Kareem Elshafey.
Here are our top standouts from the event, and how it may impact their WHL Draft stock.
Madden Daneault, C, Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA
Back-to-back tournament MVPs for Madden Daneault, who also won top forward and was named a first-team all-star. Just like the other special talents across this sport, you can feel the energy in the building change when he steps on the ice. He combines high-end speed with an elite shot, and yet, his best skill is his hockey sense. There’s never a time when he’s not the smartest player, and somehow also the most dangerous player, always getting free from coverage, preying on his opponents like a lion in the long grass.
Daneault also makes passes that seemingly come out of nowhere, bolstered by his potent shot. You never have to wonder about Daneault’s compete level, as he brings it every game. The intensity is always present. He’s fast, mean, and physical. He’s even great in the face-off dot. There’s nothing left to say that hasn’t been said. Elite.
Jett Evans, C, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep
No player showed up more when the lights were brightest than Jett Evans. Scoring a goal in the final would be a great moment for any player. Scoring twice? Terrific. Those two goals being the tying and Gold Medal-winning tallies? Legendary. Add his semi-final hat trick to his resume, and you're looking at the most clutch player of the weekend.
One of the leading scorers for NAX, Evans is critical to their attack. Centering the first line, he constantly pushed the pace for his linemates and his team. His puck skills are top-notch, with an added layer of deception in his game to keep defenders guessing. He is a key connector for his line-mates, making plays to put his teammates in good positions with the puck. Dynamic and explosive, he has the talent to use the entire ice to attack his opponents. His above-average edge work allows him to explode laterally and take advantage of any gaps the defenders give him. He shows a proficiency in moving the puck east-west, but also moves it low-to-high – really, whatever keeps the play alive and the puck in his team's possession.
Looking back at NAX’s Gold Medal weekend, Evans’ fingerprints are all over it.
Artello Forestal, C, OHA Edmonton U15 Prep
You can’t help but fall in love with the way Artello Forestal skates. He’s explosive, balanced, dynamic, powerful, and fast. He is an incredibly quick player. His hands are quick. His feet are quick. But the impressive part is his brain. He scans the ice and reads plays lightning-fast, making split-second decisions to move the puck up the ice. He can change direction at a moment's notice, adding to his arsenal of elusive abilities. He also shows nice offensive touch, as he used the goalie's momentum against him several times over the weekend.
Forestal’s edgework is simply elite, and he uses it to create offence in a plethora of ways, often opening his hips while still accelerating to give himself a better field of view. He uses his edges to push himself into better shooting positions, exploding or sliding laterally to change an angle. Once in those spots, he has a quick release that sneaks up on goaltenders. His high-scoring weekend (12 points) was enough to earn him a spot on the second all-star team and erase any doubt that he’s among this draft class’ best.
Eli Vickers, LD, Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep
This is what a star defenceman looks like. A true two-way talent that dominates with his feet and vision, Eli Vickers earned a second-team all-star nod after leading his team in scoring over a weekend where Delta struggled to score. He made quick decisions and accurate passes that consistently sprung his teammates for odd-man rushes, showing he can move the puck effectively without having to skate it. But when he does rush it, the edges and balance in his stride are outstanding. He shows deception with the puck, and his puck skills make him impossible to contain.
Delta spent a lot of time defending this weekend, but that just allowed Vickers to show his defensive ability. He effectively contains attackers to the wall and uses his elite feet to shut down plays in the neutral zone. Vickers is elite and deserves all the hype he’s getting.
Kristian Lima, F, Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep
Kristian Lima is fun to watch. You are constantly waiting for the moment he gets his shot off, and you can’t take your eyes off the game for even a second or you’ll miss it. The release Lima possesses is lethal. He loads and shoots in a fraction of a second. The puck explodes off his stick with velocity that freezes goaltenders. The release is so quick that defenders often don’t have the time to get in front of it, ensuring he gets pucks through to the net. Not a one dimensional player though, as he can often be seen working diligently in the defensive zone, winning puck battles along the boards, and bringing the physicality. A fun player who really showed up over the weekend.
Teagan Dernisky, C, Yale Hockey Academy U15 Prep
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Teagan Dernisky is a great passer. Getting into double-digit points (11) over the weekend, he was essential to his team bringing home a Bronze medal. He’s a smart player who sees the whole ice surface. With the puck on his stick, he opens his hips so he can survey the entire surface and make the best pass available. He has good edges, puck skills, and makes decisions quickly. He is a skilled, smart, accurate passer who creates passing lanes by changing his body angle and his pace. He’s seeing lanes through the neutral zone before they develop, and planning to deliver a pass before his teammate breaks open. He’s an excellent offensive player, but his two-way game also deserves mention. He’s responsible in his own zone, supports plays up ice, and is an excellent penalty killer. Anyone who truly appreciates hockey loves how Dernisky plays.
Easton Pitz, F, RINK Academy Winnipeg U15 Prep
Easton Pitz is a slippery, offensive creator who generates scoring opportunities in several different ways. His shot is heavy and pops off his stick, and he unloads it with a drag-and-release. His skating is good, generating high speed when given open space, but he often has to slow down so his team can catch up. He processes the ice as he carries the puck, which is possible due to his slick handling skill.
Pitz makes good, accurate passes through seams and shows deception when looking one way but passing another. He also showed good hockey sense when attacking in transition, making passes to teammates before they were open, but he could see that they were becoming open. His smarts paired with his willingness to engage physically and defensively make him a great contributor to team success, always pulling the rope in the right direction.
Kenzo Gibson, C, Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep
A first-team all-star, Kenzo Gibson shows his aggressiveness at all times. Possessing only one gear – fast – he constantly puts pressure on opponents. Whether he’s forechecking, backchecking, or carrying the puck, he's always limiting the time and space his opponents have. His physical tools and speed are top-end for the level. He also overpowers opponents with his strength, which also lends itself to his heavy shot. Gibson’s pace is too fast for U15, forcing opponents' errors all over the ice.
Brody Antignani, C, Calgary Edge School U15 Prep
Brody Antignani led his team in scoring over the weekend, using a wonderful combination of puck skill and edge work that dizzies defenders. He uses those tools with an explosive first step to work out of the corners and off the wall and into great danger areas. He creates time and space for his teammates by holding onto pucks and drawing defenders in before finding his newly-open teammates. The way he traverses the offensive zone is beautiful, using his edges to evade pressure and continue to scan the play for seams he can pass through. Antignani has the talent to play at a fast pace, with a quick brain that pre-scans plays, but prefers to slow the game down so he can more easily manipulate defences and cut them apart. This creative playmaker is a dynamic offensive talent and incredibly fun to watch.
Parker McMillan, RW, Yale Hockey Academy U15 Prep
Parker McMillan is a star, plain and simple. He physically dominates all his opponents with a rare blend of speed, size, and skill. His shot is simply elite, able to catch-and-release in a heartbeat. You give him time and space, and he will score. He makes it seem so easy. The way he scans the ice before the puck is on his stick allows him to make incredibly quick decisions, whether that be a slick move to beat a defender or a pass to spring an open teammate. His hockey intelligence was also on display over the weekend, as he would read opponents' breakouts and pick them off with consistency. The combination of physical tools and hockey sense is a great indicator of a future WHL star.
Wyatt Jolleys, C, Calgary Bisons U15 AAA
The heartbeat of Calgary’s offence, Wyatt Jolleys possesses good puck-handling skills to go along with a heavy, dangerous shot. His lateral movement with his edges and hands makes him a threat to go either direction, and really stands out on the powerplay. Wanting to slow the game down to better manipulate defenders, Jolleys’ offensive profile is that of a playmaker. His 10-point effort over the weekend was enough to get him selected to the second all-star team, which bodes well for his WHL draft aspirations.
Rylan Edwards, F, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep
Rylan Edwards is an incredibly fun player to watch, and sure to be a fan-favourite of whichever WHL team picks him. He has terrific edge-work that complements his puck-skills and playmaking. He does this all at an incredibly high pace, making him a terror for opponents to defend. He’s a balanced skater who uses the heel-to-heel to escape defenders and keep himself positioned towards the play, allowing him to see the middle of the ice and always processing the play in front of him. The beauty of his game stems from his information processing, as he’s willing to make short passes to open lanes and give his teammates better positioning. This puck hound was critical to his team's Gold Medal win, pushing the pace of the game too high for some opponents to keep up. His brain works just as quickly as his hands and feet, rapidly processing the lanes in front of him. Edwards is an exciting talent.
Brady Leinenweber, RD, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep
Brady Leinenweber got to show off his subtle skills this weekend, making smart and safe plays with incredible efficiency, and using his vision to make plays up to his lethal forward group often. Bringing home the Gold Medal was his crowning achievement, obviously, but he also managed a first team all-star selection, as well as bringing home the Top Defenceman award. He’s smooth – buttery smooth. If Leinenweber feels pressure, he certainly doesn't show it. His poise on the powerplay makes defenders hesitate to press him, as they know he has the skill to beat them. He used his good edge-work to deny several rush chances, just by positioning himself in good spots. His reach, puck skill, passing ability, edges, and vision are an exciting package that will see him called early at the WHL Draft.
Landon Reschny, C, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep
Landon Reschny may not stand out on the scoresheet, but make no mistake, he’s an in-demand talent. This is a coach's favourite player. He’s detailed, takes care of his own end, and generally just plays his position the right way. His two-way efforts directly contributed to his team’s Gold Medal win. A perfect match-up center. He also creates plenty of grade-A chances with his deception and puck skills. His stick-handling has a full range of motion, able to move the puck to either side of his body with ease, and allows his edge-work to really shine as he can maintain possession while he evades opponents. He uses his eyes to look off options and fake a pass with his puck skills that forces the defender to bite. The edges and skill work really well together off the wall as well, managing to be elusive and seemingly impossible to pin down. Often utilizing the heel-to-heel approach, he is able to spin off pressure to beat a defender and attack. While the overall point totals don’t blow you away, he is still a high-end offensive contributor and plays the game the right way.
Danel Ramazanov, LW, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep
Do you want dynamic offence and exciting plays? Danel Ramazanov is your guy. Watch one shift of Ramazanov, and why he’s rated so highly is instantly visible. He’s electric. His feet fly, with a perfectly loaded and balanced stride that allows him to change course at moment’s notice. His hands keep up to his feet. He can move the puck with the flick of his wrist, all while going 100 miles per hour. He forces his opponents to go his speed, which constantly had defenders on their heels trying to get in his lane. He sees the ice well, scanning as he’s skating, finding open lanes to thread passes through, and determining which path he’s going to take as he attacks. The high-end offensive toolkit screams star in the making. He plays an east-west style that keeps the puck in his team's possession, willing to move the puck back to his defenders to reset the attack rather than dump and chase. His strong weekend contributed to a Gold Medal win, and his unique attacking style will constantly draw eyes leading up to the WHL Draft.
Kobe Pellack, RW, OHA Edmonton U15 Prep
When it comes to big moments, is there more you can ask for than Kobe Pellack’s two shorthanded goals in the final? His ability to handle the puck really showed in tight spaces under pressure. His footspeed allows him to create offence and pressure defenders, and powers his penalty-killing ability. He saved his best for last, scoring the goal of the tournament in that final game. He attacked one-on-two, splitting the defence and, as he fell down, pushed back to his forehand before launching the puck upstairs far-side. Stellar, and a great display of his puck skills. His 12 points over the weekend were a huge part of his team's Silver Medal finish.
Kai Dingwall, F, Calgary IHA U15 Prep
A rare top-end scorer who plays low on the power play, Kai Dingwall possesses a myriad of traits to thrive there. He’s a classic power forward, imposing his size and strength on opponents, and mixing in great puck skills to make him a threat whenever he has the puck. He uses his size and skill combo to attack the centre lane of the ice. His ability to pass and shoot through contact is high-end, and the reason he scores as much as he does. Coaches always want players cut from the cloth Dingwall is.
Braydon Lynam, RD, OHA Edmonton U15 Prep
Braydon Lynam exploded offensively this weekend, not only leading all defencemen in points, but the entire tournament en route to a first-team all-star selection and a Silver Medal. Lynam showed proficiency on both power play and penalty kill. With the puck, he is a surprisingly good puckhandler, using his skill to both beat forecheckers and attack offensively. His smarts on the breakout keep the puck moving up to his high-skill forwards, making him an integral part of their attack. His strong passing on breakouts, paired with his skill and frame, make him a good prospect for the WHL draft.
Nathan Steele, F, Okanagan Rockets U15 AAA
Okanagan was slightly outmatched over the weekend, but that didn’t stop Nathan Steele from showing why he’s a top WHL draft prospect. Despite the talent imbalance, Steele was able to collect eight points over the weekend and lead his team in scoring. The growth in his game from the start of the season to now is incredible. He’s gotten faster, stronger, and better with the puck. He was making moves and beating opponents, catching them on the backcheck, and was the only player on his team who was making plays with their top Defenceman out injured. He is a strong skater with advanced puck handling, knowing where to position the puck to keep it out of danger. The development shown from the beginning of the season until now should be exciting for WHL scouts.
Aidan Potash, RD, Okanagan Rockets U15 AAA
Despite only playing in two games, Aidan Potash is impossible not to talk about. This one-man attack is a terrific skater, using elite balance to have a nearly perfect stride and superb edgework. His puck handling is also high-end, moving around his body with a full range of motion that allows him to constantly keep the puck out of danger. He’s a possession monster who loves to carry the puck and survey the ice, deciding which way he’s going to beat his opponents this time. He’s also an incredibly smart player, seeing plays develop before anyone else and making the appropriate pass to beat defenders. He creates extreme ice-tilt, and due to his advanced understanding of how to protect the puck, seems to have it on his stick for the majority of his time on the ice. Potash has all the tools and traits of a top WHL pick.