Madden Daneault, Micah Montgomery lead top performers at the Rocky Mountain Classic
The Rocky Mountain Classic has hosted many top-end talents over the years, including Zach Benson, Braeden Cootes, Cole Reschny, and Landon DuPont.
This year was no different, as many of the 2026 WHL Draft’s best talents put on a show at one of the scouting calendar’s first major events.
Bringing 24 teams to Calgary from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the USA, and Ontario, this is also a chance to make a strong first impression or a breakthrough performance.
There were plenty of impressive showings, whether it was the towering dynamic defender Aidan Potash, the always-in-control Brady Leinenweber, the heroics of Matteo Dufour, or the incredible production of early No. 1 overall favourite Madden Daneault.
Here’s our look at those players and plenty more. For more, check out the over 100 scouting reports scattered across player pages from this event.
Madden Daneault, C, Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA
All eyes were on Madden Daneault and he delivered. Not only did he lead the tournament by six points, he racked up all of his production in just five outings. From his four-game game against Brantford:
"A statement four-goal game from Daneault, and honestly, he could've easily had more. Second his second, he dangled to his backhand off the wall, and then one-touched it around a stick and straight into his shooting pocket, where he beat the goalie short side. To complete the hat trick, he caught the puck inside space, slightly pulled it in, and fired top shelf. He has a WHL-calibre shot already, and he has all the supporting skills: One-touch shooting, two-touch shooting, timed off-puck movement, winning interior positioning, etc. “
A complete player, Daneault brings a high-level defensive and physical game, too. The physicality, in particular, was on display here. He sent opponents flying with big hits and easily fended them off along the wall. In that four-goal outing, he even fended off four opponents down low, leading to a short-handed goal.
Having already won basically everything at this level last year, Daneault looks beyond this level. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have development opportunities. At times, his playmaking took a back seat to perimeter shooting off the rush as he tried desperately to get his team back into games. Still, he’s an elite prospect who looks every bit like a No. 1 overall-calibre player.
Micah Montgomery, C, OHA Edmonton U15 Prep
Right there with Daneault in terms of impact, Micah Montgomery also looked like a No. 1 overall-calibre player for this spring’s draft. The 6-foot power centre plays a mature, team-first game that emphasizes playmaking, defensive diligence, and contact skills.
With non-stop scanning and a knack for timing, no one found passing lanes like Montgomery. One game, he cut across the slot and completed a no-look backhand pass against the grain for a goal, landed a long-range behind-the-back pass to the slot, and more. Masterfully reading defenders’ momentum and exploiting it, he’s a rare player who makes high-skill plays with low risk.
Whether he’s winning battles, cutting through the hands to get off the wall, or creating chaos in the slot, Montgomery is always impactful. Though he’s not necessarily a dynamic skater, it has improved since last year. If he keeps this level of play up, he could become a No. 1 centre in the WHL.
Liam Bordt, RW, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep
The Northern Alberta Xtreme play a relentlessly high-paced game that emphasizes forechecking, physicality, and getting inside. No one epitomized that game more than Liam Bordt. He had arguably the tournament’s best single-game performance, highlighted below:
“Bordt was shot out of a cannon every shift. For his first goal, he went into the corner and ran over the opponent, creating a turnover. Then, he retrieved it down low, circled high and out of the zone, then built downhill speed, caught the puck, and sniped. A couple of shifts later, he collected a puck, faked the defender as he cut across, and fired a high-skill turnaround wrister past the goalie.”
While Bordt will shoot any puck, he also flashed playmaking at times, using his dynamic skating and east-west routes to beat defenders into lanes. With details beyond his years, a dynamic rushing game, and dual-threat scoring potential, he looks the part of a top-10 talent.
Jevin Morrison, RD, Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA
In the midst of the highest-scoring AEHL U15 season ever for a defenceman, Jevin Morrison, unsurprisingly, put on a show here. Though the points didn’t follow, he was an end-to-end machine, beating entire defences with his speed alone. Just when opponents seem to have him trapped, he pulled out a flashy move or lands a tricky pass to escape. When he wasn’t dominating the offensive game, he showed a lot of defensive potential too, as highlighted in a game report:
“He was very physical, moreso than I've ever seen from him. He stepped up for hits in the NZ, went hard at opponents at the end boards, followed pokes with his shoulder, and even went out of his way to inflict pain. Intercepted opponents curling off the wall with well-timed pokes, and kept athletic posture and deeper in his shifts.”
Unfortunately, Morrison’s tournament ended early after an injury in the first period of the Bronze Medal Game. After he left, Red Deer fell apart and lost in a blow out, clearly missing their star defender’s presence. Early on, he looks like the top defenceman in the class.
Aidan Potash, RD, Okanagan Rockets U15 AAA
Aidan Potash caught our eyes multiple times before, so we were excited to see how he’d perform against his most challenging competition yet. He didn’t just excel, he looked like one of the tournament’s best players with his play-creation skills. A uniquely skilled handler, he dangles opponents with ease, controls the game from the point, and leads just about every rush. He’s a precision shooter with tons of heat behind it, and, at times, he shows one-touch and quick-possession vision to set up chances.
Playing BCEHL U15, this tournament was a big step up and he delivered. As Potash continues to grow into his frame and develop his skating ability, he will generate even more highlight reel plays. We hope to see him again versus top competition, whether that’s U18 or at other showcases, but he’s become one of the most exciting players in the age group.
Brody Antignani, C, Calgary Edge School U15 Prep
Brody Antignani was essentially the ideal centre in this tournament. Doing just about everything at a high level, he made an impact across the rink. One shift, he’s proactively supporting down low, winning battles, and making clever passes to create the breakout. The next shift, he’s shredding the opposition with his dual-threat scoring ability.
Uniquely skilled off the backhand, Antignani was impossible to pressure into poor decisions. He deked opponents, caught tricky passes, and set up teammates through tight lanes all off the back side of his blade. Deeper into the tournament, his pace and physicality ramped up and became strengths. If he can maintain that, he could become a top-six WHL forward.
Brady Leinenweber, RD, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep
As steady as they come, Brady Leinenweber played a game beyond his years here. A smooth skater with a tight handle and vision, he made end-to-end rushes look routine. Inside the offensive zone, he made his teammates’ lives easier by drawing pressure before passing. And he also made some high-end plays, faking shots before passing to a teammate around the slot.
Defensively, Leinenweber’s similarly smooth and controlled. He easily fends off pressure to retrieve pucks, consistently keeps rushes to the outside, and eliminates off-puck threats. While he could take charge a bit more, his game projects well to higher levels. Early on, he looks to be among the draft class’ top defencemen.
Zachary Pomeroy, LD, Calgary Edge School U15 Prep
One half of the tournament’s best pairing, Zachary Pomeroy formed a formidable duo with the physical Keyn Lindberg. They went up against the opposition’s best, won most of their minutes, and, in Pomeroy’s case, had a stellar showing offensively. After a tough start in the Gold Medal game, he took over in the second period:
“He took control of the game offensively, especially in the second period. He beat defenders with his first touch off the point, accelerating into space on reception or even tapping it through feet. In one sequence, he intercepted a breakout attempt, went heel-to-heel to the inside to shield from the defender, and then fought off pressure and nearly connected a backdoor pass. His shot is a big-time weapon here, too.”
All tournament, Pomeroy’s three-zone impact and exciting skill had him looking like a potential first-round pick.
Ian Kim, LW, OHA Edmonton U15 Prep
Last season, Ian Kim ripped up the CSSHL U15 AAA level, producing at the second-highest clip for a 12-year-old ever. Now playing CSSHL U15 Prep, looks every bit the part of a top prospect for the 2027 WHL Draft.
Here, Kim scored 10 points in five games, powered by his tournament-best speed and high-end physical game. Already a powerful skater, he blows past opponents with a combination of crossovers and strides, and his low centre of gravity allows him to easily absorb contact as he drives to the net. But unlike other high-end skaters at this stage, he already has a delay game to wait for support and shows some deception as a playmaker. One of the most physical players here, he took runs at opponents, won tons of puck battles, and roughed up the opposition’s best players.
That physical side got Kim into penalty trouble at times, including throwing the hit that ended Jevin Morrison’s tournament. Still, Kim, a 2012, was a star against 2011s here. He looks like a high-end prospect.
Jack Arnold, RW, Dallas Stars Elite 14U AAA
Skill-for-skill, Jack Arnold was one of the most talented players here. Towering over his peers at 6-foot-2, he has a reach advantage that uses to its full extent, handling pucks deep in his forehand and stretching out of the backhand, transitioning between them fluidly and then setting up high-danger chances. As Arnold develops his coordination and strength, his already-advanced skill level and hockey sense will shine even brighter. He looked like a top player in the age group with tons of runway left.
Justin Castonguay, LW, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep
This tournament really felt like Justin Castonguay’s breakout moment with NAX. Each passing day, he got better, becoming more confident and completing more of his plays. A tall, lanky forward with full-reach handling skill, he’s always looking to pull pucks around opponents and get to the middle of the rink. Always drawing pressure to make plays through or around it, he has a playmaking mentality, too. As he gets stronger, he’ll be able to maintain his skating posture and motor deeper into shifts. He looks poised for a big season, and could emerge as a top prospect.
Will Thompson, C, North Shore Warriors U15 Prep
Though Will Thompson’s scoring numbers at the CSSHL Prep level aren’t eye-popping, his skill level certainly was here. A transition force, he linked exits to entries and created chances, deceiving opponents with his footwork and handling skill along the way. In terms of creation, he went toe-to-toe with some of the best players in the age group here, and had his breakout moment production-wise, scoring 12 points in six games (and he should’ve been credited with at least one more assist).
Danel Ramazanov, C, Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep
A game-breaking talent, Danel Ramazanov saved his best for last. In the Gold Medal game, he scored twice, including a highlight reel goal where he dangled two defenders with a give-and-go in between. With high-end handling and skating ability, he has a massive pace advantage over his opponents, instantly punishing any mistake or gap. In his best showings, he’s a feisty, robust player who can always find a play inside contact. Given his skill set, he could be a top pick in the WHL Draft.
Hayden Harvey, RD, OHA Edmonton U15 Prep
Defenceman Hayden Harvey is a rush-stopper, non-stop activator, and a frequent forechecker, looking to crush opponents into the end boards and create offence down low. At this event, he was all over the ice, making impressive plays at both ends of the rink. Powering that high-paced game is his skating, combining mechanical refinement with quickness and dynamic rushing elements. With just a bit more structure, his intense, aggressive game will translate well to the WHL.
Matteo Dufour, F, Calgary Edge School U15 Prep
After an effective preliminary round, Matteo Dufour became one of the tournament’s top players in the playoffs. He exploded for four points against the Dallas Stars Elite in the quarterfinals. That same evening, he potted the game-winner late in the third period – his second such goal of the day. Then, he helped ice the game by defending the league with the empty net, taking the puck into the corner, killing the clock and drawing a penalty. While he wasn’t necessarily dynamic, his high-end details, non-stop pace, playmaking skill, and surprising physicality for his 5-foot-4 stature surely earned him some fans.
Ethan Zhang, C, Dallas Stars Elite 14U AAA
Playing his second year of 14U hockey, Ethan Zhang was the tournament’s crafty veteran. While plenty skilled, he plays a more streamlined game than his peers; a pro-style game that emphasizes getting inside, give-and-gos, and supporting plays. A tall, powerful centre, he easily absorbs contact, wins battles, and always puts in the effort on the backcheck and defensive zone. At times, he could push the action even more, creating space for his potent shot with his handling skill and speed. Even if he doesn’t go the WHL route, he should be a player to watch for years to come.
Jagger Korol, C, Prairie Storm U15 AA
Finishing tied for second in tournament scoring with 13, Jagger Korol had quite the showing, punctuated by a four-goal, five-point showing against Northeast Wolfpack. He walked out from behind the net for a pair of goals, blasted home a one-timer, and had a skilled deflection in front under pressure. But it was his playmaking that impressed the most this tournament, as he regularly slipped away from pressure only to hook the puck back into the slot, looking away from his eventual target the entire time. With deception, inside play, and plenty of skill, Korol looked like a pick in this year’s WHL Draft.
Maguire Hendry, RD, Humboldt Broncos U15 AA
The Humboldt Broncos lost every game they played, but Maguire Hendry found a way to consistently stand out. Bringing non-stop physicality with a play-creation mindset, it’s easy to see the upside. At one end of the rink, he angles rushers into hip checks, eliminates net-front attackers, and intercepts opponents with his shoulder. At the other, he activates, looks into the slot for high-value passes, and tries to dangle around traffic. While his handling skill lagged the ideas, his unique skill set, coupled with plenty of room for development, could make him a high draft pick in the spring.
Nelson Sonna Soufo, F, SAHA U15 Prep
Though Nelson Sonna Soufo recorded just three points in six games, he looked like one of the most translatable players to higher levels in this tournament. Just about every shift, he made something happen with cycle skills, off-puck creation ability, and high-end defensive game. Every chance he gets, he looks to get inside. Sometimes, it’s a flashy move. But it’s often just quick play to get the puck to a teammate. Either way, very few players have the same level of inside drive as him at this stage. While it would’ve been nice to see more production, he looks like a future WHLer who makes his teammates better.
Bennett Sedo, LD, St. Albert Sabres U15 AAA
Already listed at 6-foot-1, Bennett Sedo has the size WHL teams are always looking for. But it doesn’t come with any trade-off for skating, as he proved to be one of the best movers here. He fluidly walked the line, evaded pressure on retrievals, and most impressively, beat opponents to the middle, angled them wide, and killed high-speed rushes. He’s physical and attentive, too. Though the puck game isn’t his forte, his shutdown game should translate well to higher ranks.