Eliteprospects
Canada Hayden Paupanekis This Player is Verified by Elite Prospects
#23 Kelowna Rockets / WHL - 25/26
Date of Birth
Feb 04, 2007
Position
C
Age
18
Height
6'5" / 196 cm
Place of Birth
Winnipeg, MB, CAN
Weight
203 lbs / 92 kg
Nation
Canada
Shoots
R
Youth Team
South Winnipeg MHA
Contract
-
NHL Rights
Montréal Canadiens Montréal Canadiens / Unsigned
Drafted
2025 round 3 #69 overall by Montréal Canadiens
Agency
PREMIUM

A defensively sound centre with details, pace, and physicality, Paupanekis often negates the opposition’s best players. He ties up sticks proactively, kills plays on the backcheck, and excels at supporting and winning battles down low. He’s a fluid skater with a lot of flexibility, capable of chaining crossovers, heel-to-heel skating, and tight turns. His hands blend seamlessly with the skating, evident in his ability to evade poke checks and make plays at full speed. He connects difficult passes off the backhand, fires in-stride, and has a blistering one-timer, too. -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

© Photo: Dan Hickling

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Hayden Paupanekis Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2020-21 Winnipeg Monarchs U14 AAA WAAA U14 4* 5* 5* 10* 2* -* |
2021-22 Winnipeg Wild U15 AAA “C” WAAA U15 29* 45* 31* 76* 47* -* | Playoffs 4 5 4 9 4 -
Winnipeg Wild U17 AAA WAAA U17 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* -* | Playoffs 7 2 3 5 2 -
2022-23 RINK HA Winnipeg U18 Prep CSSHL U18 29* 23* 16* 39* 24* -* | Playoffs 3 0 0 0 0 -
Spokane Chiefs WHL 1* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* |
2023-24 Spokane Chiefs WHL 61* 10* 10* 20* 29* -9* | Playoffs 4 2 0 2 4 -2
2024-25 Spokane Chiefs WHL 39* 11* 13* 24* 29* -2* |
Kelowna Rockets WHL 32* 11* 8* 19* 28* -28* |
2025-26 Kelowna Rockets WHL 31* 12* 12* 24* 34* -3* |
Projected WHL 57* 22* 22* 44* 63* -6* |

Hayden Paupanekis Tournament Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2016-17 Team Manitoba Brick Invitational 6* 4* 1* 5* 6* -* |
2021-22 Team Manitoba NAHC 1* 1* 0* 1* -* -* |
2022-23 Team Manitoba CWG 5* 0* 3* 3* 6* -* |
Team Manitoba “A” NAHC 6* 8* 4* 12* -* -* |

Hayden Paupanekis Career Totals

League Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/- | Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/-
Brick Invitational 1 6* 4* 1* 5* 0.83* 6* -* | 0 * * * * * *
CSSHL U18 1 29* 23* 16* 39* 1.34* 24* -* | 1 3 0 * 0 * 0 * 0.00 * 0 * - *
CWG 1 5* 0* 3* 3* 0.60* 6* -* | 0 * * * * * *
NAHC 2 7* 9* 4* 13* 1.86* -* -* | 0 * * * * * *
WAAA U14 1 4* 5* 5* 10* 2.50* 2* -* | 0 * * * * * *
WAAA U15 1 29* 45* 31* 76* 2.62* 47* -* | 1 4 5 * 4 * 9 * 2.25 * 4 * - *
WAAA U17 1 0* 0* 0* 0* -* 0* -* | 1 7 2 * 3 * 5 * 0.71 * 2 * - *
WHL 4 164* 44* 43* 87* 0.53* 120* -42* | 1 4 2 * 0 * 2 * 0.50 * 4 * -2 *

Hayden Paupanekis Career Highlights

Season
Awards by season
Transactions
DATE STATUS FROM TO SOURCE
01/08/2025
01/08/2025 Confirmed Spokane Chiefs Kelowna Rockets
08/15/2022
08/15/2022 Confirmed Winnipeg Wild U15 AAA Spokane Chiefs
Player Biography and Trivia

Drafted 2023, 5 #62 overall by Waywayseecappo Wolverines in the MJHL Draft

Drafted 2022, 3 #49 overall by Spokane Chiefs in the WHL Prospects Draft

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #72 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #43 by Elite Prospects

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #67 by ISS Hockey

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #74 by FCHockey

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #56 by McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #38 by NHL Central Scouting

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #115 by DobberProspects