Jacobson, Canada improve to 3-1

Here’s a look at the news around major junior hockey.

U18 WORLDS

Brandon Wheat Kings forward Jaxon Jacobson scored twice in his tournament debut in Canada’s 8-0 romp over Norway at the IIHF U18 men’s world championship on Saturday at the Pavol Demitra Ice Stadium.

Canada outshot Norway 66-12.

On Monday, the Canadians improved to 3-1-0-0 after a dominant 7-0 victory over Finland, who had been in first place. Canada has outscored its opponents 21-0 since its tournament-opening loss to first-place Slovakia 2-1 last Wednesday. Canada faces Sweden (2-2-0-0) in the quarterfinals on Wednesday morning.

In total, 36 players developed in the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League are participating in the event.

Canada has 23 Canadian Hockey League-developed players, followed by Czechia (seven), Latvia and the United States (two) and Germany and Slovakia (one). The WHL and OHL both sent 13 while the QMJHL has 10.

AROUND THE WHL

In the Eastern Conference final, the host Prince Albert Raiders routed the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 8-3 in Game 1 on Friday. The Raiders weren’t assessed a penalty and scored three times on four power-play chances.

One night later in Game 2, Jordan Switzer made 30 saves for a shutout victory as the Tigers earned a five-goal victory of their own. They broke the game open with three goals in the final eight minutes.

Game 3 is tonight in Medicine Hat.

Brandon’s Nolan Chastko had an assist as the Everett Silvertips beat the visiting Penticton Vees 4-1 on Thursday in Game 1 of the Western Conference final. Penticton had both power plays but Everett had a 31-24 edge on the shot clock.

On Saturday in Game 2, Rylan Gould of Headingley banged in a rebound six minutes 41 seconds into the second overtime as the Silvertips won 5-4.

The Vees sent the game to overtime with 56 seconds left and their goalie pulled when defenceman Ethan Weber sniped. Meanwhile, Penticton goalie Andrew Reyelts kept his team in the game with 48 saves, including 23 in overtime. (His teammates generated just five shots in 26:41 of extra time.) Game 3 back in Penticton finished after deadline last night.

OHL UPDATE

In the Western Conference final, the Kitchener Rangers lead the Windsor Spitfires 2-1 after winning 4-3 in overtime in Game and 1 and 2-1 in Game 2. Windsor won 4-2 last night. In the Eastern Conference final, the regular season champion Brantford Bulldogs are up 2-1 on the Barrie Colts.

QMJHL UPDATE

The Moncton Wildcats lead the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 2-1 in one league semifinal, while the Chicoutimi Saguenéens and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are also knotted up 1-1 in the other.

WEEKLY AWARDS

The player of the week is 16-year-old Silvertips defenceman Landon DuPont of Calgary, who had a goal and two assists in Everett’s two victories.

The goalie of the week is 19-year-old Tigers netminder Jordan Switzer, who had the 30-save shutout in Game 2 against the Raiders. The rookie of the week is 16-year-old Raiders defenceman Brock Cripps of Victoria, who had three assists in two games.

SIGNING ALERT

American forward Colin Grubb will be joining the Brandon Wheat Kings next season.

The Minot product, who is entering his 17-year-old season was Brandon first pick in the 2024 U.S. priority draft, recently signed with the club.

He spent the last three seasons with the Shattuck St. Mary’s prep program, where he had 15 goals and 33 assists in 65 games with the 18U prep team last season. The last Shattuck St. Mary’s graduate to skate with the Wheat Kings was defenceman Vinny Iorio for four seasons between 2018 and 2022.

Grubb is committed to the University of North Dakota for the 2028-29 season.

DRAFT DATES

The first round of the WHL draft will be conducted next Wednesday, with the remainder held next Thursday.

The NHL draft will be held on June 26–27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The CHL import draft will be held after the NHL draft, although the exact date hasn’t yet been released. It’s traditionally in late June or early July.

TOP STUDENTS

The Regina Pats were awarded the Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy as the WHL scholastic team of the year for the 2025-26 season, the first time they’ve ever won it.

The high-school aged players maintained an average of 91.23 per cent during the first semester of the academic year and 10 post-high school students registered in university classes and two others enrolled in flight training school. The Wheat Kings won the award in 2021-22. It was first presented in 1999-2000.

TOP ROOKIE

Kamloops Blazers forward JP Hurlbert has been awarded the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year after voting by the league’s general managers and members of the media.

The other finalists were Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders), Kale Dach (Calgary Hitmen), Jacob Kvasnicka (Penticton Vees), Ben MacBeath (Calgary Hitmen), Matias Vanhanen (Everett Silvertips).

Hurlbert, 18, a product of Allen, Texas, had 42 goals and 55 assists, with his 97 points placing him fourth in WHL scoring and tying him for the Canadian Hockey League lead.

The award has been handed out since the league’s first season, 1966-67 and has been won by the Wheat Kings six times, including Nolan Patrick (2014-15), Brayden Schenn (2007-08), Tyler Plante (2004-05), Wade Redden (1993-94), Brian Propp (1976-77), and Rick Blight (1972-73).

TOP OFFICIAL

Mike Campbell, 36, of Surrey, B.C., has won the Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s official of the year.

It’s his first time winning the honour and comes in his 15th season on the job. He has officiated more than 600 WHL regular season games and nearly 100 playoff games over his career.

He also officiated at the Winter Olympic Games in Italy after being selected by the International Ice Hockey Federation, and was part of the crew that did the men’s bronze medal game between Slovakia and Finland on Feb. 21. He also worked in WHL league finals, the Memorial Cup and IIHF Men’s World Championship and World Junior Championship.

TOP HUMANITARIAN

Kelowna Rockets forward Shane Smith was awarded the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy as WHL Humanitarian of the Year.

Smith, 21, of Cessford, Alta., active participated in team-led community initiatives and prior to a trade from the Lethbridge Hurricanes, started the “Shane Scores for Maia” initiative that saw him donate $25 for each point he scored to the Canadian CMV Foundation, in honour of his niece, Maia, who was diagnosed with congenital CMV at birth. In total, Smith donated $1,700.

It’s the third season in a row he was a finalist.

The other finalists were Carter Esler (Spokane Chiefs), Evan Gardner (Saskatoon Blades), Axel Hurtig (Calgary Hitmen), Raiden LeGall (Everett Silvertips), Brady Ness and Ethan Semeniuk (Moose Jaw Warriors).

The trophy has been presented since 1992-93. Ryan Craig is the only Wheat King to take it after he was honoured in 2002-03.

DOING BUSINESS

The Portland Winterhawks won the WHL Business Award, which is presented annually to the team that best exemplifies giving back to the community and providing the best game-day experience for fans.

The Winterhawks celebrated their 50th anniversary season in the WHL by increasing ticket sales revenue by six per cent and surpassing 5,100 in average attendance.

They had six unique promotional nights to celebrate the top 50 Winterhawks Players in franchise history, which culminated in the surprise retirement of the jersey of the No. 1 player of all-time, Ken Yaremchuk.

Portland last won the award in 1993-94.

The award has been presented since 1989-90, with Brandon’s Rick Dillabough winning it in 1992-93 when it was still presented to individuals.

It is voted on by the business heads of each team.

MOST SPORTSMANLIKE

Prince Albert Raiders forward Braeden Cootes has been awarded the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy, the first Raider to win it.

Cootes, 19, of Sherwood Park, Alta., matched a career high with 63 points in 45 games split between the Raiders and Seattle Thunderbirds, with just eight penalty minutes. He began the season in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks, and also played with Canada’s world junior team that won bronze.

The other finalists were Jordan Gavin of the Wheat Kings, Ryden Evers (Penticton Vees), Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers), Matias Vanhanen (Everett Silvertips), and Alex Weiermair (Portland Winterhawks).

Gavin took just 10 penalty minutes in 275 regular season games in the WHL but never won the top award.

The award, which has been presented since 1966-67, has been captured by a Brandon player six times, including Mark Stone (2011-12), Cory Cyrenne (1997-98), Kelly Smart (1996-97), Darren Ritchie (1994-95) and Ron Chipperfield (1971-72 and 1972-73). Five other WHL players have also won it twice in a row.

CHL RANKINGS

The CHL’s goofy top 50 players in the last 50 years unveiled another 10 players.

An initial media vote was combined with fan voting, which explains the modern bias, the skewing toward National Hockey League stars and why Wheat Kings legend Brian Propp is ranked 47th and older WHL superstars like Glenn Goodall and Rob Brown likely won’t make the cut.

30. Connor Bedard (Regina Pats, 2020-23).

29. Denis Savard (Montreal Juniors, 1977-80).

28. Mike Modano (Prince Albert Raiders, 1986-89).

27. Grant Fuhr (Victoria Cougars, 1979-81).

26. Luc Robitaille (Hull Olympiques, 1983-86).

25. Marc-André Fleury (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, 2000-04).

24. Corey Perry (London Knights, 2001-05).

23. Doug Gilmour (Cornwall Royals, 1980-83).

22. Carey Price (Tri-City Americans, 2002-07).

21. Patrick Kane (London Knights, 2006-07).