Landon Hafele is a competitive, north-south forward who blends physicality, pace, and determination into every shift. He plays with a hard-edged, high-effort style and carries the versatility to line up at both center and wing, though…
NHL Scouting Reports
WHL: Kelowna (3) @ Penticton (5)
In a competitive Okanagan matchup, the Penticton Vees rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Kelowna Rockets 5-3. Forward Matteo Danis (#29) led the comeback with a hat trick, showcasing strong offensive instincts and finishing ability. The Vees displayed resilience and controlled play in the latter half, outscoring Kelowna 5-1 after the early setback.
Finland U20: Jokerit (1) @ Jukurit (2)
Game of the Finnish U20 SM-sarja played in Mikkeli. The away team Jokerit was better in the first period, while Jukurit had more of the game in the second. The last period was even, but Jukurit managed to score one more goal and took the win. It was a game of goalies – both showed great performances. We also saw two game misconduct penalties, both on the Jokerit side.
MN-HS: Teddy Lechner
Lechner projects as a steady, low-maintenance defender who supports possession and transitions effectively. His long reach and composure under pressure allow him to retrieve and advance pucks cleanly. He plays with his head up, maintaining…
NCAA: North Dakota (1) @ Clarkson (0)
Jake Livanavage hockey iQ is elite. He consistently reads forechecks and penalty kill structures with precision, often knowing his next move before the puck arrives. He thrives in a possession-oriented system, keeping his head up and scanning the ice to distribute pucks with pace and purpose. On the power play…
USHL: Cedar Rapids (4) @ Omaha (3)
On October 15, 2025, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders faced off against the Omaha Lancers in a tightly contested matchup. A balanced score sheet from both teams highlighted their depth, but it was a lone third-period goal by Cedar Rapids that proved to be the difference. The RoughRiders came away with a hard-fought 4–3 victory.
Finland U20: Saipa (7) @ Sport Vaasa Jr. (4)
Played on Oct 4, 2025 Finland Junior U20 (SM-Sarja) Game Played in Vaasan Sähkö Areena General Game Notes: Saturday’s U20 SM-sarja game played in Vaasa, where the home team Sport was on…
WHL: Wenatchee (0) @ Spokane (4)
This was a consistent showing from the Chiefs tonight scoring in each period while also shutting out the Wild completely. Obviously team defense was on display tonight with a great individual effort from the Chiefs net minder. This game really was determined in the first goal, a short handed tally that created momentum for the next two periods.
Central Scouting & Neutral Zone: Was it written in the stars?
Neutral Zone’s scouting staff has tracked most of the 2026 NHL Draft class since their early U15 and U16 seasons, long before Central Scouting released its Preliminary Players to Watch List. With the “A”-graded prospects now formally recognized as projected first-rounders, Neutral Zone revisited its earliest evaluations, star ratings, and timeline of discovery to compare how these players have developed relative to their initial scouting profiles. The table below aligns Central Scouting’s current A-rated group with Neutral Zone’s earliest star ratings
OHL: Kitchener (3) @ Saginaw (1)
Kitchener travelled to Saginaw and earned the 3-1 road win. Kitchener held the edge in shots 32-25 and also benefitted some a strong goaltending performance. Here is a report of the top performers in this game:
QMJHL: Halifax (2) @ Moncton (1)
Walters definitely possesses all the makings of fourth line center at the pro level. Processes the game and position well, solid puck skills and understands his role moving forward and brings a ton of energy, here’s a player that might need more time to be completely polished and a real shutdown center at the Q level and beyond.
WHL: Seattle (3) @ Kelowna (1)
The hometown Kelowna Rockets seemed to lack urgency in this affair and ended up on the wrong side of a 3-1 score at the hands of the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Rockets were 1-6 on the powerplay as Mazden Leslie scored, breaking an 0-13 slump. Kaleb Hartmann, Antonio Martorana and Sawyer Mayes into an empty net did the damage for the Thunderbirds. Marek Sklenicka made 35 saves in the Seattle net for the win.
USHL: Kane Johnson
His combination of size, strength, and straight line pace allows him to play a pro-style direct game. While still developing his execution and discipline, Johnson continues to show flashes of legitimate two-way potential with the raw physical tools to translate to higher levels.
WHL: Spokane (2) @ Seattle (1)
Malinowski was the main reason the Seattle Thunderbirds were in this game tonight. Grayson made 33 of 35 saves and was easily the most competitive player for his team. Both of the goals against were defensive breakdowns that left a Chiefs player all alone in front. At just six feet tall, Grayson plays an
MHL: Yan Kanarsky
Kanarsky is a big, strong, left-shot defenseman with a prototypical NHL frame that will only continue to fill out as he matures. He plays a steady, physically engaged brand of hockey…
WHL: Vancouver (1) @ Saskatoon (6)
Brayden Klimpke was a force at both ends of the ice for the Blades tonight. On defense, he was crisp on the breakout, making smart, quick decisions to advance the puck to his forwards. On one breakout, he executed a shoulder fake that sent the forechecker the wrong way before feeding a hard, accurate pass to his streaking center. Brayden had several quality pinches at the…
OHL: Peterborough (4) @ Brampton (2)
Chlebowski showed very well in his OHL debut making 28 saves on 32 shots in the loss. He is listed at just under 6’2 and shows very good athleticism, flexibility and footwork. He plays with some swagger and looked extremely confident in the net.
WHL: Kelowna (5) @ Prince George (4)
One of the more exciting games of the year this year with a late comeback from the Rockets and a third period that produced five of the nine goals scored in the game. The Rockets stunned their opponents with two goals in the final minute, the first to tie it and the second to win it, capping off an incredible finish.
FinU20: Tappara U20 (4) @ KooKoo (2)
Jesper Kotajarvi stood out with his strong physical play and effective puck protection, which allowed him to perform well in small areas and find open ice to make plays. He has a quick and hard shot and…
WHL: Seattle (4) @ Penticton (10)
In this lopsided affair, the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds actually took a 2-1 lead early in the second period off of a shorthanded goal by talented 2009 Brock England but, that would be it. The hometown Penticton Vees erupted for 8 goals in the second and cruised to a 10-4 victory. Brittan Alstead led the way with three goals while captain Ryden Evers and Jacob Kvasnicka added four points apiece.
WHL: Prince George (2) @ Spokane (1)
Oremba is a hard-working forward who drives play with pace and high compete. He scored in the second period by collecting a rebound through a battle in front of the net, demonstrating stick strength and tenacity.