Neutral Zone had scouts in attendance at the 2026 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships held May 4 – 9 in Regina, SK. The NAHC was created to give Indigenous athletes equitable access to elite hockey competition. This event celebrates and highlights the skill of Indigenous hockey players. The NAHC is more than a hockey tournament—it is a community celebration that fosters cultural connections and strengthens Indigenous identity. Below are players that stood out with grades in relation to others in the evaluations. Each player below has been given a grade based solely on their performance at this event.
Team Ontario
Lilli White #25 (Ottawa Jr. Lady 67s, D, 2028): White is a tall, strong defender who skates very well for her size and uses her physical presence effectively in all zones. Competes hard along the boards, consistently winning puck battles through tenacity, reach, and a strong active stick. Plays a reliable penalty-killing role, effectively filling passing lanes and reading offensive movement to react quickly and disrupt plays. Shows good defensive awareness and positioning to limit opponents’ options under pressure. Offensively, she contributes when her team sustains zone time, moving pucks to the net efficiently and helping maintain pressure from the point. She is confident carrying the puck and can weave through defenders with the puck moving up ice. Scored a really nice goal by bursting through the neutral zone with speed then making a give and go pass for an easy tap-in goal. Grade: A
Emily Hunter #27 (Toronto Leaside Wildcats U18 AA, F, 2028): Hunter is a shifty, high-energy forward who is difficult to contain in the offensive zone, using quick stops, starts, and sharp changes of direction with the puck to create space and separation. Constantly active and engaged, she buzzes around the zone with a strong puck-hunting mentality and a clear willingness to battle for possession. Shows an aggressive offensive mindset, frequently attacking the slot and generating shots through traffic or with power from dangerous areas. Highly skilled at receiving passes in motion—whether mid-pivot or while moving backward—allowing her to stay square to the play and maintain offensive awareness at all times. Capable of making plays from multiple areas in the offensive zone, she consistently drives offensive pressure and creates scoring chances. Grade: A
Avery Mann #10 (Toronto Leaside Jr. Wildcats, F, 2027): Mann is a strong yet fast two-way forward who is difficult to contain along the boards and behind the net, using a combination of strength, balance, and determination to win puck battles. Moves well in stride with good footwork, allowing her to carry the puck confidently through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone with control. Shows a clear shooting mentality, looking to release the puck whenever opportunities present themselves and capable of generating powerful, well-mechanically sound shots from both sides of the ice. Defensively responsible in puck pursuit, she consistently beats opponents to loose pucks and effectively frees the puck along the wall to support her defense and transition play up ice. Grade: A
Alex McDonald #11 (London Jr. Devilettes, F, 2026, Mount Allison): McDonald is a skilled offensive forward who combines strong puck-handling ability with quick acceleration to create separation in open ice. Uses her speed and creativity to beat defenders both wide and inside with sharp, decisive moves, making her a consistent threat in transition and off the rush. Draws significant defensive attention with and without the puck, which she leverages to open passing and shooting lanes for herself and teammates. Demonstrates strong puck protection skills, maintaining possession through tight turns, pivots, and effective edge work in confined space. Plays with an unselfish offensive mindset, frequently attacking the slot and creating scoring chances for teammates through well-timed saucer passes to open shooters. Grade: A
Skylar Doxtator #16 (Bluewater Jr. Hawks, D, 2027): Doxtator is a reliable two-way defender who contributes effectively in all three zones, with the ability to join the rush and find open space or carry the puck cleanly up ice to support controlled zone entries. Shows good defensive awareness and can quickly recover after turnovers, using strong positioning and mobility to disrupt opposing attacks. Handles the puck well for a defender and makes accurate, confident outlet passes across the ice to teammates in stride to aid transition play. Comfortable moving laterally along the blue line, she supports the offense by staying available for passes at the point and helping sustain offensive-zone pressure. Demonstrated offensive instincts with a strong play winning a puck battle along the boards, driving into the slot, and generating a shot that led to a tipped goal. Grade: A-
Haylee Lecuyer #17 (Mississauga Jr. Hurricanes, F, 2028, Quinnipiac): Lecuyer is a reliable two-way forward who impacts the game through strong instincts and a consistent hunger for the puck. Reads the play well and consistently finds herself in the right areas to support teammates and capitalize on turnovers, quickly turning defensive pressure into offensive opportunity. Effective on the forecheck and particularly active on the penalty kill, she creates disruption in the offensive zone and helps maintain possession along the boards and behind the net through persistence and smart puck management. Offensively, she is a willing and unselfish passer who understands spacing on the power play, often drawing defenders toward her before distributing the puck to open teammates to create higher-quality scoring chances. Grade: A-
Kaitlyn Earl #29 (North York Storm Jr., G, 2027): Earl is an agile and athletic goaltender who moves efficiently within her crease, showing strong post-to-post mobility while maintaining a tall, composed stance. Confident in challenging shooters on the rush, she consistently takes away angles and forces attackers to make quick decisions. Demonstrates solid rebound control, particularly in tight scrambles, helping limit second-chance opportunities in high-danger areas. Showed excellent reflexes and anticipation with a highlight-reel glove save on a one-timer from the slot off a pass from behind the net, flashing the glove high to deny a dangerous scoring chance. Grade: A-
Team Saskatchewan
Kaley Allard #9 (Parkland Pheonix, D, 2029): Allard is a shifty, skilled forward who combines good speed with strong puck-handling ability to create consistent rush threats. Effective in one-on-one situations, she can beat defenders either with a quick toe drag or by using her speed to attack wide and drive the play. Demonstrates creativity and confidence with the puck, regularly making plays at full speed in transition. She showed high-end offensive skill on a highlight goal, receiving the puck on the wing, freezing the defender with a forehand toe drag, then cutting into the slot and finishing with a quick low blocker shot. A dynamic offensive player who can generate scoring chances through skill, pace, and deception. Grade: A
Team Nova Scotia
Myla Martin #10 (Northern Selects, F, 2028): Martin is a skilled and dynamic forward who creates offensive opportunities through both controlled rushes and quick transitions off neutral-zone turnovers. Uses her speed effectively to beat defenders wide and has the ability to cut into the middle to generate quality scoring chances. Competes hard for loose pucks, consistently winning battles in the corners through a combination of strength, positioning, and determination. Shows strong puck-protection skills below the goal line, often sealing off defenders to extend possession. Demonstrated good offensive awareness by winning a puck battle down low and quickly moving the puck to the point, then driving into the slot where she nearly converted on a tipped shot. A hardworking forward who combines skill, speed, and competitiveness to create offense. Grade: B+
Camlin Francis #27 (Cape Breton Blizzards, D): Francis is a dependable two-way defender who is solid in all areas of the ice, showing consistency both offensively and defensively. Strong on her stick and highly tenacious in puck battles, she competes hard along the boards and often comes out with possession through effort and positioning. In the offensive zone, she can move pucks effectively through traffic and is confident getting shots on net from the point, generating rebounds and second-chance opportunities. Reads the play well at the blue line, pinching effectively to keep pucks in the zone while maintaining strong battle level when contesting loose pucks. Grade: B+
Ellie Gloade #22 (Fundy, F): Gloade is a solid skater with good puck-handling ability who is comfortable carrying the puck through the neutral zone while maintaining speed. Shows the ability to weave through traffic and evade pressure, allowing her to advance play effectively in transition. Makes smart decisions at the red line, frequently creating dump-and-chase opportunities that play to her strengths. Displays a strong work ethic on the forecheck, often being first to loose pucks and using her strength and body positioning to shield possession and extend offensive-zone time for her team. Grade: B
Kayden Taylor #9 (Metro West Force, F): Kayden is a smooth-skating forward who consistently finds open ice in the offensive zone and positions herself well as a passing option, particularly on the power play. Displays confidence and poise with the puck in her own end, using strong edge work and quick directional changes to evade pressure and transition play up ice. Away from the puck, she shows a strong commitment to the defensive side of the game, working hard on the backcheck to support teammates when defenders are beaten. Her strong positional awareness allows her to effectively clog passing lanes and disrupt offensive opportunities, making her a reliable and intelligent two-way player. Grade: B
Isabelle Bush #14 (OHA Tardiff, D): Bush is a tall, strong defender who uses her size, reach, and stick strength effectively to win puck battles along the boards and in front of the net. Plays a disciplined defensive game, consistently keeping attackers to the outside by maintaining proper gaps, funneling them into low-danger areas, and closing them off at the right moments. Shows a strong commitment to protecting the middle of the ice, clearing traffic from the slot and allowing her goaltender clear sightlines to incoming shots. Despite her larger frame, she moves well with solid speed and footwork, enabling her to defend rushes effectively and maintain strong positioning throughout the defensive zone. Grade: B
Team Manitoba
Callie Paull #17 (Edge School Prep, F, 2028): Callie is an explosive skater who consistently pressures defenders with her speed and ability to beat opponents wide before cutting inside to generate scoring chances around the net. Combines strength, balance, and puck protection skills to maintain possession through contact without sacrificing pace. Displays strong deception in the offensive zone, using head fakes, misdirection, and changes in speed and direction to create separation from defenders. Her ability to manipulate coverage opens passing lanes and creates opportunities for both herself and her teammates in dangerous areas. Grade: A-
Cali Lavallee #8 (Winnipeg Avros, D, 2027): A strong forward with good speed and confident puck-handling ability in stride, allowing her to maintain pace through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone with control. Uses strong edge work effectively, creating separation and opening passing lanes while carrying the puck at speed. Shows a reliable shot with solid mechanics and power, capable of finishing from the slot or generating dangerous chances from the circles. Strong in faceoff situations, where she consistently wins possession using an effective stick and quick footwork to direct or kick pucks to her wingers, helping her team gain early control and momentum. Grade: A-
Brooklyn Collins #14 (Winnipeg Avros, D, 2027): A quick-skating defender who moves the puck efficiently in all directions, capable of delivering crisp, accurate passes through traffic to support smooth breakouts and offensive transitions. Excels on the power play, where she uses her mobility to draw defenders out of position before either shooting or finding cross-seam passing lanes to set up high-danger chances. Shows good offensive awareness from the blue line, with active pinches along the boards to maintain zone possession and sustain pressure. Recovers quickly with strong skating ability, allowing her to manage risk effectively and get back into defensive position when needed. Scored a fantastic goal to chip the puck past the forward and beat the defender wide with speed, then cutting inside and rifling a shot glove high. Grade: A-
Casey Morand #35 (Mount Academy U17, G, 2029): A technically sound goaltender who plays an aggressive style, consistently challenging shooters and using her size effectively to take away scoring opportunities. Shows strong awareness and puck-tracking ability, constantly scanning the ice to identify developing threats and maintain proper positioning through traffic. Handles rush chances well, using an active stick to disrupt attackers attempting to cut inside and force plays into less dangerous areas. Demonstrates solid rebound control, limiting second-chance opportunities and keeping pucks out of high-danger areas. Highlighted her athleticism and composure with an impressive glove save on a breakaway, confidently snaring a wrist shot from close range. Grade: A-
Chloe Carriere #10 (Eastman Selects, D, 2026): Carriere is a dependable two-way defender with solid skating ability and strong gap control through the neutral zone, consistently disrupting rush attacks and forcing turnovers. Shows good poise with the puck, keeping her head up while carrying it and making smart outlet passes to initiate transitions. Moves the puck efficiently, regularly finding open teammates along the wings to create clean zone entries. Defensively, she is strong on her stick and effective around the net front, using quick stick checks and sound positioning to clear pucks from danger and limit quality scoring chances in the slot. Grade: B+
Reese Schutte #7 (Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves, F, Union): A quick, agile skater with solid top-end speed who consistently creates advantages through pace and mobility. Displays strong edge work in the offensive zone, allowing her to attack laterally, maintain possession, and position herself to face the middle of the ice with the puck. Shows good vision and awareness as a playmaker, regularly identifying open teammates up ice and threading passes through traffic in the slot. Uses her skating and puck skills effectively to create offensive opportunities and facilitate puck movement in dangerous areas. Grade: B
Cheyenne Scott Cooke #25 (Eastman Selects, F, 2026): Scott Cooke is a strong, reliable forward who excels in puck battles along the walls and below the goal line, using her strength and balance to protect possession and extend offensive-zone time. Brings significant value on the penalty kill, applying pressure with an active stick, disciplined positioning, and strong anticipation. Defensively, she is highly effective at disrupting opposing breakouts and zone entries, using aggressive stick checking, sound positional play, and strong puck awareness to force turnovers and limit offensive opportunities. A dependable two-way player who consistently impacts the game without the puck. Grade: B
Attica Sobering #6 (Rink Academy – Winnipeg, D, 2027, Cornell): Sobering is a smooth-skating defender who handles the puck with confidence and can effectively lead the rush, creating controlled zone entries or putting pucks into advantageous areas for a dump-and-chase attack. Displays strong edgework and mobility along the blue line, using lateral movement to open shooting and passing lanes while remaining poised under pressure. Shows good offensive instincts, consistently getting pucks through traffic and onto the net from the point. She is quick to recognize opportunities to pinch along the boards, helping her team maintain offensive-zone possession and sustain pressure. Grade: B
Team Eastern Door the North
Tyraena Nakogee #11 (Okanagan Hockey Academy Varsity, F): Nakogee is a quick and powerful skater who can generate immediate offense off the rush, consistently gaining the offensive zone with speed. Shows versatility in transition, able to either drive the puck deep effectively or beat defenders wide using strong puck-handling skills and acceleration. Demonstrates strong on-ice awareness, regularly scanning both with and without the puck to anticipate plays and make smart decisions under pressure. Her edge work stands out, allowing her to maintain speed through cuts and turns while staying in control of the puck. Offensively, she features a strong wrist shot and is capable of challenging goaltenders from both the slot and the perimeter, making her a consistent scoring threat. Grade: A-
Bella Deer #2 (Kahnawake Mohawks, F, 2028): Deer is a quick, pace-driven forward who generates dangerous opportunities through explosive bursts of speed with the puck in transition. Effective through the neutral zone and on zone entries, she can beat defenders wide using acceleration and then either cut inside to the middle or circle back to maintain possession and extend offensive-zone time. Shows strong puck vision and passing ability, delivering crisp feeds through tight lanes and consistently finding teammates in stride on the rush. Her combination of speed, puck control, and decision-making makes her a consistent threat in transition and a reliable driver of offensive pace. Grade: B+
Maddy Rankin-Kistabish #8 (Intrepide de L’Outaouais MAAA, F, 2026): Rankin-Kistabish is a smart, highly aware player who reads the game well and anticipates puck movement effectively, consistently putting teammates in advantageous positions. Possesses a powerful shot and is confident with the puck, showing an aggressive mindset when attacking the middle of the ice and creating scoring threats. Demonstrates strong defensive responsibility through solid positional play, effectively clogging passing lanes and limiting opponents’ options in her own zone. A willing and effective passer, she looks to move the puck quickly through the neutral zone, helping drive pace and connect transition plays with speed. Grade: B+
Monica Ashini #15 (Lac St-Jean Rebelles U18 AA, F, 2028): Ashini is a quick and dynamic skater who generates effective zone exits and entries through sharp bursts of speed in open ice, helping her team transition and complete changes efficiently. Uses the boards well to chip pucks past defenders, often beating pressure with acceleration and timing. Creates offensive chances off the rush by moving the puck early, then driving hard to the net to capitalize on rebounds and second opportunities. Shows strong edge work and puck control, allowing her to maintain speed while circling the net and sustaining offensive-zone pressure. Grade: B
Sybeena Petiquay #9 (Ontario Academie U18 AAA, F, 2027): Petiquay is a smooth-skating forward who can generate quick bursts of speed when receiving the puck along the wing, creating immediate pressure in transition. Shows strong timing and awareness by leaking into the neutral zone to become a stretch option, often turning defensive-zone turnovers into breakaway opportunities. Plays a disciplined defensive game, maintaining strong positioning in her own zone with an active stick and quick footwork to disrupt passing lanes. Effectively pressures opponents at the blue line, frequently forcing turnovers and helping shift momentum through smart, timely defensive reads. Grade: B
Team British Columbia
Sophia Makokis #4 (Mississauga Jr. Hurricanes, D, 2028): A skilled, mobile defender with excellent speed and strong offensive instincts, consistently looking to activate into the rush or slip into high-danger areas in the slot. Uses her skating ability and strong edge work to create separation at the blue line, maintaining speed while generating time and space to make plays. Confident operating from the top of the offensive zone, she can control play, move laterally, and consistently threaten the defence as a puck carrier. Her offensive skill set allows her to be a dynamic point presence who can drive play, create scoring chances, and add pressure as an active fourth attacker. Grade: A
Makenna Brassard #17 (Okanagan Hockey Academy Penticton, F, 2026): Brassard is a strong, tall forward with solid skating ability and good footwork for her size, allowing her to remain mobile and effective in all zones. Handles the puck well in tight spaces and shows confidence driving toward the middle of the ice, consistently looking to attack the slot when in possession. Demonstrates an assertive offensive mindset, using her frame and skill to create scoring chances in high-danger areas. Showed her finishing ability on the power play with a well-placed wrist shot from the faceoff dot, beating the goaltender high blocker side with pace and precision. Grade: A-
Kaia Fletcher #18 (Thompson Okanagan Lakers, F, 2027): Fletcher is a solid two-way player who impacts the game in all three zones, using an active stick to influence play defensively and create transition opportunities. Competes hard in corner puck battles, often coming out with possession and quickly looking to advance the puck to open teammates on the rush. Shows strong awareness in transition and can effectively support both offense and defense with consistent effort and positioning. Offensively, she possesses a heavy shot with strong mechanics, capable of getting pucks through traffic and releasing effectively even under pressure from defenders, making her a legitimate scoring threat from range. Grade: A-
Audrina Freeman #9 (Okanagan Hockey Academy Penticton, F, 2026, Trinity Western): Freeman is a tall, mobile forward who combines strong speed with effective puck-handling skills, particularly when circling through the offensive zone to create space and maintain possession. Serves as a consistent offensive threat, using her skating ability to open passing lanes and generate shooting opportunities while actively scanning the ice for the best play. Strong on her stick and competitive in puck battles, she frequently wins possession through effort, reach, and strength. Shows good awareness in transition, making herself available as an outlet in the defensive zone and helping turn defensive recoveries into quick rush opportunities. Grade: A-
Maddy Niesh #20 (Rink Academy – Kelowna, F, 2026): Niesh is a tenacious, high-energy forward who brings constant pressure as an aggressive forechecker and is highly disruptive on the penalty kill. Uses a combination of speed, hustle, and determination to win puck battles and create turnovers, consistently challenging defenders with an active stick and quick feet in defensive situations. Shows strong work ethic and game awareness, frequently outworking opponents to loose pucks and turning defensive plays into offensive opportunities. Demonstrated high-end compete level on a key sequence by beating the defense to an icing, then executing a composed backhand pass to a teammate streaking in for a tap-in goal. A reliable, relentless player who impacts the game through effort and pressure. Grade: A-
Courtney Couvion #14 (Delta Hockey Academy U18, F, 2029): Couvion is a smart, reliable two-way player who brings strong positional awareness and consistency in all areas of the ice. Defensively sound, she maintains good structure and positioning, particularly on the penalty kill where she uses an active stick and strong awareness to clog shooting and passing lanes. A committed shot blocker, she consistently puts herself in high-value defensive spots to disrupt plays and generate turnovers. Offensively, she is a capable puck mover who makes accurate outlet passes and can find teammates in stride to support clean transitions up ice. Grade: B
Team Alberta
Tayla Lamabe #4 (St. Albert Slash, F, 2026, St. Cloud): Lamabe is a strong, fast forward who combines excellent footwork with strong game anticipation to consistently impact puck battles and transitional play. Carries the puck smoothly in stride with tight puck-handling ability, allowing her to maintain control at speed and navigate through pressure. Shows strong awareness along the boards, often first to loose pucks and quick with her stick to secure possession. Uses her speed effectively to create offense, reading plays well in the neutral zone and turning turnovers into scoring chances. Demonstrated high-end skill and poise on a highlight goal, jumping on a loose puck in transition to create a 2-on-1, then beating the defender with a toe drag before finishing low glove on the goaltender. Grade: A
Macy Morrison #6 (Red Deer Chiefs, F, 2027, Trinity Western University): Morrison is a very strong skater who generates quick bursts of speed in open ice, especially off turnovers in the neutral zone where she can immediately transition into attack mode. Plays with her head up and uses powerful crossovers to build momentum and accelerate through space. Strong on the puck with excellent stick-handling ability while in motion, allowing her to maintain control at high speed. Effective in one-on-one situations, she can consistently beat defenders in open ice using a combination of speed, balance, and skill to create offensive opportunities. Grade: A
Joryn Hempel #13 (Okanagan Hockey Academy Edmonton, F, 2027, St. Cloud): Hempel is a skilled forward with strong puck-handling ability and excellent puck awareness who consistently finds ways to create time and space for herself. Uses smart positioning to place the puck into open areas and anticipates turnovers well, allowing her to regain possession and transition quickly into attack. A composed, head-up skater who uses crossovers effectively to build speed and change pace, often altering angles of attack when entering the offensive zone to beat defenders. Capable of generating offense both off the rush and in zone play, she is a consistent shooting threat who can capitalize on loose pucks and create scoring chances through quick releases. Grade: A
Riley Borque #2 (Southern Alberta Hockey Academy, D, 2028): Borque is a skilled, high-tempo defender with strong top-end speed who can quickly turn broken plays and neutral-zone turnovers into offensive opportunities. Comfortable handling the puck in tight areas, she uses quick hands and acceleration to beat flat-footed defenders and transition the puck up ice effectively. Defensively, she is strong on her stick and reads the play well, frequently disrupting attacks in the neutral zone with well-timed stick sweeps and efficient edge work. Shows poise in her own end, making smart decisions under pressure and consistently executing clean outlet passes to start the breakout. Grade: A-
Raevyn Neahr #9 (Edmonton Jr. Oilers U18 AA, F, 2027, Mount Royal): Neahr is a strong forward with solid top-end speed in open ice who is effective in transition and capable of creating offense through smart positioning. Looks to find and exploit open space in the offensive zone, where she can support puck movement and generate scoring chances. Shows strong passing ability, including accurate cross-ice feeds that help shift defensive coverage and open up lanes for teammates. Demonstrates good game awareness, as highlighted by a shorthanded goal where she leaked into the neutral zone, read the play well, and finished a breakaway with a composed backhand beat on the goaltender. A reliable player who can contribute offensively in both structured and transitional situations. Grade: A-
Abigail Thom #18 (Calgary Fire Red U18, F, 2027): Thom is a tenacious, high-energy forward who combines great speed with quick changes of direction to consistently disrupt opponents. Creates turnovers through relentless effort, using an active stick and strong footwork to pressure puck carriers and regain possession. Excels on the forecheck, where her speed and strength allow her to win battles along the boards and quickly distribute pucks into dangerous areas, particularly the slot. Shows strong offensive instincts and finishing ability, highlighted by a goal created off her own turnover in the offensive zone where she beat a defender inside and finished with a high glove shot. A persistent, impact player who drives play through pace, pressure, and compete level. Grade: A-
Anslei Thistle #14 (St. Albert Slash, D, 2027, UBC): Thistle is a strong, mobile defender with solid skating ability who competes hard in all zones. Uses an active stick and good footwork to recover effectively when beaten for speed, allowing her to stay engaged in defensive plays and limit scoring chances. Offensively, she is confident working the blue line, scanning for passing options or getting pucks through traffic to the net. Possesses a heavy shot with excellent power, capable of firing low one-timers through screens and creating dangerous rebound opportunities from the point. Grade: B+