Monday, September 7, 2026

CCHL 2026–27 PRESEASON POWER FORECAST (CGY SUBMITTED)

An 84-Game Marathon Should Separate the Loaded Contenders From the Pretenders

The CCHL enters 2026–27 with perhaps as much high-end talent as the league has ever seen.

Connor McDavid is in Iceland. Nathan MacKinnon leads Parry Sound. Auston Matthews and Nikita Kucherov share a lineup in Chattahoochee. Halifax can roll out Macklin Celebrini, Sidney Crosby, Martin Necas, Jake Guentzel and Cole Caufield. Fort Erie counters with Leon Draisaitl, Mitch Marner, Sam Reinhart, Seth Jarvis and Matthew Tkachuk.

And somehow that doesn’t even include Calgary’s absurd collection of Connor Bedard, Mikko Rantanen, Steven Stamkos, Alex DeBrincat, Alex Ovechkin and Cale Makar.

Over 84 games, however, championships aren’t won on name recognition alone. Depth matters. Defence matters. Special teams matter. And when the schedule reaches its dog days, goaltending usually becomes the great separator.

With that in mind, here is our projected 2026–27 CCHL table.

PROJECTED 2026–27 CCHL STANDINGS

RK	TEAM	W	L	OTL	PTS
1	Fort Erie Falcons	53	22	9	115
2	Halifax Norsemen	52	23	9	113
3	Chattahoochee Crawdads	51	24	9	111
4	Victoria Ronin	50	25	9	109
5	Parry Sound Orrsmen	49	25	10	108
6	Capeside Loons	49	27	8	106
7	Iceland Icecats	48	27	9	105
8	Wisborg Donuts	47	28	9	103
9	Calgary Chinook	46	29	9	101
10	Amos Comets	45	30	9	99
11	Fergus Flapping Kilts	44	31	9	97
12	Chippawa Crackerjacks	43	32	9	95
13	Georgetown Millers	41	34	9	91
14	New Mexico Scorpions	40	35	9	89
15	Springfield Isotopes	39	36	9	87
16	Denver Spurs	37	37	10	84
17	Las Vegas Aces	36	39	9	81
18	Seattle Reign	35	39	10	80
19	Val-d’Or Nuggets	34	40	10	78
20	Beartown Bears	33	41	10	76
21	Senneterre Beavers	29	46	9	67
22	Willowdale Rush	25	50	9	59

1. FORT ERIE FALCONS

Projected: 53–22–9, 115 points

The CCHL’s most complete roster.

You could make an argument for several teams having more explosive individual stars, but nobody appears to enter the season with fewer weaknesses than Fort Erie.

Leon Draisaitl is the centerpiece and carries an 83 OV rating, but this isn’t a one-man attack. Mitch Marner, Sam Reinhart, Seth Jarvis, Brandon Hagel, Owen Tippett, Matthew Tkachuk and Quinton Byfield give the Falcons enough firepower to attack opponents in waves.

Then look at the defence.

Jake McCabe, Mario Ferraro, Filip Hronek, Ryan Pulock, Owen Power, Jaccob Slavin, Adam Fox and Luke Hughes give Fort Erie an enviable combination of puck movement and defensive awareness.

The final piece is Jeremy Swayman.

At 85 OV, Swayman gives the Falcons the kind of goaltender who can erase an ordinary night from an otherwise elite team. John Gibson at 79 provides outstanding insurance.

Magazine verdict: There are flashier teams. There may not be a better one.

2. HALIFAX NORSEMEN

Projected: 52–23–9, 113 points

Halifax could finish first and nobody should be surprised.

Macklin Celebrini is already rated 81. Sidney Crosby remains an 80. Wyatt Johnston is an 80. Martin Necas checks in at a team-leading 83, while Jake Guentzel is an 81, Nick Schmaltz an 80 and Cole Caufield a 79.

That’s frightening.

Halifax also possesses something many offensive juggernauts don’t: defensive credibility. Ivan Provorov leads a solid group that also includes Josh Manson, Bowen Byram, Jonas Brodin and Vince Dunn.

And then there’s Igor Shesterkin.

An 87 OV No. 1 goaltender behind this much offence makes Halifax extremely difficult to pick against.

The only reason the Norsemen sit second is that Fort Erie appears slightly deeper defensively from top to bottom.

Magazine verdict: Halifax might lead the CCHL in goals. If Shesterkin gets hot at the right time, they could lead it in playoff wins too.

3. CHATTAHOOCHEE CRAWDADS

Projected: 51–24–9, 111 points

Imagine preparing for Auston Matthews only to realize Nikita Kucherov is coming over the boards next.

That is life against Chattahoochee.

Kucherov’s 82 OV rating and ridiculous 97 passing/95 scoring combination make him one of the most dangerous offensive pieces in the league. Matthews gives the Crawdads an elite finisher, while Vincent Trocheck, Pavel Zacha, Cutter Gauthier, Matthew Knies and Valeri Nichushkin give the lineup both skill and weight.

Erik Karlsson drives the defence offensively, while Adam Larsson, Philip Broberg, Seth Jones and K’Andre Miller make this more than a run-and-gun roster.

But the real reason Chattahoochee belongs near the top?

Andrei Vasilevskiy: 88 OV.

There aren’t many teams in the league that can match this combination of superstar scoring and superstar goaltending.

Magazine verdict: The Crawdads look built for a long playoff run rather than merely a spectacular regular season.

4. VICTORIA RONIN

Projected: 50–25–9, 109 points

Victoria may be the team nobody enjoys playing.

Mika Zibanejad and Bo Horvat are both rated 81 and give the Ronin a tremendous one-two punch through the middle. Artemi Panarin and Clayton Keller create offence from the wings, while Andrei Svechnikov and Drake Batherson give Victoria additional scoring options.

The defence is even more impressive than the names initially suggest.

Esa Lindell owns a 99 DF rating. Gustav Forsling, Vladislav Gavrikov, Braden Schneider, Brayden McNabb, Adam Pelech and Quinn Hughes form a unit capable of playing virtually any style.

And Logan Thompson’s 88 OV rating changes the equation completely.

Victoria doesn’t need to score five every night. It can win 5–4, 3–2 or 2–1.

That flexibility is championship material.

Magazine verdict: Possibly the most difficult CCHL team to game-plan against.

5. PARRY SOUND ORRSMEN

Projected: 49–25–10, 108 points

Nathan MacKinnon is the type of player around whom entire seasons can revolve.

His 85 OV rating is supported by 99 skating, 98 puckhandling, 95 passing and 97 scoring. Mark Scheifele gives Parry Sound another elite centre at 81, and Jack Hughes adds yet another dynamic weapon.

Nikolaj Ehlers, Kevin Fiala, William Eklund and Jordan Kyrou provide speed throughout the wings.

The blue line is excellent, too. Mike Matheson, Aaron Ekblad, Roman Josi, Alex Vlasic and Erik Cernak give the Orrsmen both offence and defensive stability.

Then comes perhaps the CCHL’s best one-two goaltending combination:

Ilya Sorokin — 81 OV
Jet Greaves — 80 OV

There will be almost no soft nights in goal.

Magazine verdict: Maybe the safest preseason bet to remain near the top of the standings from October through April.

6. CAPESIDE LOONS

Projected: 49–27–8, 106 points

This forward group is loaded.

Jack Eichel. Dylan Larkin. Jason Robertson. Matt Boldy. Chris Kreider. Brady Tkachuk. Alex Tuch.

Robertson and Boldy both sit at 82 OV, Eichel at 81 and Larkin at 80.

That’s four legitimate first-line calibre forwards before getting to the supporting cast.

Capeside also boasts perhaps the league’s deepest collection of established defencemen: Charlie McAvoy, John Carlson, Zach Werenski, Noah Hanifin, Brock Faber and Cam York.

Jake Oettinger’s 78 OV rating isn’t quite at the Shesterkin/Vasilevskiy/Thompson level, but he won’t need to steal many games.

Magazine verdict: There’s enough talent here to finish first. Sixth reflects how absurdly strong the CCHL’s upper tier is rather than any major weakness in Capeside.

7. ICELAND ICECATS

Projected: 48–27–9, 105 points

Any team employing Connor McDavid begins the season with championship expectations.

At 86 OV, McDavid is the highest-rated skater on these rosters and remains exactly what opponents fear: an offensive cheat code.

Nick Suzuki at 82 gives Iceland another elite centre. Bryan Rust and Mark Stone are both 79, with Rickard Rakell and Travis Konecny further strengthening the attack.

The Icecats’ blue line may actually be more impressive.

Miro Heiskanen and Jake Sanderson are both 79. Evan Bouchard is 77, Rasmus Dahlin 76 and Victor Hedman 75.

That’s ridiculous puck-moving talent.

The question is goaltending.

Connor Hellebuyck carries only a 77 OV rating in this particular ratings set, with Jake Allen at 76 and Yaroslav Askarov at 73.

Against ordinary opponents, McDavid can cover that deficiency.

Against Fort Erie, Halifax or Chattahoochee in a seven-game series, it becomes more significant.

Magazine verdict: A legitimate championship roster with one identifiable pressure point.

8. WISBORG DONUTS

Projected: 47–28–9, 103 points

Wisborg might be one of the league’s most underrated teams.

Tim Stutzle is an 82. Adrian Kempe an 81. David Pastrnak a 79. Lucas Raymond a 78. Joel Eriksson Ek a 77.

That is serious offensive talent.

The defence lacks a Makar or Hughes type superstar, but Mattias Samuelsson and Ian Cole are both 78 while Marcus Pettersson, Ryan McDonagh and Oliver Ekman-Larsson provide tremendous stability.

Most importantly, Wisborg should never have to worry about goaltending.

Jesper Wallstedt is rated 81, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 80 and Filip Gustavsson 78.

Three playable goalies over an 84-game schedule is a luxury.

Magazine verdict: The Donuts have fewer holes than several more glamorous teams and could be this season’s surprise top-five finisher.

9. CALGARY CHINOOK

Projected: 46–29–9, 101 points

If CCHL games were decided strictly by offensive talent, Calgary might be No. 1.

The Chinook can send out Connor Bedard, Steven Stamkos, Alex DeBrincat, Alex Ovechkin and Mikko Rantanen — and that’s before mentioning John Tavares, Alexis Lafreniere, Nazem Kadri or Matt Coronato.

Rantanen leads the group at 80 OV. Stamkos and DeBrincat sit at 79. Bedard, Tavares and Ovechkin are all 78.

And directing traffic from the back end is Cale Makar, with 97 skating, 97 puckhandling and a 79 OV rating.

Nikita Zadorov adds a completely different dimension. Rasmus Andersson, Kevin Bahl and Will Borgen make Calgary’s defence deeper than it receives credit for.

So why only ninth?

The crease.

Dustin Wolf is rated 76 overall and Adin Hill 70. Against the middle of the standings, Calgary’s firepower should simply overwhelm teams. Against the elite clubs, the Chinook may occasionally score four and still lose.

If Wolf outperforms his rating, this projection could be dramatically low.

Magazine verdict: The CCHL’s biggest wild card. Calgary has a 100-point floor and genuine top-five upside if the goaltending holds.

10. AMOS COMETS

Projected: 45–30–9, 99 points

Amos isn’t particularly young and doesn’t have the overwhelming firepower of Halifax or Calgary.

What it does have is balance.

Ryan O’Reilly remains an 80 OV centre. Filip Forsberg and Tom Wilson give the Comets high-end wing play, while Tomas Hertl, Anze Kopitar, Zach Hyman, Pavel Buchnevich and Carter Verhaeghe provide excellent depth.

The defence should be a major strength.

Mikhail Sergachev leads the way at 80, followed by Travis Sanheim at 79, Tyler Myers and Colton Parayko at 78, plus Lane Hutson.

But Scott Wedgewood is what makes Amos particularly interesting.

His 88 OV rating ties him with the CCHL’s top goaltenders.

A team with this much veteran intelligence, defensive quality and elite goaltending is going to collect points even when the offence isn’t clicking.

Magazine verdict: Nobody will enjoy drawing Amos in the opening round.

11. FERGUS FLAPPING KILTS

Projected: 44–31–9, 97 points

Fergus is another roster built more around depth than a single superstar.

Leo Carlsson and J.T. Miller are both 78, Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry 77, Shane Pinto and Jordan Eberle 76.

Darnell Nurse, Joel Edmundson and MacKenzie Weegar headline a big, experienced defence.

The secret weapon is Anton Forsberg.

At 82 OV, he rates significantly higher here than his name recognition might suggest. Karel Vejmelka at 77 gives Fergus a legitimate tandem.

The Kilts may struggle to match the league’s very best teams goal-for-goal, but they should be one of the toughest clubs to knock completely out of games.

Magazine verdict: Built to grind its way toward 95–100 points.

12. CHIPPAWA CRACKERJACKS

Projected: 43–32–9, 95 points

Chippawa doesn’t have a McDavid or MacKinnon, but it might lead the league in useful hockey players.

Sebastian Aho, Chandler Stephenson, Jake DeBrusk, Timo Meier, Jared McCann and Claude Giroux give the Crackerjacks an intelligent, versatile forward group.

The defence is extremely sturdy: Jacob Trouba, Brady Skjei, Justin Faulk, Connor Murphy, Jonas Siegenthaler and Brandon Carlo.

Joel Hofer’s 81 OV rating is another positive.

The question is whether Chippawa possesses enough pure game-breaking offence to keep pace with the league’s giants.

Magazine verdict: A strong playoff-calibre club, but probably one elite scorer away from entering the championship tier.

13. GEORGETOWN MILLERS

Projected: 41–34–9, 91 points

Georgetown should be competitive almost every night.

Dylan Cozens, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther provide an excellent young nucleus, while Jordan Staal, Andrew Copp and Marcus Johansson bring veteran stability.

Jackson LaCombe leads a respectable defence, with Morgan Rielly and Shea Theodore adding puck-moving ability.

The intriguing part is goaltending.

Philipp Grubauer carries an 81 OV and Lukas Dostal a 77. If those ratings translate into performance, Georgetown could outperform this projection.

The concern is finishing talent. Compared with the league’s top 10, there simply aren’t as many players capable of deciding a game by themselves.

Magazine verdict: More difficult to beat than spectacular to watch.

14. NEW MEXICO SCORPIONS

Projected: 40–35–9, 89 points

Tage Thompson gives New Mexico something many teams in this section of the standings don’t have: a genuine star.

At 80 OV with 92 scoring, Thompson should pile up goals.

Sam Bennett, Evan Rodrigues, Alex Laferriere, Tyler Bertuzzi and Jack Quinn give the Scorpions a useful supporting cast, while the defence is veteran-heavy with Brenden Dillon, Drew Doughty and Ben Chiarot.

Sergei Bobrovsky and Linus Ullmark sound like a spectacular tandem, but their ratings here are a more modest 77 and 76.

This looks like a team that can beat anyone on a given night without dominating the standings over six months.

Magazine verdict: A dangerous middleweight capable of punching above its class.

15. SPRINGFIELD ISOTOPES

Projected: 39–36–9, 87 points

There are pieces here.

Brayden Point remains a top offensive player. Jean-Gabriel Pageau gives Springfield outstanding two-way utility. Logan Stankoven, Shane Wright, JJ Peterka and Matvei Michkov offer youth and upside.

Moritz Seider and Brent Burns form an excellent foundation on defence.

But there is a noticeable drop after Springfield’s top players, and neither Spencer Knight nor Stuart Skinner rates among the league’s top goalies.

Over 84 games, that matters.

Magazine verdict: Competitive enough to hang around the playoff race, inconsistent enough to make every week an adventure.

16. DENVER SPURS

Projected: 37–37–10, 84 points

Denver should be extremely difficult to classify.

Brock Nelson remains an 80 OV player. Mathew Barzal, Gabriel Vilardi and Morgan Geekie can produce offence, while the defence — Matt Roy, Hampus Lindholm, Dougie Hamilton and Rasmus Ristolainen — is respectable.

Darcy Kuemper is a 75 OV starter.

The problem is depth relative to the rest of the CCHL.

Denver has good players throughout the lineup, but very few areas in which it clearly overwhelms an opponent.

That’s usually the recipe for a .500-ish season.

Magazine verdict: The Spurs will remain relevant deep into the year but may ultimately get squeezed out by teams with greater star power.

17. LAS VEGAS ACES

Projected: 36–39–9, 81 points

Here’s the fascinating thing about Las Vegas:

Dan Vladar is rated 85 overall.

That alone could turn this prediction upside down.

The Aces don’t possess an elite offensive group. Anthony Cirelli, Adam Fantilli, Mikael Granlund and Mats Zuccarello are good players, but Las Vegas will be hard pressed to match Halifax or Calgary in a track meet.

The defence is veteran-heavy with Kris Letang, Cam Fowler, Dylan DeMelo, Artem Zub and Radko Gudas.

If Vladar performs like an 85 OV goaltender, the Aces could drag themselves into playoff contention almost single-handedly.

Magazine verdict: The league’s potential goaltending spoiler.

18. SEATTLE REIGN

Projected: 35–39–10, 80 points

Seattle can score.

Kyle Connor, William Nylander and Kirill Marchenko are all rated 79. Nico Hischier is 78. Ryan McLeod provides excellent two-way play.

Mattias Ekholm, Noah Dobson and Jakob Chychrun make the top of the defence respectable.

Unfortunately, the goaltending picture is difficult to overlook.

Frederik Andersen sits at 73, with Ville Husso and Vitek Vanecek each at 69.

Seattle may produce plenty of entertaining 5–4 games.

The question is how many it will win.

Magazine verdict: Strong enough offensively to stay alive; vulnerable enough defensively to make its supporters age rapidly.

19. VAL-D’OR NUGGETS

Projected: 34–40–10, 78 points

There is some intriguing young talent developing in Val-d’Or.

Anton Lundell and Juraj Slafkovsky are quality building blocks, while Matthew Schaefer has already reached 75 OV as a rookie defender.

Anthony Mantha and Tyler Toffoli provide veteran scoring.

But this roster remains a work in progress.

The centre group lacks elite offensive production and the goaltending group is led by rookie Jacob Fowler at 76.

The Nuggets will steal games. They will frustrate better teams. They might even spend stretches around the playoff line.

Sustaining it for 84 games is another matter.

Magazine verdict: The future looks more exciting than the present.

20. BEARTOWN BEARS

Projected: 33–41–10, 76 points

Beartown is clearly building toward something.

Fraser Minten, Michael Misa, Jiri Kulich, Isaac Howard, Sam Dickinson, Mike Benning and Ethan Del Mastro give the organization plenty of youth.

Jesper Bratt provides legitimate top-line talent, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains an excellent veteran and Alex Lyon/Mackenzie Blackwood give the Bears perfectly respectable goaltending.

But too much responsibility may fall onto developing players.

That’s a tough formula in an 84-game league loaded with veteran super-teams.

Magazine verdict: The Bears may lose plenty this season while quietly becoming one of the league’s more interesting future clubs.

21. SENNETERRE BEAVERS

Projected: 29–46–9, 67 points

Senneterre possesses size, toughness and several useful veterans.

Sean Monahan can still create offence. Michael McCarron and Jack McBain make the Beavers miserable physically. Thomas Chabot remains a quality puck-moving defender.

Juuse Saros at 78 should keep Senneterre competitive on many nights.

The issue is simply scoring.

There aren’t enough high-end finishers here compared with almost every roster above them.

Saros may steal points, but asking him to steal an entire season is too much.

Magazine verdict: Hard-working, unpleasant to face, but offensively underpowered.

22. WILLOWDALE RUSH

Projected: 25–50–9, 59 points

Kirill Kaprizov is the obvious attraction.

At 80 OV with elite puckhandling and scoring ratings, he should still produce regardless of the standings.

The blue line is actually respectable, led by Jared Spurgeon and Josh Morrissey.

But Willowdale is extremely young and noticeably thin at forward. Nate Danielson, Brayden Yager, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Gavin Brindley may eventually become important players, but they’re being asked to develop against CCHL lineups filled with established stars.

Jacob Markstrom gives the Rush competent goaltending but probably not enough to overcome the offensive gap.

Magazine verdict: This looks like a development season rather than a playoff season.

THE CCHL’S FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP TIERS

TIER I — CUP OR BUST

Fort Erie, Halifax, Chattahoochee, Victoria, Parry Sound

These teams combine elite offensive talent with enough defence and goaltending to survive four playoff rounds.

TIER II — ABSOLUTELY CAN WIN IT

Capeside, Iceland, Wisborg, Calgary

Every one of these teams has championship-level talent. Each simply carries one larger question mark than the clubs above.

For Iceland and Calgary, it’s goaltending.

For Capeside, it’s whether good goaltending becomes great goaltending.

For Wisborg, it’s whether an exceptionally balanced team has enough superstar firepower in a playoff series.

TIER III — NIGHTMARE FIRST-ROUND OPPONENTS

Amos, Fergus, Chippawa

None would be a shocking champion.

All three are deep, structured and capable of turning a playoff series into a six- or seven-game war.

TIER IV — THE PLAYOFF BUBBLE

Georgetown, New Mexico, Springfield, Denver, Las Vegas, Seattle

Expect movement here all season.

A hot goalie, one major trade or a breakout performance could change this entire group.

TIER V — BUILDING FOR TOMORROW

Val-d’Or, Beartown, Senneterre, Willowdale

Development will matter as much as final position.

FIVE PRESEASON STORYLINES TO WATCH

1. Can anyone actually contain Halifax’s offence?
Celebrini, Crosby, Johnston, Necas, Guentzel, Caufield and Marchand give the Norsemen enough weapons to turn an ordinary two-minute defensive lapse into three goals.

2. Is Fort Erie too complete to catch?
Draisaitl and Marner get the headlines, but Swayman, Slavin, Reinhart, Jarvis and a remarkably deep blue line may ultimately win them the standings title.

3. Calgary could make this prediction look foolish.
Few teams can match the Chinook offensively. If Dustin Wolf turns his 76 rating into elite production, Calgary doesn’t belong ninth. It belongs in the conversation for first.

4. Goaltending could make Victoria terrifying.
Logan Thompson’s 88 OV rating behind Victoria’s defensive personnel is one of the strongest team-goaltender combinations in the CCHL.

5. Never bet comfortably against McDavid or MacKinnon.
Iceland and Parry Sound possess two players capable of altering an entire season themselves. When the playoffs arrive, projections become significantly less meaningful when McDavid or MacKinnon is on the other side.

EARLY CCHL AWARD FORECAST

Regular-Season Champion: Fort Erie Falcons
CCHL Championship Pick: Fort Erie Falcons
Finalist: Halifax Norsemen

Most Valuable Player: Nathan MacKinnon, Parry Sound
Scoring Champion: Connor McDavid, Iceland
Top Goal Scorer: Nikita Kucherov, Chattahoochee
Top Defenceman: Cale Makar, Calgary
Top Goaltender: Logan Thompson, Victoria
Breakout Star: Macklin Celebrini, Halifax
Dark-Horse Team: Wisborg Donuts
Team Most Likely to Beat Its Projection: Calgary Chinook
Team Nobody Wants in Round 1: Amos Comets

FINAL WORD

The difference between first and ninth in this CCHL may be considerably smaller than the standings eventually indicate.

Fort Erie has the fewest weaknesses.

Halifax may have the most frightening offence.

Chattahoochee possesses the Matthews-Kucherov-Vasilevskiy formula.

Victoria might have the best combination of structure and goaltending.

Parry Sound has MacKinnon and remarkable depth.

Capeside can roll stars over the boards all night.

Iceland has the best player in hockey.

Wisborg may be deeper than everybody realizes.

And Calgary?

Calgary is the grenade sitting in the middle of every preseason prediction.

The Chinook can dress Bedard, Rantanen, Stamkos, DeBrincat, Ovechkin, Tavares and Makar on the same night. If the goaltending is merely average, Calgary should comfortably make the playoffs.

If the goaltending becomes good?

Throw the ninth-place prediction in the garbage.

Because then the 2026–27 CCHL championship race may have one more heavyweight than anyone expected.

CHP blog post

From the office of the GM:

It has been an interesting off season for our club. We saw a fair bit of roster turnover as we continue to rebuild and strive to get younger while remaining competitive. We are super excited about some of our young additions that will have only a few that most likely break season with our major league club roster and most being on the minor league club. As such we expect our minor league club to compete for a playoff spot and chance at the cup, with our prospects growing this season to join the pro league next season. Specifically, we are super excited about adding Fyodor Svechkov, Alexander Nikishin, Ben Danford, Oliver Moore, Brad Lambert & Alex Bump who will make the leap either this season or next. Our longer term prospects that we expect big leaps from developmentally are Alexander Bilecki & Ethan MacKenzie. Although we still have a few irons in the fire, we believe our pre-season preparation is completed. We added some scoring and speed to the roster this season with the additions of Sebatstian Aho & Chandler Stephenson as our top two centres, Jack Roslovic on the RW, and Simon Holmstrom on the left in depth roles. Rounding out our top six we re-signed wingers Jared McCann and Timo Meier to great contracts that will allow us flexibility in the coming seasons to go "big game hunting." We also added some grit and scoring with the addition of Colton Sissons as our third line centre. With the exceptional performance of our most tenured defenceman we wanted to extend Jacob Trouba and show our commitment to quality players staying with us long term. We have added Jonas Siegenthaler who has a chance to become a top pairing player, and signed Justin Faulk to quarterback our power play and add some pucking moving ability to our back end top four. With his exceptional performance last season Joel Hofer took the lead and secured the role as our top tender, moving Cam Talbot into a back up role, and we acquired experienced tender Jonathan Quick to add some experienced depth in case of injury or fatigue. We expect to make a serious run at a playoff spot this season and will need our starter to be rested and ready.

All in all it was a VERY exciting off season with a laser focused adherence to our long term plan while working diligently to not be at the expense of being competitive now.

We are really looking forward to this season and seeing how things develop!

Charlie Plante

Crackerjacks GM

Monday, August 3, 2026

State of the Loons; Future of the Loons

The downside of going all in for the Kehler Cup is that picks and prospects become currency and the prospect pool starts to suffer. With the roster seemingly set for the foreseeable future it is time for Czepiel to start focusing on restocking the prospect pool.

Here is what our good friend Google AI thinks of our top 10 - I am starting to think it may be buttering me up though…

1. James Hagens (C)

Summary: The undisputed crown jewel of the pipeline. Hagens is a world-class playmaker possessing elite vision, exceptional agility, and a high-end hockey IQ. He dictates the tempo of the game, effortlessly solving defensive structures under heavy pressure.
Simulation Projection: Franchise Line 1 Center (95 PA / 92 SK / 88 FO) [1]. A perennial Art Ross contender who will serve as your primary power-play quarterback.

2. Cooper Simpson (LW/RW)

Summary: A dynamic, pure offensive weapon. Simpson features a lethal catch-and-release wrist shot paired with creative one-on-one deking abilities. He excels at exploiting defensive gaps and creating his own shooting lanes out of nothing.
Simulation Projection: Elite Top-Six Sniper (93 SC / 86 SK) [1]. An automatic 35+ goal threat when paired with an elite distributor.

3. Drew Commesso (G)

Summary: A premier, technically flawless goaltending prospect. Commesso boasts elite post-to-post lateral quickness, strong rebound control, and high structural positioning that isolates shooter angles.
Simulation Projection: Franchise Starting Goaltender (92 PS / 88 PO) [1]. A future Vezina Trophy candidate with elite durability metrics.

4. Teddy Stiga (LW)

Summary: The ultimate 200-foot engine. Stiga pairs an exhausting physical work ethic with superb defensive anticipation, tracking down loose pucks and flipping the ice in transition.
Simulation Projection: Top-Six Two-Way Machine (86 DF / 85 PA / 88 DI) [1]. A multi-situational winger who can slide up to Line 1 or anchor your top penalty-kill unit.

5. Casey Mutryn (RW/C)

Summary: A towering, 6-foot-3 powerhouse selected 20th overall in the 2026 draft. Mutryn plays a heavy, territorial game, excelling at cycling the puck and parking himself directly in front of the net.
Simulation Projection: Top-Six Net-Front Power Forward (88 SC / 86 CK) [1, 2]. A physical beast who will max out your team's physical and puck-retention sliders.

6. Eric Pohlkamp (D)

Summary: A physical, mobile blueliner who relishes throwing heavy hits. Pohlkamp bridges the gap between old-school toughness and the modern game with a booming point shot and steady breakout habits.
Simulation Projection: Two-Way Top-Four Defenseman (84 CK / 80 DF / 78 PA) [1]. A punishing second-pair option who will inject snarl into your blue line.

7. Victor Plante (LW)

Summary: A highly cerebral, opportunistic legacy winger. Plante processes the game at a high speed, routinely finding soft ice to convert playmaking options in the offensive zone.
Simulation Projection: Middle-Six Playmaking Winger (82 PA / 78 SC) [1, 2]. A versatile forward capable of driving primary farm-team scoring or filling injury depth.

8. Mikey Berchild (C/LW)

Summary: A high-octane offensive coordinator who utilizes supreme shiftiness to navigate tight defensive shells. He looks to facilitate first, reading transitional routes beautifully.
Simulation Projection: Creative 2nd Line Playmaking Center (91 PA / 84 SK) [1]. A high-assist machine perfectly built to ignite secondary scoring lines.

9. Landon Nycz (D)

Summary: A massive, stays-at-home defensive defenseman. Nycz uses his long reach and intelligent stick positioning to take away cross-crease passing lanes and clear the crease.
Simulation Projection: Shutdown Top-Pairing Defenceman (92 DF / 82 CK) [1, 2]. A pure defensive anchor built to absorb maximum penalty-kill minutes.

10. Blake Zielinski (C)

Summary: An elite-character right-shot center celebrated for his detailed defensive coverage and faceoff mechanics. He plays an unselfish game focused on neutralizing the opposition's top weapons.
Simulation Projection: Shutdown 3rd Line Center (88 DF / 85 FO) [1, 2]. The absolute perfect structural anchor for your future shutdown lines.

State of the Loons; 2026 Draft Class

fter an aggressive series of trades over the past two seasons left the Capeside Loons without much draft capital, General Manager Matt Young made the most of every selection at the 2026 CCHL Entry Draft. Rather than chasing high-risk boom-or-bust talent, the Loons targeted a group of players known for competitiveness, hockey IQ, and long-term upside.

The class is highlighted by first-round selection Casey Mutryn, but the organization believes several mid-round selections could eventually become valuable contributors at the CCHL level.

Instead of me giving my biased take on each pick, here is what Google AI thinks of the class and even gives a sim projection

Round 1, Pick 20: Casey Mutryn (RW/C)

Profile: Casey Mutryn is a commanding 6-foot-3 power forward out of the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP). He plays a heavy, explosive game, crashing lines and using his size to shield the puck down low. He possesses an incredibly heavy shot and brings natural leadership qualities to the locker room.
Simulation Projection: Top-Six Power Forward (88 SC / 86 CK). Mutryn projects as a premier top-six winger who will dominate the physical sliders. He has the raw attributes to eventually assume net-front duties on the top power-play unit.

Round 4, Pick 68: Victor Plante (LW)

Profile: A smart, legacy player with a high hockey IQ. Plante thrives as an opportunistic, quick-strike winger who excels at navigating tight areas along the boards. He handles transition setups remarkably well and does not panic under heavy pressure.
Simulation Projection: Middle-Six Playmaking Winger (82 PA / 78 SC). Plante will provide valuable depth line flexibility. His balanced offensive attributes will help him slot cleanly onto a secondary scoring line or anchor a developmental farm unit.

Round 4, Pick 73: Mikey Berchild (C/LW)

Profile: An incredibly dynamic and creative offensive orchestrator from the University of Denver. Despite being slightly undersized at 5-foot-10, Mikey Berchild possesses an unmatched work ethic, elite vision, and exceptional passing touch.
Simulation Projection: Elite Playmaking Center / PP Specialist (90 PA / 82 SK). Berchild’s high motor and high-end vision make him a perfect future candidate to quarterback a power-play unit from the half-wall while driving playmaking metrics for his wingers.

Round 4, Pick 77: Blake Zielinski (C)

Profile: The Providence College commit is a highly reliable, 6-foot right-shot center. Blake Zielinski is celebrated for his responsibility, leadership, and elite character—having won the USHL's prestigious Gaudreau Award. He plays a complete, detailed 200-foot game.
Simulation Projection: Elite Third-Line Defensive Center (86 DF / 85 FO). Zielinskiprojects as the spiritual successor to Charlie Coyle. He will be a faceoff-winning machine who completely locks down opposing star lines while carrying a heavy shorthanded workload.

Round 4, Pick 84: Landon Nycz (D)

Profile: 6-foot-2 defensive defenseman playing out of UMass in the NCAA. Landon Nycz uses his long reach, active stick, and strong physical positioning to disrupt odd-man rushes and smother attackers along the boards.
Simulation Projection: Shutdown Top-Four Defenceman (90 DF / 82 CK). Nycz is a safe, high-floor blue-liner. He projects as a heavy-minute penalty killer who will serve as the perfect stay-at-home anchor for an offensive-minded partner like Zach Werenski.

Round 5, Pick 95: Rian Chudzinski (RW/LW)

Profile: A standard 6-foot-1 physical winger who loves to finish his checks and force turnovers. Rian Chudzinski is a relentless worker who creates chaos on the forecheck and consistently involves himself in high-danger physical battles.
Simulation Projection: Bottom-Six Grind Line Anchor (88 CK / 76 DF). Chudzinski is built purely for the physical slider. He will slot perfectly into a heavy fourth-line role designed to drain opposing stamina and protect defensive-zone leads.

Round 6, Pick 123: John Leonard (LW)

Profile: An older, experienced organizational depth piece who already boasts established professional simulation numbers. Leonard is a speedy skater who relies on positional awareness to generate depth transition plays.
Simulation Projection: Pro-Roster Extra Skater / Farm Team Star (76 SC / 74 SK).Leonard will serve as essential plug-and-play injury insurance for the pro team, capable of playing mistake-free hockey while dominating top-line minutes in the minor leagues.

Round 6, Pick 131: Myles Brosnan (D)

Profile: A raw, long-term developmental project on the back end. Brosnan possesses solid physical size and a decent active stick, but requires substantial time in junior leagues to iron out his positioning and breakout accuracy.
Simulation Projection: Depth Farm Team Defenseman (72 DF / 70 PH). Brosnan will spend the next 2-3 seasons strictly developing in the minor leagues, functioning as solid positional depth to protect the team's defense pipeline.

Draft Class Verdict: A-

The Loons successfully navigated the draft board by selecting high-character, engine-optimized profiles. Securing Mutryn's power build, Berchild's elite playmaking capabilities, and Zielinski’s defensive structure completely protects Capeside's long-term competitive window.

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Denver Spurs Draft Recap

The Denver Spurs CCHL 2026 Draft has been completed. The Spurs drafted a total of 8 players.

Their first pick (14 overall) from the Vancouver Giants of the WHL was Mathis Preston RW.

Per Elite Prospects:

Mathis Preston is a highly skilled, right-shot winger in the 2026 NHL Draft class. Known for his

explosive speed and elite shot, he is considered a top-round talent. Across the 2025-26 season with the

WHL's Spokane Chiefs and Vancouver Giants, he posted 44 points (18G, 26A) in just 46 games.

Their 2nd pick (58 overall) was goalie William Lacelle from Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the

QMJHL.

In 21 games he posted a 2.11 gaa and .915 SvPct.

His profile follows:

He is a very intelligent goaltender. He anticipates opposing teams' plays very well, which allows him

to be set before the shooter even releases the puck. Lacelle is particularly strong with his glove hand.

His hands are quick, and he can occasionally flash some sharpness in key moments.

William Lacelle is ranked as the 7th-best North American goaltender by NHL Central Scouting.

The team that drafts Lacelle will be taking a gamble, but one that could pay off in the long run.

Their 3rd pick (80 overall) was Noah Laba C of the NY Rangers (NHL) and formerly a member of the

Colorado College Tigers of the NCHC.

His projection:

Noah Laba is projected to be a permanent fixture and the primary third-line center (3C) for the New

York Rangers. Experts and team management project his ceiling as a reliable, hard-nosed 200-foot

player with an offensive projection of roughly 15 to 20 goals per season.

The rest of the players drafted by the Spurs were:

Boston Buckberger LD - Denver University (DU 2026 NCAA Champions 11th Championship)

Kent Anderson RD - Denver University

Philippe Blais-Savoie LD - Colorado College

Jean-Christoph Lemieux LW - Windsor Spitfires/Sudbury Wolves OHL

Aiden Young LW - Peterborough Petes OHL

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Millers Musings

Looking back at a couple of trades and a preview of next weekends draft.

The Trades

(5/20/26) CHP trades CHP 5th-26 to GEO for M. Rasmussen & Quinn Finley-p…

(6/08/26) CHP trades M. Rielly to GEO for C. Sissons…

GEO hooks up with longtime trading partner Chippewa to move out some bottom 6

forwards , getting back a pick and an upgrade on Defense.

Rasmussen’s 2nd tour in Georgetown was a disappointment and he was in danger of

being eventually waived having slid to the bottom of the team’s forward depth chart.

Quinn Finley is a longtime Millers prospect whose path to playing time was blocked by

the influx of young wingers brought in via trade and prospect graduations. He was the

sweetener to entice CHP to take the last year of the Rasmussen contract. Finley

projects as a bottom 6 NHL winger, with good speed and a good shot. It’s not

inconceivable he finds a middle 6 role and PP time in the right situation. Georgetown

adds a pick within the top 100 of the 2026 entry draft, giving their scouting department

more work to do.

Sissons was moved out to open up a spot for Marco Kasper as the 4th line Center. The

team loved Sisson’s contributions on the PK and in the face-off dot but with a plethora of

bottom 6 options, many of them young and needing playing time, he was deemed

expendable. Jordan Staal will take over the #1 Center duties on the PK, and Kasper,

Andrew Copp or Logan Cooley can handle 2nd unit PK duties,

Rielly adds another offensive Dman with goal-scoring ability to the Millers stable, along

with Shea Theodore and Jackson LaCombe. Unsuccessful in their attempts to add a top

6 forward, the Millers instead add offensive depth to the blue line. As things stand Rielly

would be on the 2nd pair with a partner to be determined, and also on the 2nd PP unit.

Draft Drama?

A month ago it appeared the Millers were set to take the best available and their most

preferred Defenseman with the 6 overall pick in the entry draft. A week away and there

is some doubt as to where the team will go, as the potential drop of a top forward if

there is a run on Dmen and the late-stage ascendancy of a couple of other forwards are

now clouding the picture. During meetings with the scouting department different

scenarios were drawn up and it’s believed a revision of the internal draft rankings have

set the stage for a potential surprise pick. It’s also possible the 6th overall is dealt so

long as the team can remain in the top 10. A source inside the organization, speaking

anonymously, said it’s likely the team drafts a European prospect with the pick if the

draft goes as the club’s internal models have predicted.