An Airdrie forward, three Cochrane skaters, and an Olds defenceman are among 24 Albertans named to NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2026 draft, Hockey Alberta announced in a news release.
Airdrie’s Caelan Joudrey, a forward with the Wenatchee Wild of the Western Hockey League, was projected as a fourth- or fifth-round pick after earning a C rating.
Cochrane’s Riley Boychuk and Bennett Kelly, both with the Prince Albert Raiders, and Kadon McCann of the Medicine Hat Tigers each received a W rating, indicating sixth- or seventh-round consideration.
Olds defenceman Dermot Johnston, who plays for the Prince George Cougars, also received a C rating.
Hockey Alberta said 24 players from across the province were recognized. Daxon Rudolph of Lacombe and Keaton Verhoeff of Fort Saskatchewan earned A ratings, marking them as projected first-round picks, while Calgary’s Ben Macbeath and Cooper Williams received B ratings as second- or third-round prospects.
The full list of Albertans named to NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary watch list is as follows:
Daxon Rudolph, Lacombe – Defence, Prince Albert (WHL) – A
Keaton Verhoeff, Fort Saskatchewan – Defence, University of North Dakota (NCAA) – A
Ben Macbeath, Calgary – Defence, Calgary (WHL) – B
Cooper Williams, Calgary – Forward, Saskatoon (WHL) – B
Sawyer Dingman, Edmonton – Forward, Swift Current (WHL) – C
Jordan Duguay, Edmonton – Forward, Portland (WHL) – C
Dermot Johnston, Olds – Defence, Prince George (WHL) – C
Caelan Joudrey, Airdrie – Forward, Wenatchee (WHL) – C
Brayden Klimpke, Calgary – Defence, Saskatoon (WHL) – C
Kayden Lemire, Edmonton – Forward, Prince George (WHL) – C
Will McLaughlin, Canmore – Defence, Portland (WHL) – C
Zach Olsen, Calgary – Forward, Saskatoon (WHL) – C
Parker Snell, St. Albert – Goalie, Edmonton (WHL) – C
Riley Boychuk, Cochrane – Forward, Prince Albert (WHL) – W
Bennett Kelly, Cochrane – Defence, Prince Albert (WHL) – W
Matthew Kondro, St. Albert – Goalie, Lloydminster (AJHL) – W
Cameron Kuzma, St. Albert – Forward, Seattle (WHL) – W
Julien Maze, Edmonton – Forward, Regina (WHL) – W
Kadon McCann, Cochrane – Forward, Medicine Hat (WHL) – W
Aaron Obobaido, Calgary – Forward, Vancouver (WHL) – W
Brett Olson, Spruce Grove – Forward, Vancouver (WHL) – W
Cruz Pavao, Calgary – Forward, Tri-City (WHL) – W
Nolan Stewart, Edmonton – Forward, Victoria (WHL) – W
Jordan Switzer, Edmonton – Goalie, Medicine Hat (WHL) – W
Hockey Alberta said the list highlights “the depth of talent developing across the province” as players continue to prepare for the 2026 draft.
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