With a frame as large as his, you would think that most of his production comes from close around the net and in tight areas, which may be his strongest suit, but he has many other attributes to go along with that. For a big player, he has shockingly good hands and can deke through defenders and find space on his own. When given the chance to stick-handle through players or put a move on either a goalie or a defenceman, he will do that, and often it works to his advantage.<\/p>\n
![\"Ethan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windsor-Spitfires-forward-Ethan-Belchetz-1200x827.jpg\")
Windsor Spitfires\u2019 forward Ethan Belchetz (David Jewell \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n
Belchetz also possesses a fantastic shot. While he is mostly expected to drive the net and pick up rebounds, he has shown many times that he has no problem ripping a shot from the faceoff circle or taking a one-timer from the right side of the ice, adding more of an arsenal to his game and making him a more complete player.<\/p>\n
Belchetz\u2019s biggest attribute is his ability to get open without the puck. Due to his large frame, it is much easier for him to make room for himself and find places to get open on the ice. He showed that ability at this summer\u2019s Hlinka-Gretzky tournament, where he looked like a man playing amongst boys, pushing through opposing players and creating his own room. He finished the tournament with seven points in five games and helped Canada earn a bronze medal.<\/p>\n
Sadly, Belchetz\u2019s draft-eligible season was recently cut short after a broken left clavicle injury has more than likely taken him out for the rest of the season. It was suffered on March 3, and this specific injury has had players miss significant time because of it. So not only will he miss the OHL Playoffs, but he will also miss the U18 Men\u2019s World Championship. But many players have come back from this and not been drastically affected by it. Most notable is Matthew Schaefer, as he suffered this injury and joined the NHL this season and looks like the front-runner for the Calder Trophy.<\/p>\n
Other THW Draft Profiles<\/p>\n Ethan Belchetz \u2013 NHL Draft Projection<\/p>\n With a draft class as loaded with wingers as this one is, Belchetz ran into a logjam at the position and dropped a few spots during this season. A mediocre performance at the CHL-USA Top Prospects Game didn\u2019t help his stock either. But the raw talent and abilities that he has shown this season can\u2019t go unnoticed and haven\u2019t by scouts and executives. Right now, he is projected to be selected in the 10-15 range in the upcoming draft, but if he slipped into the top 10, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised.<\/p>\n Quotables<\/p>\n \u201cBelchetz is a towering forward who uses his long reach to his advantage offensively and defensively. He\u2019s a strong skater who, when he gains the edge off the rush, is very hard to defend on his way to the crease. Belchetz leans goal scorer more than playmaker. His first instinct generally is to direct pucks on net. He has the hockey sense and ability to be deployed in a variety of roles.\u201d \u2013 Jason Bukala, Sportsnet<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBelchetz constantly turns what should be 50:50 puck battles into advantages for him.\u00a0 He has already surpassed his goal total from last year in about half the time and is not far from his point totals. Belchetz is a player you see on cup contending teams (akin to Matthew Tkachuk) who not only impacts the game offensively but also physically in the trenches. Watch for Belchetz to climb even higher on draft boards if he proves to be a playoff performer this spring, as everybody expects him to.\u201d \u2013 James Connelly, Dober Prospects<\/a><\/p>\n Strengths<\/p>\n Size<\/p>\n Accurate shot<\/p>\n Sick-handling in tight areas<\/p>\n Ability to create room for himself and his teammates<\/p>\n Agility with and without the puck<\/p>\n Under Construction (Improvements to Make)<\/p>\n More room to grow for his skating<\/p>\n Bringing his speed up to be able to skate with his teammates at all times<\/p>\n Overall defensive game<\/p>\n NHL Potential<\/p>\n The sky is the limit for a player like Belchetz. Players like him don\u2019t come around very often, and he is continuing to prove to everyone that he has more abilities than just being a big player. He has agility, a heavy shot, and quick hands, along with being one of the tallest forwards in this draft class. In the right system and if he is deployed properly, I truly believe he can be a top-six winger at the professional level and a power-play specialist that sits in front of the net and puts in goals any way he can.<\/p>\n Risk \u2013 Reward Analysis<\/p>\n Risk 1\/5, Reward 4.5\/5<\/p>\n Fantasy Hockey Potential<\/p>\n Offense 8.5\/10, Defense 5\/10<\/p>\n Awards\/Achievements<\/p>\n Represented Team CHL at the CHL-USA Top Prospects Game<\/p>\n Bronze medal at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in 2025<\/p>\n OHL Cup championship in 2024<\/p>\n OHL Cup MVP<\/p>\n Interviews\/Links<\/p>\n Ethan Belchetz of @SpitsHockey<\/a> joins us to talk the CHL USA Prospects Challenge pic.twitter.com\/18ePcoVOOR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 20, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Ethan Belchetz Stats<\/p>\n Videos<\/p>\n Belchetz BLASTS one home\ud83c\udfaf<\/p>\n Make that two goals tonight for Ethan Belchetz as he unloads this one-timer on the powerplay!@SpitsHockey<\/a> | #NHLDraft<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/DWo7BVbptn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 13, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n CANADA TIES IT UP \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n Ethan Belchetz makes no mistake for his third goal of the tournament.#HlinkaGretzky<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/iFgXfKJKK6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 15, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Substack_Banner_2025_Draft-1-1200x122.jpg\")
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