An Airdrie forward has been named to NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings List for the 2026 NHL Draft. Caelan Joudrey, an Airdrie native playing for the Wenatchee Wild, is ranked 101st among North American skaters, according to a Jan. 14 news release.

Joudrey is one of 22 players from Alberta named to the list, according to Hockey Alberta. 

Alberta players projected as potential Round 1 picks

University of North Dakota defenceman Keaton Verhoeff of Fort Saskatchewan is ranked second among North American skaters, Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Daxon Rudolph of Lacombe is ranked sixth, and Calgary Hitmen defenceman Ben Macbeath of Calgary is ranked 20th.

All three have been projected as potential Round 1 picks, cracking the top 32 of North American skaters. Verhoeff recently won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2026 World Junior Championships.

Other Alberta players named to the list

Also named to NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings List for the 2026 NHL Draft were:


Cooper Williams of Calgary (forward, Saskatoon, WHL), ranked 42nd;
Zach Olsen of Calgary (forward, Saskatoon, WHL), ranked 43rd;
Kayden Lemire of Edmonton (forward, Prince George, WHL), ranked 64th;
Jordan Duguay of Edmonton (forward, Portland, WHL), ranked 73rd;
Brayden Klimpke of Calgary (defence, Saskatoon, WHL), ranked 79th;
Will McLaughlin of Canmore (defence, Portland, WHL), ranked 91st;
Sawyer Dingman of Edmonton (forward, Swift Current, WHL), ranked 100th;
Caelan Joudrey of Airdrie (forward, Wenatchee, WHL), ranked 101st;
Brett Olson of Spruce Grove (forward, Vancouver, WHL), ranked 137th;
Bennett Kelly of Cochrane (defence, Prince Albert, WHL), ranked 143rd;
Riley Boychuk of Cochrane (forward, Prince Albert, WHL), ranked 159th;
Brock Souch of Edmonton (forward, Prince George, WHL), ranked 166th;
Nolan Stewart of Edmonton (forward, Victoria, WHL), ranked 200th;
Cruz Pavao of Calgary (forward, Tri-City, WHL), ranked 209th;
Cameron Kuzma of St. Albert (forward, Red Deer, WHL), ranked 211th;
Kadon McCann of Cochrane (forward, Medicine Hat, WHL), ranked 215th;
Brendan Rudolph of Calgary (forward, Swift Current, WHL), ranked 216th;
Nathan Maloney of Strathmore (defence, Lethbridge, WHL), ranked 220th.

Alberta goaltender on the list

Parker Snell of St. Albert (Edmonton, WHL) is ranked 21st among North American goaltenders.

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