The Western Hockey League announced on Monday that 89 players from their league have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Two of those may be recognizable faces as they hail from our very own Victoria Royals—Nolan Stewart and Timofei Runtso.
Both players were given a ‘W’ rating, which indicates players projected to be sixth- or seventh-round candidates.
2008-born forward Nolan Stewart has just entered his second season with the Victoria Royals, originally hailing from Edmonton, Alberta.
In his inaugural season, he posted 23 total points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 61 games played.
So far this season, the 176 pound, 5’10” player has put up 1 goal and 6 assists in 10 games played.
18-year-old Timofei Runtso is one of the Royals’ newer acquisitions, a 187 pound, 6’2″ defenceman who’s a product of Marina del Rey, California.
In 10 games played with the Royals, he’s posted 2 goals and 9 assists.
Runtso is committed to Miami University in Ohio for the 2026-27 season.
A total of 48 forwards developed in the WHL have found themselves on this prestigious list, joined by 27 defencemen developed in the WHL and 14 goaltenders.
The NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch List includes 237 players developed in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), including 93 from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and 55 from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
