Mammoth Draft Ethan Belchetz 17th Overall

With the 17th pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Utah Mammoth have selected Ethan Belchetz from the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

About Ethan Belchetz

One of this draft class’s most skilled power-forward players, Ethan Belchetz, saw his season come to a premature end thanks to a shoulder injury. But when he was healthy, he proved that he was capable of taking on a bigger role with the Windsor Spitfires. After seeing the likes of Ilya Protas move on and Belchetz become one of the leaders on the roster, he put up strong numbers, averaging over a point per game (59 points in 57 total games).

While his season ending early was a detriment for Belchetz (and the Spitfires in the OHL Playoffs), the big-framed forward has proven that he has the tools to become an impact player in the NHL, and with even further development at the collegiate level ( he is a Michigan State commit), he could very easily become a top-six player in the future.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

“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.”

“Belchetz’s 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’s Hlinka-Gretzky tournament, where he looked like a man playing amongst boys, pushing through opposing players and creating his own room.”

Continue reading the full player profile here.

How This Affects the Mammoth’s Plans

Belchetz brings some grit and skill to the Mammoth’s system. With a pipeline that has high skill players like Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers, adding a prospect like Belchetz, who loves to do the dirty work, gives them a different layer with the style of game he plays. After missing the end of his draft-year season due to the shoulder injury, he will head off to Michigan State University along with fellow 2026 draftee, Chase Reid, to join a stacked Spartan roster.