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‘He’ll win you big games’: Meet Harrison Boettiger, one of 2026 NHL Draft’s top goaltenders

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis(sellishockey)
Nov 25, 2025, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 24, 2025, 16:02 EST
Harrison Boettiger (Photos from Steve Dunsmoor/WHL and Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
Credit: Harrison Boettiger (Photos from Steve Dunsmoor/WHL and Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

Even the NHL’s top goaltenders need help blocking out the noise from time to time. For 2026 NHL Draft prospect Harrison Boettiger, that escape comes from interlocking plastic bricks.

“I love LEGO,” the 17-year-old said, enthusiastically. “I’ve built the Titanic and the Eiffel Tower, which are each massive. I think the Titanic is four feet long and the Eiffel Tower is like four and a half feet tall.”

For those keeping track, the Titanic is 9,090 pieces, while the Eiffel Tower requires 10,001. And they’re not cheap, either.

But that attention to detail has clearly helped, with the Kelowna Rockets goaltender expected to be one of the first taken next June. It’s a wide-open draft class, goaltending-wise, but the B-rated keeper on the NHL Central Scouting Service’s initial watch list is already near the top.

Boettiger has a 5-2-2 record with Kelowna this season, breaking through as the team’s No. 1 goaltender after sharing the crease with veterans Josh Bannini and Jake Pilon. Boettiger’s .921 save percentage is not only one of the best in the WHL, but among the top of any draft-eligible across the CHL.

So it was easy to understand why he was chosen to represent the major junior side at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, taking place in Calgary and Lethbridge on Tuesday and Wednesday. But Boettiger has a unique angle: when he gets the start in one of the two games, he’ll become the first – and only – player to represent both teams during the showcase. Boettiger made 35 saves for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in a 3-2 loss to the CHL a year ago, stealing the thunder with the best goalie performance of the week.

“The game was really high-paced, competitive, and it got a little gritty out there at times,” Boettiger recalls. “But both teams wanted to win really badly. Both teams were playing for pride and just competing as hard as they could.”

Boettiger played just a pair of games with the 2008-born group he’ll face this week. But between USA Hockey events, and the U-18 World Championship last spring, he’s gotten close to stars Mikey Berchild, Casey Mutryn and Victor Plante, among others. Boettiger said he expects Berchild to be the toughest to contain.

“He’s a really deceptive player, he’s a good playmaker and he’s got a good shot,” Boettiger said.

Once friends, now rivals. And while Boettiger will only get one chance to prove himself in this best-on-best showcase, his overall body of work speaks for itself. Boettiger originally caught the eye of the USNTDP after two outstanding seasons with the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school. He registered a perfect 24-0-0 record with 10 shutouts in 2021-22 before going 25-2-2 the following year. The USNTDP ultimately struggled last year, but Boettiger received praise for his play against both USHL and NCAA competition.

“Even as an underage prospect last year, teams kept a close eye on him,” one scout said. “He has the size and calmness you want and he’s a battler – he never gives up. He’ll win you big games.”

Kelowna’s ugly start left many wondering if the team was fit to host the Memorial Cup. Then, a long-term injury to recent acquisition Peyton Kettles left a glaring hole on the team’s blueline. But the Rockets are one of the hottest teams in the league as of late, thanks to a 6-2-2 record over the past 10 games.

Boettiger hasn’t allowed more than three goals in any of his past six games. He has also allowed two or fewer goals in seven out of his 10 total games. There’s plenty of competition among the league’s top goalies, but Boettiger has firmly established himself near the top.

“I think ultimately we just had to buy in, and we had to start playing as a team and not as individuals,” Boettiger said. “Ever since we’ve done that, it’s been trending in the right direction.”

Boettiger prides himself on his ability to stay focused under pressure. That’s something he had to deal with often early in his major junior career. You need incredible composure to keep your cool when building a 10,001-piece LEGO set. Imagine what it takes to stop rubber disks beating you from some of the best sharpshooters in hockey.

“I think my calmness under pressure and just being able to stay calm all game in tough situations and giving my team a chance to win every night is a big thing for me,” Boettiger said. “I think my ability to read plays too and get there on my feet when I can is a big asset of mine.”

Few traits are as important to goaltenders as play reads. Knowing where shots can come from and reacting accordingly sounds simple in practice. But when goalies fall apart in the NHL, they’re often struggling with tracking plays at speed. Boettiger has always been so good at that, no matter the level. His hockey sense and active hands – keeping them up in front to take space away – are as good as you’ll find in this draft class. It’s unlikely we’ll see a goalie taken in the first round, but many scouts seem to think Boettiger will be off the board in the second round.

If you don’t know the Wheat Ridge, Colorado native – and lifelong Avalanche fan – yet, you will soon. His USNTDP numbers don’t tell the whole story. Beyond the shadow of a not-so-savory save percentage was one of the most competitive 2007-born goalies around. He’s someone scouts hope to see every time Kelowna comes to town.

A one-game showcase isn’t representative of Boettiger’s potential. But it’s not like Boettiger needs any motivation to steal the spotlight against his former team. At the very least, he’ll make you know he’s a force to be reckoned with – someone scouts believe has a future as a potential NHL starter.

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