Prospects Report: Towering Ethan Belchetz elevates game ahead of NHL Draft
Ethan Belchetz always will be noticeable on the ice because of his size, but he’s well aware it takes more than just a big frame to succeed at the highest level.
The Windsor Spitfires’ six-foot-five winger worked hard this off-season to trim down under the watchful eye of Milo Athletics strength coach and program director Bryan Marshall — and the results have been very encouraging.
After losing about 10 pounds to get to 225 for the start of this season, the 17-year-old Belchetz has 17 goals in 25 games — already matching his total from his 56-game rookie campaign. Before his breakout OHL campaign, he led the Canadian under-18 team in August with seven points in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
The native of Oakville, Ont. is a clear top-10 candidate for next year’s NHL Draft — Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala has him eighth in his December rankings. Belchetz should have the chance to showcase himself in many big-game situations while playing for a Spitfires club poised to make a run for an OHL title, giving him a shot to rise.
“Going into the off-season, you kind of learn so many things in your rookie year that you want to get better at,” Belchetz said in a recent phone interview. “One thing for me was kind of leaning out, getting a little bit faster, getting the agility a bit better because obviously I’m a bigger guy, and kind of use that to my advantage. Becoming a better skater is only going to help that.
“That was kind of my main goal. Losing some weight, putting on some more muscle, and leaning out a little bit has helped my agility and speed on the ice. I think that has been huge going into the year, having that extra step. It makes life a whole lot easier when you’re moving a little bit faster on the ice.”
That extra gear was on display in a game in Guelph, Ont., last month when Belchetz caused a Storm turnover in his own end and then headed up ice to receive a pass before making a sweet move for a breakaway goal.
Combine those kind of skills with a physically imposing game and you can see why Belchetz is an intriguing NHL prospect.
“I think I’m a physical forward who likes to use my body and my size to create offence for me and my teammates,” said Belchetz, the first-overall pick in the 2024 OHL Draft. “Kind of just go hard on the forecheck … making (his opponents’) lives super hard. Always finishing my checks to create offence and using my soft skills to put the puck in the back of the net or feed a teammate for a nice goal.”
Marshall, based in Mississauga, Ont., started working with Belchetz prior to his rookie season after receiving a call from his agent, Pat Morris.
Marshall’s summer group includes guys like Scott Laughton, Sean Monahan, Josh Anderson and Nazem Kadri.
“Pat was like ‘can this kid kind of jump on with the NHL guys?’ Normally, that would be a hard no,” Marshall, who previously worked in player development and strength for the Vancouver Canucks, said in a phone interview.
“I’m not going to put a 15-year-old out there with the (NHL) guys because they might not like it and he might get hurt. I remember he walked in the door and we were like holy (expletive), he’s humongous. His first session on the ice with the pros, I kind of asked them after quietly, ‘So what do you think?’ And they’re like, ‘He can skate with us any time he wants to.’”
An injury at the end of last season kept Belchetz out of the playoffs, which may have been at least a bit of a blessing in disguise because it let him get to work earlier on his off-season program.
Along with on- and off-ice work, Marshall focused on his diet — and texts once a week with what he calls an “amazing” billet family to maintain meal and snack plans.
“He’s completely transformed his body,” Marshall said. “And he’s still young, he’s still going to get stronger, he’s still going to get faster and more powerful. When you change your body that dramatically, really good things happen on the ice. I feel like that’s why he’s looking a bit more explosive and a little bit quicker. He’s stronger than ever, but he’s lighter. He’s carrying less weight.”
Belchetz wears No. 61 as a tribute to one of his favourite players growing up — the six-foot-four Rick Nash, who grew up not far from Oakville in Brampton, Ont., and then played with the OHL’s London Knights.
In today’s NHL, Belchetz lists Brady Tkachuk as one of his top guys.
“Big guy, big power forward who really uses his size,” Belchetz said of the Ottawa Senators captain. “I think his A game is when he’s battling hard and hitting a lot and creates so much offence.
But he’s also got such an elite B game where if he doesn’t have his offensive touch, he can create such havoc with getting in the opponent’s head and kind of just (playing) the game that way and shutting it down defensively. He’s one guy I really look up to.”
After Belchetz hears his name called early in the draft in June, Marshall doesn’t expect it will take much time for him to get back to the grind.
“It’s hard to know what his ceiling is because he just has that desire to get better at everything he does. Physically, he’s a stud. I’m really curious to see how he handles the NHL lifestyle, first training camp and all those things because it’s going to be hard. But if a kid can do it, he can do it. Physically, he’s got the gifts, but mentally he’s strong.”
Before that, though, Belchetz has his thoughts fixed on a deep playoff drive with a Windsor team featuring NHL first-round picks Liam Greentree (Los Angeles Kings) and Jack Nesbitt (Philadelphia Flyers).
“Every single player in that room wants to be the best version of themselves going to the rink,” Belchetz said. “Everybody’s working their hardest and being the best teammate they can possibly be.”
Games to watch
Thursday, Dec. 4: Saint John Sea Dogs (10-14-1-0) at Moncton Wildcats (16-6-2-1), 6 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. AT
Coach Gardiner MacDougall’s Wildcats are 8-1-0-1 in their past 10, and look like they have a real shot to defend their QMJHL title. This is a fun tilt against top 2027 NHL Draft candidate Alexis Joseph, who is averaging nearly a point a game in his rookie season.
Thursday, Dec. 4: Sarnia Sting (7-14-3-1) at North Bay Battalion (14-11-1-0), 7 p.m. ET
The expected debut of seven-foot Battalion defenceman Alexander Karmanov, who will become the tallest player in CHL history. North Bay signed the Moldova native and Penn State commit last week.
Friday, Dec. 5: Michigan Wolverines (15-3-0) at Michigan State Spartans (11-3-0), 8:30 p.m. ET
The NCAA’s top-ranked Wolverines battle the third-ranked Spartans in a home-and-home series before the holiday break. Michigan forward Michael Hage and goalie Jack Ivankovic and Michigan State forward Porter Martone likely will be teammates one week later when Canada’s world junior camp starts in Niagara Falls, Ont.
Sunday, Dec. 7: Prince Albert Raiders (17-2-4-0) at Edmonton Oil Kings (20-6-1-1), 6 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. MT
The top two teams in the WHL’s Eastern Conference battle it out. Raiders goalie Michal Orsulak leads the league with a 1.99 goals-against average. He has been named to Czechia’s team for the world juniors.
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