Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker continues hot streak with OHL's Bulldogs

The 19-year-old Brantford Bulldogs winger has mashed 26 goals in 26 games this season, a pace that ranks him among the top snipers in junior hockey and keeps Blackhawks prospect chatter loud heading into 2026.

Vanacker won't be stopping there; he was recently cut from Team Canada's world junior roster announcement earlier this week despite being the leading goal-scorer in the Canadian Hockey League, and is expected to use it as fuel.

Vanacker was the Blackhawks' first-round pick, 27th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, and scouts have long raved about his scoring touch and compete level. Wikipedia His size at 6'1» and knack for finding soft ice have put him in the spotlight more this year than ever before, and his goal rhythm this fall and early winter backs that up.

Chicago fans have noticed he's been automatic around the slot and quick to release his shot once he's on the tape. Opposing goaltenders know exactly who's coming, yet he still seems to bury a few more. That's not luck; that's skill growing with confidence.

Vanacker's surge hasn't gone without some controversy. Despite his dominating numbers and status as one of the top goal scorers in the CHL, he was left off Team Canada's preliminary World Juniors training camp roster, a decision that ruffled feathers among Blackhawks fans and junior hockey followers alike. Bleacher Nation

Many argued his pace deserved at least an invite, with Vanacker sitting several goals clear of the next closest scorer in the league.

The Bulldogs have ridden his scoring to big wins, and his contributions aren't just goals: he's creating chances every shift, pressuring defenders, and making high-danger plays that tip tight games. He's also showing leadership despite his age, setting up linemates and drawing defenders wide to make space for others.

Some skeptics once questioned if Vanacker's scoring would translate beyond junior, but his response this season has been emphatic. Opponents adjust, he counters. Defenders schemed to slow him down, and he just finds more room. That's the mark of a potential impact pro.

Where this takes him in the next year will be one of the more intriguing prospect storylines for the Blackhawks organization. Chicago's rebuild leans on players like him rising quickly, and Vanacker's consistent finishing gives fans real reasons to watch his every game.