The Vancouver Canucks announced they have come to a multi-year agreement with the Seattle Kraken to partake in a two-game prospect showcase starting in September 2025.
With the news, the Canucks also announced their annual Young Stars Tournament, held in Penticton last season, will be cancelled. The tournament included prospects from the four Western Canadian teams: The Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets.
Here is the official statement from the Canucks, per President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford:
“The Vancouver Canucks organization would like to sincerely thank the city of Penticton for the incredible job of supporting and hosting the Young Stars Tournament,” said Jim Rutherford, President, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Hockey Operations. “The staff at the Okanagan Events Centre, the fans who attended the games, and the local hockey community all contributed to the great success of these events. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure commitments from the other teams for next fall, so regrettably, we will not be hosting a Penticton Young Stars Tournament in 2025. The organization will explore other opportunities with the city and has not closed the door on participating in a Young Stars tournament in future years. Next September, we are excited to go to Seattle and start this series with the Kraken. We feel providing these types of competitive opportunities will only enhance the development of our players.”
Since the Seattle Kraken entered the National Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season, the I-5 rivalry has yet to fully kick off. Showcasing prospects as they compete to impress coaches and earn roster spots will help intensify and build a rivalry between the two squads.
The Kraken have high-profile prospects that just partook in the 2025 World Junior Championships: Berkly Catton, Carson Rehkoph and Caden Price for Team Canada, and Eduard Sale for Team Czechia. These players will likely highlight just a few of the players the Canucks will face next September in the inaugural Prospect Showcase.
