Marek Vanacker (born April 12, 2006) is a Canadian ice hockey left winger for the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) while under contract to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 27th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
| Marek Vanacker | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
April 12, 2006 Delhi, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 174 lb (79 kg; 12 st 6 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team |
Chicago Blackhawks Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) | ||
| NHL draft |
27th overall, 2024 Chicago Blackhawks | ||
Playing career
editOn April 20, 2022, Vanacker was selected 23rd overall by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the 2022 OHL Draft[1] and signed with the team on May 21, 2022.[2] In his rookie 2022–23 season, he tallied four goals and 12 assists over 55 games with the Brantford Bulldogs. The following year, 2023–24, he enjoyed a breakout season, posting 36 goals, 46 assists, 22 power‑play points, and five shorthanded goals in 68 regular‑season games. He finished as the team's leader in both goals and total points and ranked second in assists. In the playoffs, he added three goals and four assists across six games.[3]
On June 28, 2024, Vanacker's strong junior performance and offensive upside led to him being selected 27th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2024 NHL entry draft.[4][5] After several weeks of evaluation and negotiations, the Blackhawks officially signed him on August 5, 2024, to a standard three‑year entry‑level contract.[6]
International play
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Canada | ||
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| World U18 Championships | ||
 | 2024 Finland | |
On April 16, 2024, Vanacker earned the honour of being selected to join Canada's under-18 national team for the prestigious 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships.[7] Throughout the tournament, he contributed one goal in six games, demonstrating his skill and versatility as a forward. More importantly, Vanacker's consistent play helped Canada navigate through tough competition, culminating in the team winning the gold medal.[8]
Career statistics
editBold indicates led league
Regular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2021–22 | Brantford 99ers | OJHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Hamilton Bulldogs | OHL | 55 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Brantford Bulldogs | OHL | 68 | 36 | 46 | 82 | 55 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Brantford Bulldogs | OHL | 45 | 24 | 18 | 42 | 36 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 8 | ||
| 2025–26 | Brantford Bulldogs | OHL | 60 | 47 | 35 | 82 | 33 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 12 | ||
| OHL totals | 228 | 111 | 111 | 222 | 144 | 38 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 22 | ||||
International
edit
References
edit- ↑ Henry, Jordan (May 10, 2022). "##OHLDraft Introductions: 23rd Overall Pick Marek Vanacker (Hamilton Bulldogs)". chl.ca. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Hamilton Bulldogs Sign Marek Vanacker". chl.ca. May 21, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ↑ Baum, Carter (June 28, 2024). "DRAFT: What the Experts Say About Marek Vanacker". NHL.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ↑ "RELEASE: Blackhawks Select Levshunov, Boisvert and Vanacker in First Round". NHL.com. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ↑ Pope, Ben (June 28, 2024). "Blackhawks add to draft haul, taking forwards Sacha Boisvert and Marek Vanacker with 18th and 27th picks". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ↑ "Blackhawks sign Marek Vanacker to entry-level deal". Chicago Blackhawks. August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ↑ "Marek Vanacker Named to Team Canada for U18 World Championship". chl.ca. April 16, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ↑ Aykroyd, Lucas (May 4, 2024). "McKenna sparks Canada to gold". IIHF.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database