The Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) has announced the winners of the 2025/26 Top Defenseman Award, as voted by the coaches:
Eastern U17 Prep: Eliot Faucher, Stanstead College
Faucher led his team in scoring while finishing second among all U17 Prep defensemen with 28 points in 20 games. The Drummondville, QC defenseman is a finalist for the CSSHL MVP Award and is a highly regarded prospect ahead of the 2026 QMJHL Draft.
Eastern U18 Prep: Bastien Michaud, Bishop’s College School
A second round pick by the Quebec Remparts at the 2025 QMJHL Draft, Michaud finished with 3 goals and 11 assists in 15 games giving him a 0.93 PTS/GP, fourth among all defensemen. The Trois-Rivieres, QC product added five points in five playoff games as Bishop’s were crowned 2026 CSSHL East U18 Prep Champions.
Female U18 Prep: Sophie Erlam, South Alberta Hockey Academy
Committed to Mercyhurt University, Erlam finished fifth among defensemen in scoring with 24 points, including a defensemen best 15 power play assists. The Edmonton, AB defender played three CSSHL seasons with SAHA, tallying 49 points in 90 games.
U15: Logan Hooper, BWC Academy
A 2011 born defenseman from Maple Ridge, BC, Hooper finished second among defensemen in assists (35) and fifth in points (44).
U15 Prep: Eli Vickers, Delta Hockey Academy
Regarded as one of the top defenseman available at the 2026 WHL Draft, Vickers led all defensemen with 22 goals and 62 assists, finishing fifth among all skaters in points. Having been part of Delta’s 2025 CSSHL Western Championship team, Vickers had 98 points in 65 career U15 Prep games, second most all time among defensemen.
U17: Kayin Belton, Prairie Hockey Academy & Grayson Holmes, Okanagan Hockey Academy
A 2009 born defender from Saskatoon, SK, Belton finished third among defensemen with 33 points in 32 games.
Holmes led all defensemen with 37 assists and 42 points before adding 7 points in 5 playoff games as OHA earned back-to-back U17 Western Championships.
U17 Prep: Luke Edgehouse, Okanagan Hockey Academy
The Coeur d’Alene, ID product led all defensemen with 17 goals and 34 points in 30 games. His 17 goals and 34 points were second among all OHA skaters.
U18 Prep: Logan Lepinski, BWC Academy
Lepinski led all defensemen and his entire team with 33 assists and 40 points in in 29 games. Having recorded 52 points in 70 career U18 Prep games, the Everett Silvertips prospect is a finalist for the CSSHL MVP Award.
