The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by Mile High Hockey staff members. Seven writers have ranked players under the age of 25 in the
Colorado Avalanche organization as of September 1, 2026. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked.Name: Beckett Hamilton
Age: 18
Position: Center
Height: 5’11
Weight: 170 lbs.
Likely 2026-27 Team: Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
2025 Rank: N/A
Final Rank: #15
High Rank: #6 (Multiple)
Low Rank: #26 (Jess)
2025-26 Statistics:
Red Deer Rebels – 67 GP: 24G, 38 A, 62P
Not all members
of the Colorado Avalanche’s nine-pick 2026 draft class made it on our Top 25 Under 25 list this year but center Beckett Hamilton was one of the highest rated from the group. The 18-year-old comes with third round draft pedigree taken at 74th overall but it’s Hamilton’s resume and game which gives him a deserving spot in our top 15.
Scouts were high on the center’s well-rounded game as he transitioned to the middle of the ice last season and believed he could have gone higher in the draft. Hamilton plays with energy and pace, he’s the type of player who will do anything to win and drag others into the fight with him. It’s one reason why he was named captain of the Red Deer Rebels ahead of the upcoming season.
In his second season in the WHL with the Rebels, Hamilton increased his production from 25 points to 62 in 67 games. In the 2025-26 campaign this led the team by 16 points. Hamilton is also a volume shooter and was sixth in the league with 261 shots on goal. With 24 goals scored this means the 18-year-old center shot just over 9%, so perhaps he’s primed for an uptick this coming season especially with what’s expected to be a stronger team around him.
International play is also a big part of what got Hamilton drafted as high as he did. He was part of Team Canada at the Under-18 World Junior Championship in the spring and scored three goals in five games in a depth role. With a strong showing it’s possible Hamilton could play at the World Junior Championship, particularly next year when he’s 19 years of age.
The plan moving forward for Hamilton is to return to the WHL and Captain the Red Deer Rebels, likely for the next two seasons. After that it will be interesting to see if he, too, jumps to the NCAA instead of signing an Entry Level Contract in order to play pro in the AHL or if the organization wants him to take a faster track and take that big step to pro hockey.
Hamilton should be one of the few prospects present at Avalanche training camp this fall and after his impressive showing at development camp it will be a good chance to gauge his game against current pros. Recently NHL.com named Hamilton as one of Colorado’s top five prospects with a comment from Avalanche Director of Player Development Brian Willsie:
“When our scouts are evaluating and ultimately drafting players, they’re looking for players that fit our style, and he fits our style to a T,” Willsie said. “So to have him come in and jump on the ice and take part in those drills and really look natural doing it, it was exciting for us. He’s still a young kid, underdeveloped physically at this point, but those are things that will improve and we know we can help him improve. But for him to come out and play at that pace and that tenacity and the skill, it’s an exciting player for us.”
The plan moving forward for Hamilton is to return to the WHL and Captain the Red Deer Rebels, likely for the next two seasons. After that it will be interesting to see if he, too, jumps to the NCAA instead of signing an Entry Level Contract or if the organization feels he’s ready to take the big step and start playing pro hockey. With the upside Hamilton possesses and NHL tools already at his disposal, he should be a very high priority prospect in Colorado with a realistic path to the Avalanche roster.
2026 Top 25 Under 25
#24 Axel Eloffson
#23 Teddy Lechner
#22 Ivan Yunin
#21 Luka Cloutier
#19 Shawn Carrier
#18 Domenick Fensore
#17 Tory Pitner
#16 Jake Fisher
