By Regan Bartel

Rookie is 6'7 and has size 15 feet

Will Matte’s WHL journey begins on the prairies

Dec 15, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Will Matte’s Western Hockey League story officially began on the prairies.

The 16-year-old forward made his WHL debut Wednesday night in Brandon, Manitoba, joining the Kelowna Rockets in their Eastern Division road swing. For a fourth-round pick, it was a long-awaited moment that arrived quickly and without much warning.

“Any chance you get to be called up here, it’s exciting,” Matte said. “We were having a good stint back with my U18 team, but when you get this opportunity, you’re pretty excited. I was very excited.”

The timing couldn’t have been better. Kelowna’s Eastern trip isn’t a short visit. It’s six games in about 10 days, with long bus rides and plenty of new buildings — a full introduction to WHL life.

“It’s kind of the perfect road trip,” Matte said. “You’re not just going for one or two games. You’re going for six. So yeah, I was really excited about that.”

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His first game came in Brandon, a rink that has welcomed plenty of first-timers over the years. Like every rookie, Matte went through the solo lap before puck drop.

“That’s the main thing,” he said with a laugh. “Don’t fall.”

He didn’t fall. He also managed to hit the net.

“I hit the net too,” Matte said. “So I checked those two boxes.”

Once the game got going, Matte played limited minutes but didn’t look overwhelmed by the jump. He kept his feet moving, finished shifts with energy, and held his own in his first taste of major junior hockey.

“I wouldn’t say it was intimidating,” he said. “Obviously the pace is a lot higher than what I’ve been playing at this year, but I felt like I had a pretty decent first game.”

For Matte, the goal in his debut was simple.

“You want to make an impact when you’re here,” he said. “That’s ultimately what you’re here for. I felt like I did a pretty good job with that, and I think our line made a pretty good impact.”

The Rockets didn’t get the result they wanted, but the night still mattered.

“Obviously you want to win,” Matte said. “But it was really good to get that first one under my belt. There are things to work on, but it felt good.”

The biggest adjustment was the speed — not just skating speed, but how fast decisions have to be made.

“Everything is way quicker,” Matte said. “You’re making decisions right away. You don’t have any time to waste.”

That’s where the difference from U18 hockey shows up.

“You can waste time a bit more at that level,” he said. “Here it’s just snap, snap, snap. You have to get used to that.”

Even at this level, Matte stands out physically. At 6-foot-7 and over 200 pounds, he’s already one of the biggest players on the ice, and he’s still only 16.

“I’m probably still one of the bigger guys out there,” he said. “Being big definitely helps.”

There are clear advantages that come with that size.

“You cover more ice,” Matte said. “You’ve got a longer stick, you can take away passing lanes, puck protection, board battles. It’s definitely an advantage.”

As for where the size came from, Matte doesn’t claim to have the answer.

“My parents aren’t outstandingly tall,” he said. “My dad’s about 6-foot-3, my mom’s around 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10, which is tall for a lady. I’ve got some tall uncles on my dad’s side, so maybe that.”

Or maybe something simpler.

“I probably drank a lot of milk when I was a kid,” Matte said. “I don’t know the secret formula, but they did something right.”

With that frame, other sports were an option.

“I played basketball,” Matte said. “I think I was pretty good at it. I’ve honestly gotten worse as I’ve played it less.”

But hockey always came first.

“I’ve been playing hockey since I was five,” he said. “So I just stuck with that.”

Family followed his WHL debut from home.

“I think my mom watched, and I think my dad watched a bit too,” Matte said. “They were pretty positive.”

There were no unrealistic expectations.

“They don’t expect me to score three goals,” he said. “I thought I played pretty decent. It’s nice having family watching.”

Now comes another adjustment — life on the bus. Matte is learning quickly what it means to be a rookie on a WHL road trip, doubled up at the front and trying to find space for long legs.

“When you’re tired, you can almost fall asleep in any position,” he said. “If you’re doubled up, it can be a bit tough, but you just kind of deal with it.”

As the trip continues, Matte is seeing rinks he’s never played in before.

“A lot of these arenas are new to me,” he said. “Swift Current and Brandon were new. It’s cool seeing all the different buildings.”

Years from now, this will be a moment he looks back on — being 16, stepping into the WHL for the first time, and learning how fast the game really is.

For now, Will Matte has checked the first box. The debut is done. The learning has started.