{"id":3007,"date":"2026-06-28T23:39:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T23:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=3007"},"modified":"2026-06-28T23:39:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T23:39:35","slug":"why-mammoth-1st-rounder-ethan-belchetz-is-so-coveted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=3007","title":{"rendered":"Why Mammoth 1st-rounder Ethan Belchetz is so coveted"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A lot of people look up to Utah Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong \u2014 in the metaphorical sense because he\u2019s a prominent figure, and in the physical sense because his last pro hockey weigh-in clocked him at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds.<\/p>\n

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But 18-year-old Ethan Belchetz, whom the Mammoth selected in the first round of the NHL draft on Friday, can look Armstrong in the eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to get a player that was kind of my size, so when we did the interview process, I looked thin and skinnier,\u201d Armstrong said with a laugh in a press conference at the Mammoth Ice Center Sunday morning at the beginning of Mammoth development camp.<\/p>\n

Belchetz matches Armstrong in height \u2014 6-foot-5 \u2014 and his Draft Combine weight came in at 230 pounds. Neither guy would say, though, who would win in an arm wrestle between them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone would be leaving that getting injured,\u201d Armstrong joked.<\/p>\n

\n
Related<\/div>\n
Here\u2019s everyone the Utah Mammoth selected in the 2026 NHL Draft<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Belchetz is the type of player Armstrong has targeted for years now in his drafting efforts. Of the 35 players on this year\u2019s development camp roster, 23 are listed at 6-foot-2 or taller.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the way our game is trending, with the big man around the net,\u201d Armstrong said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got some speed and skill. It\u2019s nice to have that true power forward that\u2019s coming into the game that can take that next step to help us win a championship at some point.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apart from the top two or three picks, it\u2019s uncommon for players to make the NHL immediately after being drafted, but that doesn\u2019t mean Belchetz won\u2019t push for a roster spot, and the team certainly won\u2019t hold him back if he\u2019s ready.<\/p>\n

\u201cI already have that expectation for myself,\u201d he said. \u201cYou know, I\u2019m a big guy, I have the size already and I\u2019m going to do everything to take that spot and earn a job for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 57 games last season in the Ontario Hockey League, Belchetz scored 34 goals and 59 points. Unlike a lot of guys, though, he doesn\u2019t need to cash in on the power play to be effective \u2014 just 10 of his goals and 18 of his points came with the man advantage.<\/p>\n

What also stands out are Belchetz\u2019s seven game-winning goals, tying him for ninth in the OHL in that column. That means that when the game is on the line, he steps up and makes a difference.<\/p>\n

Belchetz is also capable of policing the ice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s a true power forward, someone that that can do everything in the game, from playing physical to going to the tough areas to taking care of business if someone needs to be protected,\u201d Armstrong said.<\/p>\n

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Belchetz not unlike the Mammoth\u2019s current \u201cSheriff,\u201d Lawson Crouse. They\u2019re similar in size; They both play physical hockey; Their OHL stats aren\u2019t far off from each other in their respective draft years (or their draft-minus-one years). They even grew up about 100 miles from each other.<\/p>\n

The associate captain has already reached out to Belchetz, as has captain Clayton Keller.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose guys are awesome people,\u201d Belchetz said. \u201cJust a quick little message that they said congratulations and (are) excited to have me here.\u201d<\/p>\n

As effective as Crouse is, though, Belchetz has the potential to develop into something even more coveted: A big guy who can score at will.<\/p>\n

Dare we say a Tage Thompson?<\/p>\n

Armstrong, whose background is in scouting, was responsible for drafting Thompson with the St. Louis Blues in 2016. It took Thompson six seasons to really unlock his game, but he\u2019s now a perennial 40-goal scorer and an Olympic gold medalist.<\/p>\n

The Blues traded Thompson in 2018 to get Ryan O\u2019Reilly. It worked out for them, as the Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019, with O\u2019Reilly capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.<\/p>\n

You get the sense, though, that Armstrong is searching for the next Thompson. That\u2019s always been the comparison for the 6-foot-6 Daniil But, who\u2019s trying to find his way in the NHL. If he and Belchetz both become prominent players for the Mammoth, opposing players will be afraid to step on the ice with them.<\/p>\n

\n
Related<\/div>\n
\u2018I\u2019m so lucky to be drafted to Utah\u2019: Mammoth trade up to select 6-foot-5 scorer in 2026 NHL Draft<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What does Ethan Belchetz think of Utah?<\/h3>\n

Belchetz is only a handful of hours into his first-ever trip to Utah, but he said he\u2019s impressed by the mountains and the beauty of Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also impressed with the newly constructed Mammoth Ice Center in Sandy.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou step into these facilities and it\u2019s unbelievable,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen anything like it. The lounge area, the (locker) room and the gym is so special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of all, though, he\u2019s excited to experience NHL hockey at the Delta Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou watch the games that they play and the the stands look crazy. The fans are awesome,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can\u2019t be more excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Who is Ethan Belchetz? Is Ethan Belchetz good? What type of player is Ethan Belchetz? Does Ethan Belchetz fight? 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