Vancouver Giants winger Mathis Preston admits he has allowed the idea of being selected by the same NHL team as twin brothers Markus and Liam Ruck to enter his mind, calling a potential reunion with his former Okanagan Hockey Academy linemates a dream come true.
Mock Draft Links Preston, Rucks to Canucks
The Athletic's Scott Wheeler released a mock draft this week projecting the Vancouver Canucks to select Preston at No. 24 overall, followed by Liam Ruck at No. 33 and Markus Ruck at No. 41. Preston, who hails from Penticton, B.C., played alongside the Osoyoos-born siblings for four seasons at Penticton's Okanagan Hockey Academy.
At the Under-15 Prep level in 2022-23, the trio finished first, second and third in Canadian Sport School scoring: Liam Ruck posted 53 goals and 37 assists for 90 points, Markus Ruck had 22 goals and 65 assists for 87 points, and Preston recorded 45 goals and 36 assists for 81 points in a 27-game season.
Preston: Reunion Would Be 'Surreal'
“Honestly, I have thought about being drafted by the same team as the Rucks and it would be a dream come true,” Preston said. “It would be such a surreal moment, such a special moment for our families. It would be one of the best moments of my life if it were to happen.”
He added, “I hope it happens, but, at the same time, I’m happy to get drafted to any team and as early as I can, because I’m super competitive.”
Preston's Season: Injury, Trade, Strong Finish
Preston was traded by the Spokane Chiefs to the Vancouver Giants at the January trade deadline in the 2025-26 season. In his second game with Vancouver, he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for six weeks. He ultimately played 10 games with the Giants, recording four goals and 12 points. Prior to the trade, he had 14 goals and 32 points in 36 games with Spokane.
He then represented Team Canada at the Under-18 World Championship, scoring two goals and six points in five games.
Tuning Out Pre-Draft Noise
Despite the attention, Preston said he is managing to stay away from pre-draft hype. “I’ve been trying to stay off the social media as much as I can. You see a bunch of rankings and stuff like that out there, and everyone’s not going to love your game. But I’m confident in my ability and I have a dream to chase. I’m not going to let anyone on social media get in the way of that,” he explained.
Ruck Twins Dominate WHL Scoring
Markus and Liam Ruck, who played as linemates for the Medicine Hat Tigers, finished first and second in WHL scoring this past regular season. Markus recorded 21 goals and 87 assists for 108 points, while Liam had 45 goals and 59 assists for 104 points.
