New Jersey Devils forward prospect Matias Vanhanen has announced his commitment to Boston College for the 2026-27 season. This will mark a second league change in as many years after Vanhanen moved to North America form his native Finland last summer. This news also marks the first WHL recruit in Eagles history – a milestone after the NCAA began allowing CHL talent ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The Eagles could not have picked many better options for their first crop out of Western Canada’s top junior league. Vanhanen was a true force with the Everett Silvertips last season, operating as the high-energy and gritty gut punch in front of superstar defense prospect Landon DuPont. Together, the duo were able to propel Everett to a WHL championship and Memorial Cup runner-up spot, though they lost their final game to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.
Vanhanen racked up 87 points in 62 regular-season games and 111 points in 80 games total. Including his postseason, Vanhanen was the WHL’s third-highest scorer behind the Ruck twins.
Boston College will become must-watch hockey for curious Devils fans, who will already be tuned into beantown to watch New Jersey’s top goalie prospect, Mikhail Yegorov, in his third season with Boston University. Vanhanen is a true analytical darling who ranked in the top-echelon of CHL players in break-outs and break-ins last season. He carried that same standing through his sole season in Finland’s U20 league in 2024-25, a season marked by 47 points in 42 games.
Vanhanen also scored five points in five games at the 2025 World U18 Championship and six points in seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
The 5-foot-11 winger will now head to college hockey’s grittiest conference with a clear goal in mind – step up as the explosive playmaker in front of a gritty Eagles lineup. His mix of speed and vision could be difference-makers on a team likely to be built around train commander Dean Letourneau and gritty brothers Teddy Mutryn and Casey Mutryn. Vanhanen should get a shot at top-six minutes right out of the gates, though he may need to earn his keep over Will Moore and Alex Pelletier if he wants to seal his lineup spot.