Raiders hold 14th overall selection
The Spokane Chiefs picked up their biggest win of the year on Wednesday morning.
The U.S. Division side won the 2021 WHL Draft Lottery and rose from the sixth selection to first overall for this December’s WHL Prospects Draft.
This marks the third time that the Chiefs have held the top pick, as they took Jared Cowen and Ty Smith in 2006 and 2015 respectively.
Saskatoon’s Berkly Catton, who played for his hometown Under-18 Contacts as an underage forward this past season and is rumoured to be heading to Shattuck St. Mary’s this fall, is currently projected to be the best player available for the draft.
Meanwhile, the Prince Albert Raiders ended up with the 14th overall selection from Wednesday’s lottery.
Barring any trades, this would mark the first time that the club has picked a player in that spot.
The full order for the first round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, which will take place on Dec. 9, is as follows.
- Spokane Chiefs
- Tri-City Americans
- Brandon Wheat Kings (Via Victoria – Acquired with Jonathan Lambos, Ty Thorpe and Victoria’s 1st round pick in 2019 (Seattle – Kevin Korchinski) in exchange for Tanner Kaspick and Cameron MacDonald on Jan. 10, 2018)
- Brandon Wheat Kings (Via Moose Jaw – Acquired with Luka Burzan, Chase Hartje, Moose Jaw’s 1st round pick in 2019 (Rylen Roersma) and Moose Jaw’s 2nd round pick in 2018 (Brett Hyland) in exchange for Kale Clague on Jan. 10, 2018)
- Red Deer Rebels
- Swift Current Broncos
- Swift Current Broncos (Via Portland – Acquired with Portland’s 1st round pick in 2019 (Mathew Ward), Portland’s 2nd round pick in 2020 (Graysen Burzynski), Portland’s 3rd round pick in 2019 (Sam Court), Portland’s 4th round pick in 2020 (Van Eger) and Portland’s 5th round pick in 2020 (Joey Rocha) in exchange for Joel Hofer on Jan. 9, 2019)
- Medicine Hat Tigers
- Seattle Thunderbirds
- Regina Pats
- Vancouver Giants
- Calgary Hitmen
- Edmonton Oil Kings (Via Kelowna – Acquired with Kelowna’s 3rd round pick in 2023 in exchange for Conner McDonald on Dec. 14, 2019)
- Prince Albert Raiders
- Prince George Cougars
- Moose Jaw Warriors (Via Saskatoon and Victoria – Acquired with Brock Gould, Logan Doust, Nolan Jones, Victoria’s 2nd round pick in 2022, Victoria’s 3rd round pick in 2020 (Jackson Unger) and Victoria’s 4th round pick in 2022 in exchange for Brayden Tracey, Adam Evanoff, Red Deer’s 4th round pick in 2020 (Reggie Newman) and Moose Jaw’s 3rd round pick in 2023 on Jan. 9, 2020 – The Royals had acquired this pick, along with Saskatoon’s 1st round pick in 2019 (Jason Spizawka) and Saskatoon’s 4th round pick in 2018 (Regina – Jake Snashall) in exchange for Eric Florchuk on Jan. 10, 2018)
- Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Winnipeg Ice
- Edmonton Oil Kings
- Everett Silvertips
- Kamloops Blazers
- Brandon Wheat Kings
Oil Kings Sweep Central Division Awards
After dominating their Alberta rivals during the 2020-21 season, the Edmonton Oil Kings had a clean sweep of the Central Division year-end awards on Wednesday, which were voted on by the general manager and head coaches in the five-team loop.
The recipients of each award, who are now nominated for next week’s league-wide honours, were as follows:
- Top Scorer: Jake Neighbours
- Most Sportsmanlike Player: Dylan Guenther
- Scholastic Player of the Year: Ethan Peters
- Defenceman of the Year: Matthew Robertson
- Goaltender of the Year: Sebastian Cossa
- Rookie of the Year: Carson Latimer
- Player of the Year: Dylan Guenther
