Western Hockey League Completes First Round of 2023 WHL Prospects Draft – WHL Network

Calgary, Alta The Western Hockey League completed the first round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft online today.

With the first overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, the Prince Albert Raiders selected defenseman Daxon Rudolph (Lacombe, Alta / Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep).

With the second overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, the Raiders returned to Alberta and selected Cochrane product Riley Boychuk, a forward from the Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA program.

After receiving a hat trick, the Spokane Chiefs used the third overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft to select forward Mathis Preston (Penticton, BC / Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep).

Out of the 22 players selected, 13 forwards, eight defenders and one goalkeeper were selected. Eight of them came from Alberta, seven from British Columbia, four from Saskatchewan and three from Manitoba.

In the first round, a total of 12 players from Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) teams were selected.

Players eligible for the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft were players born in 2008 who reside in Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of all players selected in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

2023 WHL Prospects Draft Results First round

#1 Prince Albert Raiders
Name: Daxon Rudolph Position: Defense Hometown: Lacombe, Alta.
Team: Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep Stats: 30GP 17G-33A50 points

#2 Prince Albert Raiders
Name: Riley Boychuk Position: Forward Hometown: Cochrane, Alta.
Team: Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA Statistics: 33GP 18G-62A80 points

#3 Spokane Chiefs
Name: Mathis Preston Position: Forward Hometown: Penticton, BC
Team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 26GP 45G-36A81 points

#4 Victoria Royals
Name: Keaton Verheoff Position: Defense Hometown: Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
Team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep Statistics: 27GP 13G-33A46 points

#5 Brandon Wheat Kings
Name: Jaxon Jacobson Position: Forward Hometown: Brandon, Male.
Team: Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA Statistics: 44GP 24G-36A60 points

#6 Vancouver Giants (from Swift Current)
Name: Ryan Lin Position: Defense Hometown: Richmond, BC
Team: Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 27GP 17G-24A41 points

#7 Prince Albert Raiders (from Kelowna)
Name: Ty Meunier Position: Forward Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.
Team: St. Albert Sabers U15 AAA Statistics: 32GP 54G-34A88 points

#8 Vancouver Giants
Name: Brett Olson Position: Forward Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.
Team: St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA Statistics: 35GP 13G-17A30 points

#9 Medicine Hat Tigers
Name: Liam Ruck Position: Forward Hometown: Osoyoos, BC
Team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 27GP 53G-37A90 points

#10 Everett Silvertips
Name: Brek Liske Position: Defense Hometown: Beausejour, male.
Team: Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep Stats: 26GP 10G-24A34 points

#11 Calgary Hitmen
Name: Noah Kosick Position: Forward Hometown: Victoria, BC
Team: Pacific Coast Hockey Academy U18 Prep Stats: 32GP 10G-35A45 points

#12 Edmonton Oil Kings (from Regina)
Name: Joe Iginla Position: Forward Hometown: Lake Country, BC
Team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep Statistics: 27GP 37G-28A65 points

#13 Tri-City Americans
Name: Cruz Pavao Position: Forward Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Team: Edge School U15 Prep Stats: 23GP 32G-35A67 points

#14 Lethbridge Hurricanes
Name: Dayne Beuker Position: Forward Hometown: Humboldt, Sask.
Team: Humboldt Broncos U15 AA Statistics: 30GP 47G-56A103 points

#15 Prince George Cougars
Name: Carson Carels Position: Defense Hometown: Cypress River, Male.
Team: Pilot Mound Hockey Academy U15 Prep Statistics: 20GP 10G-22A32 points

#16 Moose Jaw Warriors
Name: Aaron Sawatzky Position: Defense Hometown: Didsbury, Alta.
Team: Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA Statistics: 33GP 10G-28A38 points

#17 Portland Winterhawks
Name: Griffin Darby Position: Defense Hometown: Swift Current, Sask.
Team: Swift Current Broncos U15 AA Statistics: 28GP 6G-29A35 points

#18 Red Deer Rebels
Name: Beckett Hamilton Position: Forward Hometown: Humboldt, Sask.
Team: Humboldt Broncos U15 AA Statistics: 29GP 39G-44A83 points

#19 Brandon Wheat Kings (from Saskatoon)
Name: Giorgos Pantelas Position: Defense Hometown: Victoria, BC
Team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep Statistics: 28GP 7G-31A38 points

#20 Everett Silvertips (from Kamloops)
Name: Caine Wilke Position: Forward Hometown: Saskatoon, Sask.
Team: Saskatoon Stallions U15 AA Statistics: 29GP 28G-43A71 points

#21 Medicine Hat Tigers (from Seattle)
Name: Markus Ruck Position: Forward Hometown: Osoyoos, BC
Team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 27GP 22G-65A87 points

#22 Spokane Chiefs (from Winnipeg)
Name: Carter Esler Position: Goalie Hometown: Okotoks, Alta.
Team: Okotoks Oilers U15 AAA Stats: 13-6-2, 2.98 GAA, .925 SV%

About the Western Hockey League
Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the Western Hockey League (WHL) is considered the premier junior hockey development league in the world. The WHL consists of 22 member clubs, 17 of which are located in Western Canada and five in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been the leading supplier of talent to the National Hockey League for more than 50 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships, with more than 375 graduates each year receiving WHL scholarships for post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the core of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.