2026 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery Results to be Unveiled Thursday on Victory+
Published on March 25, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today details for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery, with results set to be unveiled Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. MT, streaming FREE on Victory+.
The 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery will involve the seven non-playoff Clubs from the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season - Lethbridge, Swift Current, Vancouver, Wenatchee, Moose Jaw, Tri-City, and Victoria. A Club may only move up a maximum of two positions in the WHL Prospects Draft.
The WHL Prospects Draft Lottery will use a total of 28 balls, the allotment of which is as follows:
Kelowna (traded from Lethbridge) - Seven balls
Wenatchee (traded from Swift Current) - Six balls
Vancouver - Five balls
Vancouver (traded from Wenatchee) - Four balls
Victoria (traded from Moose Jaw) - Three balls
Tri-City - Two balls
Victoria - One ball
The lottery applies to the first round of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. Starting with the second round, all WHL Clubs shall draft based on the inverse order of the final standings from the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season.
2026 WHL Prospects Draft
The first round of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will be held Wednesday, May 6. The remainder of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will be held Thursday, May 7.
Players born in the United States will be eligible for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. Previously, U.S. born players have been selected by WHL Clubs primarily through the WHL U.S. Priority Draft. The WHL will only host the WHL Prospects Draft in 2026.
Since 2000, numerous impactful players have heard their names called with the first-overall pick in the WHL Prospects Draft, including Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips, 2024), Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders, 2023), Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers, 2022), Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs, 2021), and Connor Bedard (Regina Pats, 2020).
Players eligible for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft are 2011-born players who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, 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.
Players not selected in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.
For complete coverage of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft and the 2026 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien, please visit WHL.ca.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2026
- Series Preview: (6) Spokane Chiefs vs (3) Prince George Cougars - Prince George Cougars
- 2026 Memorial Cup Festivities Schedule Unveiled for Kelowna - WHL
- Wenatchee Wild Set for 2026 Western Hockey League Draft Lottery - Wenatchee Wild
- Vancouver Giants Team Awards Revealed for 2025-26 Season - Vancouver Giants
- 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery Results to be Unveiled Thursday on Victory+ - WHL
- Charlie Elick Reassigned to AHL's Cleveland Monsters - Tri-City Americans
- Head Coach Mark O'Leary and General Manager Jason Ripplinger Share Thoughts on the Season - Moose Jaw Warriors
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