37 WHL Players Selected in 2014 NHL Draft
Published on June 28, 2014 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Philadelphia, PA "" The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that 37 WHL players were selected in the 2014 NHL Draft at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Nine of the WHL players selected in the 2014 NHL Draft were chosen in the first round, including four players selected among the Top 10.
Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice was the first WHL player selected in the 2014 NHL Draft, chosen by the Buffalo Sabres with the second overall pick. Reinhart, a product of Vancouver, BC, becomes the highest drafted player in Kootenay Ice franchise history, and just the third Ice player to be chosen in the first round of the NHL draft.
A 6'1", 183-lb centre, Reinhart finished tied for fourth in the WHL in scoring with 105 points, including 36 goals, and was named the WHL Player of the Year and Sportsman of the Year. Reinhart joins his two older brothers, Griffin of the Edmonton Oil Kings (4th overall, New York Islanders, 2012) and Max, a former member of the Kootenay Ice (64th overall, Calgary Flames, 2010) in being drafted by an NHL Club.
Leon Draisaitl of the Prince Albert Raiders became the highest drafted German-born player in the history of the NHL Draft when the Edmonton Oilers selected him with the third overall pick. Draisaitl put up 105 points during the 2013-14 WHL regular season.
Jake Virtanen of the Calgary Hitmen was the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, chosen by the Vancouver Canucks. Virtanen, an Abbotsford, BC, product, led all NHL Draft-eligible players in the WHL with 45 goals during the 2013-14 season.
Red Deer Rebels' defenceman Haydn Fleury rounded out the four WHL players selected among the Top 10, being chosen seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes. Fleury netted eight goals and 46 points this season for the Rebels, and was named the Top Defenceman at the 2014 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
24 WHL forwards were selected in the 2014 NHL Draft while 13 defencemen were chosen.
Since the NHL Draft's inception in 1969, a total of 1,854 WHL players have been selected by NHL Clubs.
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