Kelowna Rockets 2025 Draft Preview

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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Kelowna Rockets 2025 Draft Preview

May 7, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


The Kelowna Rockets are preparing for a busy week on the Western Hockey League calendar, as the annual Prospects Draft, U.S. Priority Draft and WHL Expansion Draft are set to begin on May 7.

The first round of the WHL Draft will take place on Wednesday, May 7th at 4 p.m. PT which is being streamed free on Victory+ beginning with pre-show and analysis at 3:30 p.m. PT. The U.S. Priority Draft will begin on Thursday, May 8 at 8 a.m. PT and will be followed by the completion of the WHL Draft. Kelowna will pick ninth and 39th in the U.S. Draft.

Additionally, the Penticton Vees' selections from the 2025 Expansion Draft will be revealed on Wednesday, May 7, prior to Round 1 of the WHL Prospects Draft.

2025 WHL DRAFT

The Rockets own two first round selections in the 2025 WHL Draft, as they hold their own pick at third overall as well as 20th overall, acquired in a trade with the Spokane Chiefs in the Andrew Cristall trade.

The Rockets selected defenceman Owen Hayden with their first selection in 2024, who spent this past season with Edge School U18 Prep in Calgary. Since 2018, Kelowna has only made two other first round selections - taking Trevor Wong 18th overall in 2018 and Andrew Cristall 8th overall in 2020.

The Rockets have made a top five pick in franchise history five times:

1991 (1): Adam Smith (D)

2007 (2): Luke Moffatt (F)

2000 (4): Josh Lepp (G)

1992 (5): Kyle McLaren (D)

1999 (5): Jason Ryznar (F)

2025 ROCKETS WHL PROSPECTS DRAFT INVENTORY

ROUND PICK ORIGINAL TEAM

1 3 KELOWNA

1 20 SPOKANE

2 43 SPOKANE

3 66 SPOKANE

4 82 EDMONTON

4 86 PRINCE GEORGE

5 95 REGINA

5 96 KELOWNA

6 121 WENATCHEE

7 142 KELOWNA

7 149 VANCOUVER

8 165 KELOWNA

10 211 KELOWNA

11 234 KELOWNA

12 257 KELOWNA

2025 WHL PROSPECTS DRAFT - FIRST ROUND ORDER OF SELECTION

Regina Pats

Edmonton Oil Kings (from Moose Jaw)

Kelowna Rockets

Penticton Vees

Everett Silvertips (from Kamloops)

Vancouver Giants (from Wenatchee)

Red Deer Rebels

Edmonton Oil Kings (from Seattle)

Tri City Americans

Wenatchee Wild (from Swift Current)

Kamloops Blazers (from Vancouver)

Brandon Wheat Kings (from Portland)

Vancouver Giants (from Edmonton)

Kamloops Blazers (from Saskatoon)

Brandon Wheat Kings

Prince Albert Raiders

Prince George Cougars

Moose Jaw Warriors (from Lethbridge)

Victoria Royals

Kelowna Rockets (from Spokane)

Seattle Thunderbirds (from Calgary)

Saskatoon Blades (from Medicine Hat)

Regina Pats (from Everett Silvertips)

Starting with the second round, Penticton will receive the first pick. All other WHL Clubs shall draft based on the inverse order of the final standings from the 2024-25 WHL Regular Season.

Players eligible for the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft are 2010-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 2025 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.

2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft

The Kelowna Rockets will select ninth overall in the first round of the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.

The 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will consist of two rounds and 44 selections, with each WHL Club presented with the opportunity to make two draft choices. Players eligible for the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2008-born players who reside in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Round Order of Selection

FIRST ROUND SECOND ROUND

1. Brandon Wheat Kings 24. Lethbridge Hurricanes

2. Moose Jaw Warriors 25. Prince Albert Raiders

3. Edmonton Oil Kings 26. Calgary Hitmen

4. Penticton Vees 27. Penticton Vees

5. Vancouver Giants 28. Victoria Royals

6. Red Deer Rebels 29. Everett Silvertips

7. Saskatoon Blades 30. Portland Winterhawks

8. Prince George Cougars 31. Spokane Chiefs

9. Kelowna Rockets 32. Medicine Hat Tigers

10. Wenatchee Wild 33. Kamloops Blazers

11. Tri-City Americans 34. Seattle Thunderbirds

12. Regina Pats 35. Swift Current Broncos

13. Swift Current Broncos 36. Regina Pats

14. Seattle Thunderbirds 37. Tri-City Americans

15. Kamloops Blazers 38. Wenatchee Wild

16. Medicine Hat Tigers 39. Kelowna Rockets

17. Spokane Chiefs 40. Prince George Cougars

18. Portland Winterhawks 41. Saskatoon Blades

19. Everett Silvertips 42. Red Deer Rebels

20. Victoria Royals 43. Vancouver Giants

21. Calgary Hitmen 44. Edmonton Oil Kings

22. Prince Albert Raiders 45. Moose Jaw Warriors

23. Lethbridge Hurricanes 46. Brandon Wheat Kings

In 2024, the Rockets selected forward Colton Lien at 11th overall and forward Drew Larioza at 33rd overall.

Other notable players selected by the Rockets in the U.S. Priority Draft include two members of the Rockets roster from this past season. Defenceman Jackson Gillespie was selected 17th overall in 2022, while 2024-25 Rockets Rookie of the Year, Kalder Varga was selected with the seventh overall pick in 2023.

2025 WHL EXPANSION DRAFT

The Western Hockey League is holding an expansion draft with the addition of the Penticton Vees to the league ahead of the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season.

On Tuesday, May 6, WHL Clubs will be permitted to protect either:

16 players aged 17 to 20 years old (born in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005) appearing on their 50-player, Injured, Suspended, Graduate, Special Import, and 20-year-old Lists, plus an additional six (6) players appearing on their College List.

OR

14 players aged 17 to 19 years old (born in 2008, 2007, 2006) and three (3) 20-year-old players (born in 2005) appearing on their 50-player, Injured, Suspended, Graduate, Special Import, and 20-year-old Lists, plus an additional six (6) players on their College List.

Players aged 16 (born in 2009) are exempt from the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft for all WHL Clubs.

Penticton can select one (1) player from each WHL Club for a total of 22 players.

Penticton will be permitted to dress four (4) 20-year-old players in all pre-season, regular season, and playoff games during the 2025-26 WHL season only. Should Penticton win the WHL Championship, they will only be permitted to dress three (3) 20-year-old players in the 2026 Memorial Cup.

Trades between Penticton and WHL Clubs for a player(s) and / or a draft pick(s) will be permitted in place of the expansion pick.

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