Riley Heidt & Koehn Ziemmer Selected in 2023 NHL Draft

June 29, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release

NASHVILLE, TN - Riley Heidt and Koehn Ziemmer are NHL Draft Picks. On Thursday at the Bridgestone Arena in Downtown Nashville, Heidt was drafted in the 2nd round, 64th overall by the Minnesota Wild and Ziemmer was selected in the 3rd round at 78th overall. Heidt is the first Cougar drafted by the Minnesota Wild since Derek Boogaard in 2001. For Ziemmer, he is the first Cougar in franchise history to be drafted by the Los Angeles Kings.

Heidt's impressive performance during the 2022-23 season with the Prince George Cougars garnered attention from NHL scouts. He accumulated 97 points, with 25 goals and an impressive 72 assists in 68 games. His season ranks as the third-best single-season performance in team history. Heidt finished as the second-highest scorer on the Cougars' roster and tied for the WHL lead in assists with 72. Additionally, he led the league in power-play assists with 39.

Throughout his WHL career, Heidt has played in 155 regular season games, recording 48 goals and 115 assists. In the 2023 playoffs, he contributed 8 points in 9 games, showcasing his ability to perform in high-pressure situations.

As for Ziemmer, he had a remarkable 2022-23 campaign as well. He scored 41 goals and tallied 48 assists in 68 games played. Among all draft-eligible players in the WHL that season, Ziemmer ranked second in goals, only behind the first overall selection, Connor Bedard. His performance during the season ranked as the fifth-best in Prince George Cougars history.

In his WHL career spanning 160 games, Ziemmer has scored 80 goals and accumulated 78 assists. In the 2023 postseason, he contributed 7 points in 10 games, further highlighting his ability to perform in important playoff matchups.

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