Rockets Make Two Picks In U.S. Priority Draft
Published on May 8, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
The Kelowna Rockets made a pair of selections in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft on Wednesday, drafting forwards Colton Lien and Drew Larioza.
With their first pick of the day, the Rockets selected Lien eleventh overall in the first round from Okanagan HA Colorado 14U AAA of the CoAH14.
Lien, 15, posted 24 points (10G, 14A) and 30 penalty minutes through 17 games this season with the U14AAA team.
Round 1, pick 11:
PLAYER: COLTON LIEN
POSITION: F
HEIGHT: 6'2
WEIGHT: 165
BIRTHDATE: 2009
Season Team GP G A PTS PIM
2023-24 Okanagan HA Colorado 14U AAA 17 10 14 24 30
2022-23 Littleton Hawks 14U AA 28 13 18 31 12
Round 2, pick 33:
PLAYER: DREW LARIOZA
POSITION: F
HEIGHT: 5'10
WEIGHT: 160
BIRTHDATE: 2009
Season Team GP W L PTS PIM
2023-24 San Jose Jr Sharks 14U AAA 36 28 27 55 48
Pioneer High (USHS-CA) 10 14 7 21 10
2022-23 San Jose Jr Sharks 13U AAA 39 36 11 47 50
The order of selection was determined Wednesday, March 27 through the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery. All six WHL Clubs that did not qualify for the 2024 WHL Playoffs participated in the lottery. The lottery proceedings determined the order of selection for the first six picks in the first round of the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, which inverse order of standings from the 2023-24 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the second round.
Players eligible for the 2023 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.
Players not selected in the WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 9, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.
Western Hockey League Stories from May 8, 2024
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- Warriors Prepared for Two Drafts this Week - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Road to the WHL Draft: 2023 - Medicine Hat Tigers
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