
Rockets Select Teammates in US Priority Draft
May 18, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
The Kelowna Rockets selected a pair of teammates from the Dallas Stars Elite 14U in the 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft on Wednesday, drafting defencemen Jackson Gillespie and Ryder McLeod.
The 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft consisted of two rounds and 44 selections, with each WHL Club presented with the opportunity to make two draft choices. The order of selection was determined on April 21, 2022 through the 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery. All 22 WHL Clubs had equal opportunity to obtain the first-overall selection.
Round 1, pick 17:
PLAYER: JACKSON GILLESPIE
POSITION: D
HEIGHT: 5'11
WEIGHT: 175
BIRTHDATE: 2007
Round 2, pick 28:
PLAYER: RYDER MCLEOD
POSITION: D
HEIGHT: 5'10
WEIGHT: 150
BIRTHDATE: 2007
Players eligible for the 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2007-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 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 19, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.
2022 WHL Prospects Draft - Thursday, May 19
WATCH LIVE - Pre-Show at 9:30 a.m. MT / WHL Prospects Draft at 10 a.m. MT
The first round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, including a 30-minute pre-show, will be livestreamed FREE via WHL Live on CHL TV. All that is required is to register and login using a free account with CHL TV, no subscription or purchase necessary. The 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Pre-Show begins with co-hosts Chris Wahl and Taylor Rocca at 9:30 a.m. MT, with live draft coverage beginning at 10 a.m. MT.
The Medicine Hat Tigers hold the first-overall selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, as determined by the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery on April 21, 2022.
Western Hockey League Stories from May 18, 2022
- WHL DRAFT: Silvertips Grab Kevan, McSharry in U.S. Priority Draft - Everett Silvertips
- Hitmen Select Two in 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- Winterhawks Welcome Two New Prospects During 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Pair Of Rockets Prospects Compete At 2022 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Select Forwards Rui Han and Zach Spagnuolo in WHL US Priority Draft - Victoria Royals
- Warriors Set for 2022 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Western Hockey League Completes 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - WHL
- Kaddoura Brings Edge to Backend and Personality to Locker Room - Moose Jaw Warriors
- ICE Select Steinhoff & Kvasnicka in WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Winnipeg Ice
- Cougars Select Two Forwards in WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Prince George Cougars
- Blazers Select Two Players in the US Prospects Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Americans Select Turner, Rodriguez in 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Warriors Select Defenceman and Goalie in WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Chiefs Select Forward Hafele, Goaltender Denes in WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Giants Select Masun Fleece and Cooper Simpson in 2022 U.S. Priority Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Oil Kings Select Blake Fiddler First-Overall in U.S. Priority Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Pats Select Pair of Defencemen in U.S. Priority Draft - Regina Pats
- Hurricanes Select Pair from Shattuck St. Mary's in US Priority Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Rockets Select Teammates in US Priority Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- T-Birds Headed to Western Conference Championship Series - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Winterhawks Season Comes to a Close in Game 7 - Portland Winterhawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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