WHL Spokane Chiefs

Spokane Chiefs to Select First Overall in 2021 WHL Prospects Draft

Published on June 2, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today the Spokane Chiefs will select first overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft following the completion of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery.

The 2021 WHL Prospects Draft is scheduled for Thursday, December 9, 2021.

The Chiefs have selected first overall twice in franchise history, selecting D Jared Cowen in 2006 and D Ty Smith in 2015. Both were two-time team captains, two-time members of Team Canada at the World Junior Championship and became first-round picks in the NHL Entry Draft.

Cowen played 239 games with the Chiefs (2007-11), scoring 37 goals and 82 assists for 119 points. He added 21 points in 51 playoff games, including four assists in 17 games as a rookie for the 2008 Memorial Cup Championship team. He was selected ninth overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2009 NHL draft.

Smith (2016-20) racked up 235 points in 240 career WHL games, including 190 assists. He was also instrumental in a long playoff run, helping the Chiefs to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 as part of his 22 career playoff games. He was twice named WHL Defenseman of the Year, once CHL Defenseman of the Year and once WHL Scholastic Player of the Year. The New Jersey Devils picked Smith 17th overall in 2018.

All 22 WHL Clubs participated in the four-phase lottery, unique for the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. The lottery proceedings determined the order of selection for the first round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, with inverse order of standing from the 2020-21 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the second round and all subsequent rounds.

2021 WHL PROSPECTS DRAFT - FIRST ROUND ORDER OF SELECTION

Spokane Chiefs

Tri-City Americans

Brandon Wheat Kings (from Victoria Royals)

Brandon Wheat Kings (from Moose Jaw Warriors)

Red Deer Rebels

Swift Current Broncos

Swift Current Broncos (from Portland Winterhawks)

Medicine Hat Tigers

Seattle Thunderbirds

Regina Pats

Vancouver Giants

Calgary Hitmen

Edmonton Oil Kings (from Kelowna Rockets)

Prince Albert Raiders

Prince George Cougars

Moose Jaw Warriors (from Saskatoon Blades)

Lethbridge Hurricanes

Winnipeg ICE

Edmonton Oil Kings

Everett Silvertips

Kamloops Blazers

Brandon Wheat Kings

Teams from Pool B and Pool C had the opportunity to obtain the first-overall selection in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, while WHL Division Champions from Pool A had the opportunity to move up and select sixth overall. The selection process for the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery was administered by Kevin Jenkin from KPMG.

Pool A teams included WHL Division Champions from 2020-21 - the Brandon Wheat Kings, Edmonton Oil Kings, Everett Silvertips, and Kamloops Blazers.

Pool C teams included the lowest place Club from each of the B.C., Central and U.S. Divisions, and the two lowest place Clubs from the East Division for a total of five teams - the Moose Jaw Warriors, Red Deer Rebels, Swift Current Broncos, Tri-City Americans, and Victoria Royals.

Pool B teams included the Calgary Hitmen, Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, Portland Winterhawks, Prince Albert Raiders, Prince George Cougars, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs, Vancouver Giants, and Winnipeg ICE.

The order of selection for the second round and all other rounds will be the inverse order of final 2020-21 WHL Regular Season standings.

2021 WHL PROSPECTS DRAFT - SECOND ROUND (AND SUBSEQUENT ROUNDS) ORDER OF SELECTION

*traded picks are not reflected

Victoria Royals

Red Deer Rebels

Swift Current Broncos

Tri-City Americans

Moose Jaw Warriors

Spokane Chiefs

Lethbridge Hurricanes

Regina Pats

Seattle Thunderbirds

Prince Albert Raiders

Prince George Cougars

Vancouver Giants

Calgary Hitmen

Portland Winterhawks

Medicine Hat Tigers

Kelowna Rockets

Saskatoon Blades

Winnipeg ICE

Brandon Wheat Kings

Kamloops Blazers

Everett Silvertips

Edmonton Oil Kings

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from June 2, 2021


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