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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Set for 2022 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday

May 18, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


For the second time in six months, General manager Jason Ripplinger and scouts for the Moose Jaw Warriors will convene in the board room at Mosaic Place.

The Warriors will be looking to add to its pool of prospects during Thursday's 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

"It's been a busy year," Ripplinger said. "This is where the scouts and myself get rewarded for the hard work through the winter and hopefully get some good players to build around for the future."

Just a few months ago, the Warriors selected Marek Howell in the first round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, which happened in December after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With minor hockey returning to full force this winter, the draft is able to return to its normal place on the calendar in May.

Ripplinger said the two drafts this close together made for a busy season.

"At the end of the day, this is what we do for a living and this is what we enjoy to do," he said.

The Warriors will head into Thursday's draft with the 14th overall pick in the first round.

Ripplinger said there is some good depth in this year's draft.

"It's going to be a good first round and after that, we're just going to go off our list and take the best players," he said. "With three picks in the first 35, I believe we'll get three really good players.

"There's a lot of good forwards, there's maybe not as many defencemen as there was in the '06 group, but we'll see which player lands at 14."

Despite a few trades last season, the Warriors head into the draft with good capital, holding six picks in the first four rounds.

"That gives you good depth for the future," Ripplinger said. "We do our homework and we'll make sure we get good players."

Ripplinger said a lot of research over the winter and meetings over the last week go into determine the team's draft list and who the organization will target during the draft.

"We've talked to agents, we've talked to the players, we've talked to the parents, their coaches, so we do a lot of background checks before selecting a player," he said.

The WHL Prospects Draft gets underway at 10 a.m. CST on Thursday.

The Medicine Hat Tigers hold the first overall selection.

Fans can watch the first round live for free through WHL Live on CHL TV. The Draft Tracker is also available for the remaining rounds to follow along live.

Moose Jaw selected two players in Wednesday's U.S. Priority Draft.

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