Western Hockey League Completes 2021 U.S. Priority Draft

December 8, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release

Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League completed the 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft today with WHL member Clubs selecting 44 players throughout the two-round draft.

With the first-overall pick, the Seattle Thunderbirds selected forward Macklin Celebrini (North Vancouver, B.C. / Shattuck-St. Mary's Sabres Prep). Celebrini, a 5-foot-11, 181-pound forward, has tallied 42 points (20G-22A) in 23 games with Shattuck-St. Mary's so far this season.

Of the 44 players selected, three competed as underagers in the inaugural WHL U.S. Challenge Cup in Kent, Wash., in February 2020 - Celebrini, Trevor Connelly, and Aidan Park.

In total, 11 different states and one Canadian province had players selected in the 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, led by 15 players from California. Of the 44 players selected, WHL teams chose two goaltenders, 19 defencemen and 24 forwards.

2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - State-by-State Breakdown

California - 15

Arizona - 6

Minnesota - 6

Alaska - 4

Texas - 3

Colorado - 2

Nevada - 2

Washington - 2

Massachusetts - 1

Montana - 1

Rhode Island - 1

British Columbia - 1

Complete results from the 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are available at WHL.ca/draft.

2021 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft Results

Round One

#1 - Seattle Thunderbirds

Name: Macklin Celebrini Position: Forward Hometown: North Vancouver, B.C.

Team: Shattuck-St. Mary's 18U Prep Stats: 23 GP - 20G-22A-42 points

#2 - Lethbridge Hurricanes

Name: Jack Lackas Position: Forward Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.

Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 15s Stats: 8 GP - 7G-1A-8 points

#3 - Winnipeg ICE

Name: Nicholas Christianson Position: Centre Hometown: Upland, Calif.

Team: Windy City Storm 15s Stats: 42 GP - 17G-27A-44 points

#4 - Prince George Cougars

Name: Yoonho (Roy) Chung Position: Defence Hometown: Rolling Hills, Calif.

Team: Los Angeles Jr. Kings 15s Stats: 34 GP - 6G-23A-34 points

#5 - Saskatoon Blades

Name: Ethan Weber Position: Defence Hometown: Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Team: Los Angeles Jr. Kings 15s Stats: 33 GP - 15G-13A-28 points

#6 - Swift Current Broncos

Name: John Whipple Position: Defence Hometown: Deephaven, Minn.

Team: Shattuck-St. Mary's 15s Stats: 25 GP - 11G-18A-29 points

#7 - Tri-City Americans

Name: Camerin Cardona Position: Forward Hometown: Anaheim, Calif.

Team: Anaheim Jr. Ice Dogs 15s Stats: 36 GP - 26G-11A-37 points

#8 - Red Deer Rebels

Name: Quentin Bourne Position: Defence Hometown: Torrance, Calif.

Team: Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15s Stats: 6 GP - 1G-3A-4 points

#9 - Victoria Royals

Name: Hudson Bjornson Position: Defence Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 15s Stats: 8 GP - 0G-3A-3 points

#10 - Kamloops Blazers

Name: Mac Swanson Position: Forward Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska

Team: Team Alaska 15s Stats: N/A

#11 - Portland Winterhawks

Name: Garin Ludwig Position: Defence Hometown: Eagle River, Alaska

Team: Team Alaska 15s Stats: N/A

#12 - Regina Pats

Name: Carson McGinley Position: Forward Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.

Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 15s Stats: 8 GP - 3G-4A-7 points

#13 - Brandon Wheat Kings

Name: Colin Frank Position: Right Wing Hometown: Ladera Ranch, Calif.

Team: Bishop Kearney Selects 15s Stats: 6 GP - 1G-2A-3 points

#14 - Everett Silvertips

Name: Aidan Yi Position: Forward Hometown: Lake Forest, Calif.

Team: Culver Academy Eagles 16U Stats: 15 GP - 6G-4A-10 points

#15 - Kelowna Rockets

Name: Hayden Hastings Position: Forward Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 15s Stats: 8 GP - 4G-2A-6 points

#16 - Spokane Chiefs

Name: Trevor Connelly Position: Forward Hometown: Tustin, Calif.

Team: Long Island Gulls 16U Stats: 3 GP - 0G-0A-0 points

#17 - Edmonton Oil Kings

Name: Tory Pitner Position: Defence Hometown: El Cerrito, Calif.

Team: South Kent Selects Academy 15s Stats: 27 GP - 7G-21A-28 points

#18 - Vancouver Giants

Name: Mikhail Levaniuk Position: Forward Hometown: Redmond, Wash.

Team: Delta Hockey Academy U16 Prep Stats: 16 GP - 3G-1A-4 points

#19 - Calgary Hitmen

Name: Aidan Park Position: Forward Hometown: Playa Vista, Calif.

Team: Shattuck-St. Mary's 16U Prep Stats: 29 GP - 34G-47A-81 points

#20 - Medicine Hat Tigers

Name: Ben Vatis Position: Goaltender Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.

Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 15s Stats: 6 GP - 3.50 GAA - .884 SV%

#21 - Prince Albert Raiders

Name: Dmitri Toporowski Position: Forward Hometown: Boston, Mass.

Team: Boston Hockey Academy 15s Stats: 31 GP - 1G-9A-10 points

#22 - Moose Jaw Warriors

Name: Austin Doyle Position: Defence Hometown: Odessa, Texas

Team: Dallas Stars Elite 15s Stats: 37 GP - 6G-3A-9 points

Round Two

#23 - Moose Jaw Warriors

Name: Tyler Chiovetti Position: Centre Hometown: El Segundo, Calif.

Team: Los Angeles Jr. Kings 15U Stats: 32 GP - 13G-14A-27 points

#24 - Prince Albert Raiders

Name: AJ Ulrich Position: Forward Hometown: Arvada, Colo.

Team: Colorado Thunderbirds 15s Stats: 8 GP - 2G-1A-3 points

#25 - Medicine Hat Tigers

Name: Kolby Gapter Position: Defence Hometown: Arvada, Colo.

Team: Rocky Mountain RoughRiders 15s Stats: 4 GP - 2G-2A-4 points

#26 - Calgary Hitmen

Name: Will Skahan Position: Defence Hometown: Maple Grove, Minn.

Team: St. Thomas Academy High School Cadets Stats: 3 GP - 0G-2A-2 points

#27 - Vancouver Giants

Name: Drake Murray Position: Defence Hometown: Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Team: Shattuck-St. Mary's 16U Stats: 31 GP - 10G-30A-40 points

#28 - Edmonton Oil Kings

Name: Tyler Atchison Position: Forward Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.

Team: Windy City Storm 15s Stats: 29 GP - 16G-8A-24 points

#29 - Spokane Chiefs

Name: Brendan McMorrow Position: Forward Hometown: Lakeville, Minn.

Team: Benilde/St. Margaret's High School Red Knights Stats: 3G - 0G-4A-4 points

#30 - Kelowna Rockets

Name: Jake Solano Position: Centre Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.

Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 15s Stats: 8 GP - 3G-1A-4 points

#31 - Everett Silvertips

Name: Cody Polumbus Position: Forward Hometown: Whitefish, Mont.

Team: Sioux Falls Power 15s Stats: 30 GP - 18G-11A-29 points

#32 - Brandon Wheat Kings

Name: Ethan Gonyeau Position: Defence Hometown: Flower Mound, Texas

Team: Dallas Stars Elite 16U Stats: 39 GP - 2G-15A-17 points

#33 - Regina Pats

Name: Justin Bayers Position: Goaltender Hometown: Westlake Village, Calif.

Team: Mount St. Charles Academy 15s Stats: 4 GP - 2.45 GAA - .922 SV%

#34 - Portland Winterhawks

Name: Adam Kleber Position: Defence Hometown: Chaska, Minn.

Team: Minnesota Blades 15s Stats: 4 GP - 2G-1A-3 points

#35 - Kamloops Blazers

Name: Sam Webster Position: Defence Hometown: Chandler, Ariz.

Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 15s Stats: 8 GP - 2G-1A-3points

#36 - Victoria Royals

Name: Tyler McGowan Position: Defence Hometown: Irvine, Calif.

Team: Anaheim Jr. Ducks 16U Stats: 36 GP - 4G-7A-11 points

#37 - Red Deer Rebels

Name: Jonah Jasser Position: Forward Hometown: Flower Mound, Texas

Team: Dallas Stars Elite 16U Stats: 37 GP - 11G-9A-20 points

#38 - Tri-City Americans

Name: Connor Ellingsen Position: Forward Hometown: Pasco, Wash.

Team: Tri-Cities Jr. Americans 16U Stats: N/A

#39 - Swift Current Broncos

Name: Henry Lechner Position: Left Wing Hometown: Bloomington, Minn.

Team: Academy of Holy Angels High School Stars Stats: 4 GP - 3G-5A-8 points

#40 - Saskatoon Blades

Name: Samuel Houston Position: Forward Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.

Team: Los Angeles Jr. Kings 15s Stats: 34 GP - 10G-7A-17 points

#41 - Prince George Cougars

Name: Nick McLennan Position: Forward Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska

Team: Team Alaska 15s Stats: N/A

#42 - Winnipeg ICE

Name: Brodie Ziemer Position: Forward Hometown: Carver, Minn.

Team: Shattuck-St. Mary's 15s Stats: 25 GP - 25G-25A-50 points

#43 - Lethbridge Hurricanes

Name: Tristen Azelton Position: Defence Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz.

Team: Arizona Bobcats 16U Stats: 28 GP - 7G-12A-19 points

#44 - Seattle Thunderbirds

Name: Colton Whitfield Position: Defence Hometown: Warwick, R.I.

Team: Cape Cod Whalers 15U Stats: 30 GP - 9G-17A-26 points

Western Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2021

• Unger Backstops Warriors to One-Goal Win over Brandon - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Oil Kings Edge ICE 3-2 - Winnipeg Ice
• Oil Kings Dispatch the ICE - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Rebels' Picks in US Priority Draft Both Express Interest in Coming North - Red Deer Rebels
• Regina's Chili for Children Presented with $40,000 Through Pats We Care Weekdays - Regina Pats
• Americans Select Cardona, Ellingsen in 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Tri-City Americans
• 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Preview, 2020 Draft Review - Swift Current Broncos
• Timafey Kovgoreniya to Play for Team Belarus in IIHF U20 World Championship D1 Group A - Spokane Chiefs
• Vitelli Named Raiders Captain, Allan Named an Alternate - Prince Albert Raiders
• Royals Host Inaugural Lighthouse Island Bowl - Victoria Royals
• Winterhawks Select Two Top Americans in U.S. Priority Draft - Portland Winterhawks
• Broncos Add Two Prospects in WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Swift Current Broncos
• Chiefs Select Forwards Connelly and McMorrow in WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Spokane Chiefs
• Blades Add Pair of Jr. Kings, Select Weber and Houston in US Priority Draft - Saskatoon Blades
• Royals Select Hudson Bjornson and Tyler McGowan in 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Victoria Royals
• Warriors Add Prospects from Texas and California in US Priority Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Hitmen Select Two in 2021 WHL US Priority Draft - Calgary Hitmen
• Gameday Preview - December 8 at Regina - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Wheat Kings Sneak Past Tigers in Final Minutes - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Blazers Select Two Players in the 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Kamloops Blazers
• Raiders Pick Toporowski, Ulrich in 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
• Pats Select McGinley and Bayers in WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Regina Pats
• Western Hockey League Completes 2021 U.S. Priority Draft - WHL
• Cougars WHL U.S. Priority Draft Recap - Prince George Cougars
• Rebels Select Two Players at 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• Rockets Select Teammates in US Priority Draft - Kelowna Rockets
• Hurricanes Select Lackas, Azelton in WHL US Priority Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Oil Kings Select Tory Pitner and Tyler Atchison in 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Giants Select Mikhail Levaniuk and Drake Murray in 2021 US Prospects Draft - Vancouver Giants
• Silvertips Select Aidan Yi, Cody Polumbus in WHL U.S. Prospects Draft - Everett Silvertips
• Game 26 - Edmonton at ICE - Winnipeg Ice
• Wheat Kings Back to Work in Moose Jaw - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Reinforced Oil Kings Set Sights on Top Spot - WHL
• Fabian Lysell, Jesper Vikman Both Named to Sweden's World Junior Team - Vancouver Giants
• Pats Look to End Skid against Struggling Tigers - Regina Pats
• Preview: Warriors Return to Home Ice to Host Brandon - Moose Jaw Warriors
• T-Birds Defuse the Rockets - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Seattle Burns Rockets in Shootout - Kelowna Rockets
• Rossburn Rifle Lifts BWK to Win over Tigers - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Davies Overtime Winner Lifts Broncos over Raiders - Swift Current Broncos
• Warriors Prepared for Busy Draft Week - Moose Jaw Warriors

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