Western Hockey League Completes First Round of 2023 WHL Prospects Draft
May 11, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League completed the first round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft online today.
With the first-overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, the Prince Albert Raiders used the selection to take defenceman Daxon Rudolph (Lacombe, Alta. / Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep).
With the second-overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, the Raiders went back to Alberta, selecting Cochrane product Riley Boychuk, a forward from Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA program.
Completing the hat trick, the Spokane Chiefs used the third-overall selection in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft to pick forward Mathis Preston (Penticton, B.C. / Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep).
Of the 22 players selected, there were 13 forwards, eight defencemen and one goaltender chosen. Of those, eight came from Alberta, seven came from British Columbia, four from Saskatchewan, and three from Manitoba.
A total of 12 players from Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) teams were selected in the first round.
Players eligible for the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft were 2008-born players residing in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
2023 WHL Prospects Draft Results - First Round
#1 - Prince Albert Raiders
Name: Daxon Rudolph Position: Defence Hometown: Lacombe, Alta.
Team: Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep Stats: 30GP - 17G-33A-50 points
#2 - Prince Albert Raiders
Name: Riley Boychuk Position: Forward Hometown: Cochrane, Alta.
Team: Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA Stats: 33GP - 18G-62A-80 points
#3 - Spokane Chiefs
Name: Mathis Preston Position: Forward Hometown: Penticton, B.C.
Team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 26GP - 45G-36A-81 points
#4 - Victoria Royals
Name: Keaton Verheoff Position: Defence Hometown: Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
Team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep Stats: 27GP - 13G-33A-46 points
#5 - Brandon Wheat Kings
Name: Jaxon Jacobson Position: Forward Hometown: Brandon, Man.
Team: Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA Stats: 44GP - 24G-36A-60 points
#6 - Vancouver Giants (from Swift Current)
Name: Ryan Lin Position: Defence Hometown: Richmond, B.C.
Team: Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 27GP - 17G-24A-41 points
#7 - Prince Albert Raiders (from Kelowna)
Name: Ty Meunier Position: Forward Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.
Team: St. Albert Sabres U15 AAA Stats: 32GP - 54G-34A-88 points
#8 - Vancouver Giants
Name: Brett Olson Position: Forward Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.
Team: St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA Stats: 35GP - 13G-17A-30 points
#9 - Medicine Hat Tigers
Name: Liam Ruck Position: Forward Hometown: Osoyoos, B.C.
Team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 27GP - 53G-37A-90 points
#10 - Everett Silvertips
Name: Brek Liske Position: Defence Hometown: Beausejour, Man.
Team: Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep Stats: 26GP - 10G-24A-34 points
#11 - Calgary Hitmen
Name: Noah Kosick Position: Forward Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
Team: Pacific Coast Hockey Academy U18 Prep Stats: 32GP - 10G-35A-45 points
#12 - Edmonton Oil Kings (from Regina)
Name: Joe Iginla Position: Forward Hometown: Lake Country, B.C.
Team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep Stats: 27GP - 37G-28A-65 points
#13 - Tri-City Americans
Name: Cruz Pavao Position: Forward Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Team: Edge School U15 Prep Stats: 23GP - 32G-35A-67 points
#14 - Lethbridge Hurricanes
Name: Dayne Beuker Position: Forward Hometown: Humboldt, Sask.
Team: Humboldt Broncos U15 AA Stats: 30GP - 47G-56A-103 points
#15 - Prince George Cougars
Name: Carson Carels Position: Defence Hometown: Cypress River, Man.
Team: Pilot Mound Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 20GP - 10G-22A-32 points
#16 - Moose Jaw Warriors
Name: Aaron Sawatzky Position: Defence Hometown: Didsbury, Alta.
Team: Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA Stats: 33GP - 10G-28A-38 points
#17- Portland Winterhawks
Name: Griffin Darby Position: Defence Hometown: Swift Current, Sask.
Team: Swift Current Broncos U15 AA Stats: 28GP - 6G-29A-35 points
#18 - Red Deer Rebels
Name: Beckett Hamilton Position: Forward Hometown: Humboldt, Sask.
Team: Humboldt Broncos U15 AA Stats: 29GP - 39G-44A-83 points
#19 - Brandon Wheat Kings (from Saskatoon)
Name: Giorgos Pantelas Position: Defence Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
Team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep Stats: 28GP - 7G-31A-38 points
#20 - Everett Silvertips (from Kamloops)
Name: Caine Wilke Position: Forward Hometown: Saskatoon, Sask.
Team: Saskatoon Stallions U15 AA Stats: 29GP - 28G-43A-71 points
#21 - Medicine Hat Tigers (from Seattle)
Name: Markus Ruck Position: Forward Hometown: Osoyoos, B.C
Team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 27GP - 22G-65A-87 points
#22 - Spokane Chiefs (from Winnipeg)
Name: Carter Esler Position: Goaltender Hometown: Okotoks, Alta.
Team: Okotoks Oilers U15 AAA Stats: 13-6-2, 2.98 GAA, .925 SV%
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Western Hockey League Stories from May 11, 2023
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- Blades Welcome 12 New Players in WHL Prospects Draft - Saskatoon Blades
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- Winterhawks Select 11 Players in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Portland Winterhawks
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- Western Hockey League Completes 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - WHL
- Preston, Esler Headline Chiefs' 2008 Class - Spokane Chiefs
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- Pats Select 12 Players in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Regina Pats
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- Hitmen Make Nine Selection in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Calgary Hitmen
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- Silvertips Acquire Goaltender Ethan Chadwick from Saskatoon Blades - Everett Silvertips
- Canucks Announce 2023 Training Camp in Victoria - Victoria Royals
- Hitmen Select Noah Kosick 11th Overall in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- Western Hockey League Completes First Round of 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - WHL
- Chiefs Select G Carter Esler 22nd Overall in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Blades Acquire Two Picks from Silvertips for Chadwick - Saskatoon Blades
- Warriors Select Sawatzky in the First Round Thursday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Winterhawks Acquire Draft Pick from Edmonton for Aidan Litke - Portland Winterhawks
- Recapping the Silvertips' 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Everett Silvertips
- Oil Kings Acquire Defenceman Marc Lajoie from Tri-City - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Trade Marc Lajoie to Oil Kings - Tri-City Americans
- Oil Kings Acquire Forward Aidan Litke from Portland - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels Select Hamilton - Red Deer Rebels
- Giants Select Brett Olson Eighth Overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Giants Select Ryan Lin Sixth Overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Chiefs Select F Mathis Preston Third Overall in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Royals Select Defenceman Keaton Verhoeff with the Fourth Overall Pick in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Victoria Royals
- Cougars Select Phoenix Cahill and Broden Scissors in 2023 US Priority Draft - Prince George Cougars
- Prince George Cougars Prospect Watch - May 11th - Prince George Cougars
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