WHL Western Hockey League

Western Hockey League to Host 2024 U.S. Priority and Prospects Drafts this Week

Published on May 7, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League will conduct the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft and 2024 WHL Prospects Draft online this Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Real-time results will be available at WHL.ca.

The 2024 WHL Prospects Draft will be livestreamed on WHL Live on CHL TV and the WHL's YouTube channel, with pre-show coverage beginning at 9:30 a.m. MT and first-round coverage getting underway at 10 a.m. MT.

Hosted by Cami Kepke (WHL Manager, Communications) with analysis from former WHL defenceman Taylor Green (WHL Manager, Hockey Operations), fans can look forward to in-depth coverage, analysis, and insight from all WHL Clubs participating in the first round of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.

Granted Exceptional Player Status on Monday, April 8, it is expected that defenceman Landon DuPont (Calgary, Alta. / Edge School U18 Prep) will hear his name called atop the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft. The Everett Silvertips hold the first-overall selection in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.

Recent first-overall selections include 2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Year Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers, 2022), Spokane Chiefs forward Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs, 2021), Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard (Regina Pats, 2020), New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds, 2012), and Edmonton Oilers star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels, 2008).

2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft

Wednesday, May 8 at 10 a.m. MT

The Regina Pats will select first overall in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.

The 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will consist of two rounds and 44 selections, with each WHL Club presented with the opportunity to make two draft choices.

2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Order of Selection

FIRST ROUND SECOND ROUND

1. Regina Pats 23. Kamloops Blazers

2. Seattle Thunderbirds 24. Tri-City Americans

3. Calgary Hitmen 25. Regina Pats

4. Tri-City Americans 26. Seattle Thunderbirds

5. Edmonton Oil Kings 27. Edmonton Oil Kings

6. Kamloops Blazers 28. Calgary Hitmen

7. Spokane Chiefs 29. Spokane Chiefs

8. Victoria Royals 30. Victoria Royals

9. Prince Albert Raiders 31. Prince Albert Raiders

10. Vancouver Giants 32. Vancouver Giants

11. Kelowna Rockets 33. Kelowna Rockets

12. Wenatchee Wild 34. Wenatchee Wild

13. Lethbridge Hurricanes 35. Lethbridge Hurricanes

14. Brandon Wheat Kings 36. Brandon Wheat Kings

15. Red Deer Rebels 37. Red Deer Rebels

16. Medicine Hat Tigers 38. Medicine Hat Tigers

17. Swift Current Broncos 39. Swift Current Broncos

18. Moose Jaw Warriors 40. Moose Jaw Warriors

19. Everett Silvertips 41. Everett Silvertips

20. Portland Winterhawks 42. Portland Winterhawks

21. Prince George Cougars 43. Prince George Cougars

22. Saskatoon Blades 44. Saskatoon Blades

The order of selection was determined Wednesday, March 27 through the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery. All six WHL Clubs that did not qualify for the 2024 WHL Playoffs participated in the lottery. The lottery proceedings determined the order of selection for the first six picks in the first round of the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, which inverse order of standings from the 2023-24 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the second round.

Players eligible for the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2009-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 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 9, 2024, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.

Since the first WHL U.S. Priority Draft was hosted in 2020, a number of impact players have heard their names called, including Blake Fiddler (Edmonton Oil Kings, 2022), Quentin Bourne (Red Deer Rebels, 2021) and Gracyn Sawchyn (Seattle Thunderbirds, 2020).

2024 WHL Prospects Draft

Thursday, May 9 at 10 a.m. MT

WATCH LIVE - Pre-show at 9:30 a.m. MT / WHL Prospects Draft at 10 a.m. MT

The first round of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, including a 30-minute pre-show, will be livestreamed FREE via WHL Live on CHL TV and the WHL's YouTube channel. The 2024 WHL Prospects Draft pre-show begins at 9:30 a.m. MT with host Cami Kepke and analyst Taylor Green, with live draft coverage beginning at 10 a.m. MT.

The Everett Silvertips hold the first-overall selection in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, as determined by the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery on March 27, 2024.

The Prince Albert Raiders own the second-overall pick in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, moving up from fourth to second after winning the draft lottery. This is the second consecutive season in which the Raiders have enjoyed a selection in the top two of the draft, having drafted defenceman Daxon Rudolph first overall and forward Riley Boychuk second overall in 2023.

2024 WHL Prospects Draft - First Round Order of Selection

Everett Silvertips (from Kamloops)

Prince Albert Raiders (from Seattle)

Tri-City Americans

Kelowna Rockets (via trades from Regina)

Edmonton Oil Kings

Calgary Hitmen

Spokane Chiefs

Victoria Royals

Prince Albert Raiders

Vancouver Giants

Seattle Thunderbirds (via trades from Kelowna)

Wenatchee Wild

Lethbridge Hurricanes

Brandon Wheat Kings

Red Deer Rebels

Medicine Hat Tigers

Swift Current Broncos

Victoria Royals (from Moose Jaw)

Everett Silvertips

Portland Winterhawks

Prince George Cougars

Kamloops Blazers (from Saskatoon)

The order of selection for the second round and all subsequent rounds will be the inverse order of the final 2023-24 WHL Regular Season standings. The complete order of selection for the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft can be found at WHL.ca.

Players eligible for the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft are 2009-born players who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, 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.

Players not selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.

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