WHL to Host 2023 U.S. Priority and Prospects Drafts this Week
May 9, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
KENNEWICK, WASH. - The Western Hockey League will conduct the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft and 2023 WHL Prospects Draft online this Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Real-time results will be available at WHL.ca/draft.
2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Wednesday, May 10 at 9 a.m. PT
The 2023 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.
Tri-City holds the 13th and 35th overall selections. The order of selection was determined on March 29, 2023 through the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery.
In the 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, the Americans selected forward Brady Turner from Scottsdale. Ariz., and defenseman Vincent Rodriguez from Richland, Wash.
Americans Select Turner, Rodriguez in 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft
Players eligible for the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2008-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 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 11, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.
The first WHL U.S. Priority Draft was held in 2020.
2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Thursday, May 11
WATCH LIVE - Pre-Show at 8:30 a.m. PT / WHL Prospects Draft at 9 a.m. PT
The first round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, including a 30-minute pre-show, will be livestreamed FREE via WHL Live on CHL TV. All that is required is to register and login using a free account with CHL TV, no subscription or purchase necessary. The 2023 WHL Prospects Draft Pre-Show begins with co-hosts Chris Wahl and Taylor Rocca at 9:30 a.m. MT, with live draft coverage beginning at 10 a.m. MT.
The Tri-City Americans hold the 13th-overall selection in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, as determined by the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery on March 29, 2022.
Tri-City selected second-overall in past two WHL Prospects Draft. With those first-round picks the Americans selected forward Jordan Gavin in 2021 and defenseman Jackson Smith in 2022.
Three of Tri-City's selections from last year's draft have already signed with the Club, including Smith. Cash Koch, selected 22nd-overall, and Kainoah Brankovic, selected 112th-overall, are also signed prospects from the 2022 draft class.
TRI-CITY 2023 WHL PROSPECTS DRAFT PICKS
ROUND PICK TRADED
1 13
2 35
3 55 Acquired from Calgary in 2019 Kyle Olson trade.
3 56 Acquired from Regina in 2020 Tom Cadieux trade.
5 101
5 106 Acquired from Saskatoon in 2021 Blake Stevenson trade.
6 123
6 127 Acquired from Portland via Kelowna.
7 144 Acquired from Regina in 2020 Tom Cadieux trade.
7 145
8 167
9 189
10 211
11 233
12 255
The order of selection for the second round and all other rounds will be the inverse order of final 2022-23 WHL Regular Season standings. The complete order of selection for the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft can be found at WHL.ca/draft.
Players eligible for the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft are 2008-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 2023 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.
Season Tickets for the 2023-24 season are now available. Contact a ticket representative at info@amshockey.com or learn more about season ticket benefits here.
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