
Wild Select Pair of Minnesota Preps Wednesday in First U.S. Priority Draft
May 8, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild are pleased to announce the selection of two players in the 2024 Western Hockey League U.S. Priority Draft, held Wednesday morning. The Wild selected 12 th in each round of the two-round draft, in which 2009-born players were selected from the western half of the United States only. Wednesday's U.S. Priority Draft was Wenatchee's first since the club's relocation from Winnipeg, Manitoba last summer. The Wild will make their first-ever selections in the WHL Prospects Draft beginning Thursday at 9 a.m.
Wenatchee's selections in Wednesday's Import Draft included:
ROUND 1, PICK 12 - MARCUS MATYAS (C - Edina, Minn. - Cretin-Derham Hall H.S.)
Marcus enjoyed an impressive freshman season for the Raiders, in his first season of high school hockey in Minnesota. He played in 31 games for Cretin-Derham Hall, posting nine goals and 17 assists in helping Cretin-Derham Hall to a third-place finish in Class AA, the school's third straight trip to the state tournament. He's already shown a propensity for coming through in the clutch moments, scoring the overtime winner to send his team to its section final, and assisting on the eventual winner in the section final, carrying a four-game point streak into the state tournament. Three of his nine goals this season were game-winners.
ROUND 2, PICK 34 - GUNNAR CONBOY (C - Lakeville, Minn. - Lakeville North H.S.)
Gunnar enjoyed a strong freshman season of his own for the Panthers, picking up 13 goals and nine assists over 26 games in his first season of varsity hockey. When he landed on the score sheet, the goals came in bunches, with four multi-goal games during the 2023-24 campaign. He nearly willed his team to a win in his final game as a freshman, scoring a hat trick to rally his Lakeville North team back from a 3-0 deficit before seeing Owatonna prevail in double overtime to win a tough section tournament opener.
Western Hockey League Stories from May 8, 2024
- Warriors Add Two American Prospects in Wednesday's U.S. Priority Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Winterhawks Add Pair of Americans in 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs Select D Brady Elbert Seventh Overall in WHL U.S. Priority Draft, F Spencer Anderson in Second Round - Spokane Chiefs
- Broncos Add Pair from Minnesota at U.S. Priority Draft - Swift Current Broncos
- Warriors Forward Firkus Wins Bob Clarke Trophy as 2023-24 WHL Top Scorer Presented by Kubota Canada - WHL
- Cougars Select Cole Hajt and Dax Diep in 2024 US Priority Draft - Prince George Cougars
- Murray Pleased with Skill Level, Character of U.S. Picks - Brandon Wheat Kings
- WHL Completes 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - WHL
- Giants Select Chartier, Storr in U.S. Priorty Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Rockets Make Two Picks In U.S. Priority Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- Rebels Tab Two in 2024 U.S. Priority Draft - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips Add Goaltender Enck, Center Fox in U.S. Priority Draft - Everett Silvertips
- Wild Select Pair of Minnesota Preps Wednesday in First U.S. Priority Draft - Wenatchee Wild
- Hurricanes Select Didomenicantonio, Murphy in US Priority Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Oil Kings Select Two Players in 2024 U.S. Priority Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Select Schaefer Twins in U.S. Priority Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Tigers Select Pair of Forwards in US Priority Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Pats Make Pair of Selections in 2024 U.S. Priority Draft - Regina Pats
- Kamloops Blazers Select Two Players in WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- U.S Draft: Second Pick Nets Wheat Kings Shattuck's Leading Scorer - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Royals Select Brayden Willis and Cooper Avelar in 2024 U.S. Priority Draft - Victoria Royals
- U.S. Draft: Wheat Kings Select Shattuck St. Mary's Sniper with First Pick - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Warriors Prepared for Two Drafts this Week - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Road to the WHL Draft: 2023 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Broncos Set for 2024 U.S. Priority Draft - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Kick-Off Draft Week with US Priority Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
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