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Winterhawks Family Set to Grow During Pair of WHL Drafts

December 7, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL) - Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - It's Draft(s) week for the Western Hockey League and the Portland Winterhawks are set to add approximately a dozen players to the club's prospect pool during the WHL U.S. Priority Draft and WHL Prospects Draft.

The Hawks own two selections in Wednesday's WHL U.S. Priority Draft, starting with the 11th overall selection. This draft was introduced in 2020 as a supplement to the WHL Prospects Draft, and gives teams an opportunity to scoop up the best talent from this side of the border.

Portland selected forward Alex Weiermair 16th overall and defenseman Jason Zaccari 29th overall during the first-ever U.S. Priority Draft in 2020.

Players eligible for this draft are 2006-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. The Wednesday draft is set to begin at 9 a.m. PT and fans can view up-to-the-minute information and pick details on the Winterhawks social media channels.

Thursday features the more traditional WHL Prospects Draft, during which the Hawks will select approximately ten players to fill out their 50-man protected list.

The Winterhawks traded their first-round pick to Swift Current as part of a package to acquire goaltender Joel Hofer in 2019, but the Winterhawks still have five picks in the first five rounds, including the 29th overall selection. Of the 23 current Winterhawks on the active roster, 18 of them were selected in the WHL Draft. Four Winterhawks were selected in the NHL Draft and all four of them were chosen by Portland in the fourth round or later of the WHL Prospects Draft.

Players eligible for the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft are 2006-born players who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, 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 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter. Fans can follow the draft live on the Winterhawks social media channels and by visiting WHL.ca/Draft.

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