BLAZERS SELECT TWO PLAYERS IN FIRST ROUND OF WHL PROSPECTS DRAFT
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The WHL Prospects Draft kicked off on Wednesday, with the Kamloops Blazers holding picks No. 11 and No. 14 in the first round.
The Blazers acquired the No. 11 pick from the Vancouver Giants in the trade involving Connor Levis, and landed the No. 14 pick from the Saskatoon Blades in the Fraser Minten deal.
Kamloops used their No.11 pick to choose defenceman Mateo Ferreira from the Winnipeg Bruins U15 AAA Gold club. This past season, Ferreira tallied 21 goals and 49 assists for 70 points in 32 games, helping capture the WAAA Championship.
Scouts across rinks have described Ferreira as “a master of edge-work.” Watching game tape, his explosive skating and offensive instincts stand out. Ferreira is listed at 5-foot-4 but has since grown to 5-foot-8.
Blazers Director of Player Personnel Aaron Keller shared his thoughts on the pick: “Good character kid, good family. Our scout, Brad Davis, has liked him since last year—really liked watching Mateo play and how he thinks the game. You add the puck skill and competitiveness, and we’ve got a smart player.”
With the No.14 pick, the Blazers selected centre Teagen Bouchard from the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep. Bouchard is a game changer and racked up 21 goals and 40 assists for 61 points in 30 games. Scouts across rinks have noted that Bouchard “has that dog in him.” The Falher, Alberta native also saw three games of action at the U18 level, where he scored one goal and three points in three games.
Elite Prospects analyst Mitchell Brown ranked Bouchard as the No. 15 prospect heading into the draft. “The game changes when Teagen Bouchard jumps on the ice. The pace increases twofold, and the opposition scrambles to stop his drives and move the puck before he gets on them,” Brown said. “Playing with a remarkable level of physicality for a player his size, Bouchard cuts inside defenders to get to the net and win loose pucks. In possession, he becomes a creative passer, threading pucks under sticks, through defensive boxes, and creating a high volume of scoring chances from the slot. His all-around tools and pace of play could make him a top scorer in the WHL, especially if his physical game continues to develop.”
Keller added, “Teagen is really smart and really competitive. Our fans will love him. He’s undersized and scrappy—not a physical menace, but he works, he grinds, and he’s fearless out there.”
“We’re extremely excited to welcome Mateo and Teagen to the Blazers,” said Keller.
