Road to the WHL Draft: 2023

Road to the WHL Draft: 2023

Swift Current, SK – With just two days remaining until the start of the WHL Prospects Draft, we’ll look back at Draft Day in 2023 where the Broncos would look to bounce back after missing the playoffs for the 4th straight season replenishing the Prospect Pool and bringing in some future names and fan favourites as a handful of 2008’s made their debut during the 2024-25 season. The Prince Albert Raiders would have picks 1 & 2 during the Draft while the Spokane Chiefs had the third overall selection. The Raiders went with defenceman Daxon Rudolph as the first overall pick followed by forward Riley Boychuck, Mathis Preston would find a home in Spokane going third overall.

The Broncos could not make a move to get back into the first round after making a move in 2022 to the Vancouver Giants, but they wouldn’t have to wait long in Round 2 to get in on the draft action.

With their first pick in the draft, 30^th overall, the Broncos selected forward Sawyer Dingman (Edmonton, AB) from the Northern Alberta Xtreme program. Dingman recorded 34 points (11g, 23a) in 30 games and was named the Broncos Rookie of the Year.

He is the son of former NHLer and two-time Stanley Cup champion Chris Dingman.

With the 52^nd overall pick the Broncos drafted defenceman Daxon Yerex (Oak Bluff, MB) . The 6’1’’ defenceman played for the Rink Hockey Academy U15 team in Winnipeg, posting 27 points (4g-23a) in 30 games. Yerex was one of two 16 year olds on the 2024-25 roster for Swift Current playing in 47 games and scoring six assists.

In the fourth round the Broncos drafted defenceman Nathan Gray (Richmond, BC) from Delta Hockey Academy. Who went on to sign with the team and take part in the Broncos B.C Division Road-trip back in January of 2025.

 

Swift Current shopped local for their 109^th overall pick, selecting Mason Fauser (Shaunavon, SK) in the fifth round. Playing for the U15 Swift Current Broncos in 2022-23, Fauser racked up 66 points (34g-32a) in just 28 games. Fauser played with the U18 AAA Legionnaires during the 2024-25 season.

With no picks in the sixth or seventh round, the Broncos next selection came at 162^nd overall in the eighth round. Swift Current drafted forward Keaton Lesperance (Regina, SK) from the Regina Aces with that pick. In 29 games with the Aces Lesperance scored an even 30 goals and 30 assists, before posting 10 more points (8-2-10) in 10 playoff games. Lesperance played for the U18 AAA Moose Jaw Warriors last season.

At 184^th overall in the ninth round the Broncos added forward Aidan Sexsmith (Calgary, AB) from the U15 Calgary Bisons. In 32 games Sexsmith recorded 24 points (13-11-24). Sexsmith played with the Calgary Buffaloes of the U18 AEHL but also made his WHL Debut in Moose Jaw on March 22nd.

With their 10^th round selection at 206^th overall the Broncos drafted Ryden Duchon (Winnipeg, MB). A pure goal scorer, Duchon found the back of the net 40 times with the Winnipeg Thrashers, finishing eighth in the WAAA U15 league. In 2024-25 with the U18 AAA Thrashers, Duchon scored 62 points (29g, 33a) in 48 games.

The Broncos added another forward in Jayden Oleskiw at 228^th overall in the 11^th round. The 6’1’’ Langley, B.C. native scored 20 points (10-10-20) in 28 games with U15 Yale Hockey Academy. With the U18 Yale club in 33 games had 39 points and also made his WHL debut against the Moose Jaw Warriors on March 22, 2025.

 

 

With their final pick at 250^th overall the Broncos grabbed another defenceman in Josh Shaganya (Winnipeg, MB) from the Rink Hockey Academy Winnipeg. Shaganya played 30 games for RHA Winnipeg posting 17 points (5-12-17) from the blue line. Shaganya played 40 games with the U18 Winnipeg Thrashers this past season. Putting up 19 points.

 

The 2025 Prospects Draft is scheduled from May 7-8, starting with the Expansion Draft for the Penticton Vees, followed by Round 1 of the Prospects Draft is at 5 PM. May 8 will start with the US Priority Draft at 9 AM followed by the remaining rounds of the Prospects Draft after, stay tuned on the Broncos website & social media for the latest updates throughout draft day.

 

RD	Pick	Name	Hometown	Position	2023-24 Team	Ht	Wt
2	30	Sawyer Dingman	Edmonton, AB	F	NAX U15 Prep	6’2	193
3	52	Daxon Yerex	Oak Bluff, MB	D	Rink Winnipeg U15 Prep	6’1	178
4	74	Nathan Gray	Richmond, BC	D	Delta U15 Prep Green	5’10	165
5	109	Mason Fauser	Shanavon, SK	F	Swift Current U15 AA Broncos	6’1	175
8	162	Keaton Leserance	Regina, SK	F	Regina Aces U15 AA	5’11	160
9	184	Aidan Sexsmith	Calgary, AB	F	Calgary Bisons U15 AAA	5’8	130
10	206	Ryden Duchon	Winnipeg, MB	F	Winnipeg Thrasher Gold U15 AA	6’0	155
11	228	Jayden Oleskiw	Langley, BC	F	Yale U15 Prep	6’1	158
12	250	Joshua Shaganya	Winnipeg, MB	D	Rink Winnipeg U15 Prep	5’10	154