First overall pick Berkly Catton to make WHL debut this weekend

Spokane, Wash. — The Spokane Chiefs announced on Wednesday that forward Berkly Catton will join the club ahead of this weekend’s home games and is expected to make his Western Hockey League debut. Catton was selected with the first overall pick in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.

Catton, a 2006-born forward from Saskatoon, Sask., has put up incredible numbers this season, posting 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points in just 16 games with the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA. In his last full regular season (2019-20), he racked up 108 points (58G-50A) in 30 games with the Saskatoon Bandits U15 AA.

In December, he became just the third player ever selected by the Chiefs in the first overall position, joining notable alumni D Ty Smith (selected in 2015) and D Jared Cowen (selected in 2006). Both went on to become first-round NHL picks, Chiefs team captains and World Junior Championship players.

Catton is eligible to play a maximum of five games with the Chiefs prior to the conclusion of the Contacts’ 2021-22 season. He will wear jersey number 34, just as fellow Saskatoon native Adam Beckman did from 2018-21 before moving on to the professional ranks.