Hitmen Select 11 Players in 2024 WHL Prospects Draft
The Calgary Hitmen selected a total of 11 players at the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, held online Thursday.
In all, the Hitmen selected seven forwards, three defencemen and one goaltender.
“We’re really excited,” said Hitmen Director of Scouting Gary Michalick. “We had some early picks – three second-round picks – which we made some equity on, we’re really happy with the full group.
“We got a good mix of forwards, defence and a goaltender, we’re excited to see these players come to Calgary and see what they’re all about.”
The 2024 WHL Prospects Draft was open to 2009-born players residing in the four Western Canadian provinces and select U.S. states.
6 – Calder Hamilton – D – Martensville Marauders U15 AA
The 5’9” defenceman put up 86 points for his hometownMartensville Marauders in 2023-24 in just 28 games, breaking Morgan Rielly’s Saskatchewan U15 points record for blueliners in the process.
He added 24 points in 11 post-season contests.
“He’s one of those new-age defencemen that can get up and down the ice,” Michalick said. “He’s got great edges, great skating, a great feel for the game and a great stick.
“I think the people in Calgary will be excited to see him, he’s an exciting player.”
His father Hugh spent four seasons in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs and was part of Canada’s 1997 World Juniors squad.
28 – Antonio Correia – C – Winnipeg Bruins U15 AAA Black
The first of three second-round picks for the Hitmen this year, Correia scored 44 times in 32 games at the U15 AAA level this past season, finishing the year with 71 points.
29 – Kale McCann – D – Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA
An athletic, right-shot defenceman, the product of Cochrane, Alta. put up 36 points in 29 games with the Airdrie Xtreme U15 program.
43 – Shaun Hildebrandt – LW – Yale Hockey Academy U15 Prep
Hildebrandt, who hails from Langley, B.C., led the Yale U15 Prep team with 24 goals and 58 points in 2023-24.
Originally born in Calgary, Hildebrandt’s uncle is former Hitmen forward Brandon Segal.
72 – Adam Halat – C – Edge School U15 Prep
The Chestermere, Alta. native was a playmaker on Edge School’s U15 Prep squad, collecting 34 assists as part of a 46-point total this season.
73 – Jack Poole – C – St. George’s School U15 Prep
Poole’s 29 assists were second-most on his team, the 6’2” product of North Vancouver, B.C. added two goals and eight points in four post-season contests.
91 – Connor Feeney – D – Cariboo Cougars U15 AAA
A leader on the back end, Feeney put up 17 points in 20 games for his hometown Cariboo Cougars in 2023-24.
95 – Dominik Silbernagel – LW – Rink Kelowna U15 Prep
Silbernagel, from Coldstream, B.C., led RINK Kelowna’s U15 Prep team in scoring with 19 goals and 41 points.
117 – Nathan Gardiner – C – Estevan Bruins U15 AA
Gardiner, who calls Gainsborough, Sask. home, racked up 42 assists and 61 points in just 26 games this past season for the Estevan Bruins U15 side.
139 – Kaleb Page – G – Sask East Oilers U15 AA
The lone netminder selected by the Hitmen in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, Page went 12-3 with a .910 save percentage and one shutout for the Sask East Oilers.
Page hails from the same hometown – Whitewood, Sask. – as current Hitmen Reese Hamilton and Connor Bear.
161 – Dawson Gamble – C/RW – North West Stars U15 AA
The product of North Battleford, Sask. was the offensive catalyst for the North West Stars in 2023-24, leading the team in goals (23), assists (27), and points (50).
Rd |
Pick |
Player |
Pos. |
2023-24 Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
1 |
6 |
Calder Hamilton |
D |
Martensville Marauders U15 AA |
28 |
35 |
51 |
86 |
2 |
28 |
Antonio Correia |
C |
Winnipeg Bruins U15 AAA Black |
32 |
44 |
27 |
71 |
2 |
29 |
Kale McCann |
D |
Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA |
29 |
7 |
29 |
36 |
2 |
43 |
Shaun Hildebrandt |
LW |
Yale Hockey Academy U15 Prep |
27 |
24 |
34 |
58 |
4 |
72 |
Adam Halat |
C |
Edge School U15 Prep |
27 |
12 |
34 |
46 |
4 |
73 |
Jack Poole |
C |
St. George’s School U15 Prep |
27 |
7 |
29 |
36 |
5 |
91 |
Connor Feeney |
D |
Cariboo Cougars U15 AAA |
20 |
8 |
9 |
17 |
5 |
95 |
Dominik Silbernagel |
LW |
RINK Kelowna U15 Prep |
27 |
19 |
22 |
41 |
6 |
117 |
Nathan Gardiner |
C |
Estevan Bruins U15 AA |
26 |
19 |
42 |
61 |
7 |
139 |
Kaleb Page |
G |
Sask East Oilers U15 AA |
15 |
12W |
2.21 GAA |
.910 SV% |
8 |
161 |
Dawson Gamble |
C/RW |
North WestStars U15 AA |
19 |
23 |
27 |
50 |