Hurricanes Select 12 Players in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft

Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club held the 2023 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft on Thursday selecting a total of 12 2008-born players, including six forwards, five defencemen and one goaltender.

With their first-round selection, 14^th overall, the Hurricanes selected forward Dayne Beuker. The Humboldt, SK, product racked up 103 points (47g-56a) along with 10 penalty minutes in 30 regular season games with the Humboldt Broncos U15 team during the 2022-2023 season. Beuker added 28 points (9g-11a) with four penalty minutes in nine post-season games.

“Dayne was one of the highest forwards on our draft list,” said Hurricanes Head Scout Rob MacLachlan. “We are really excited to take Dayne at 14. He’s a leader and every time he’s on the ice he can change the game. He scores off the rush and causing trouble in front of the net. We think he’s a complete package and is going to be a top player in our league.”

Beuker’s 103 points finished second in scoring, second in goals and second in assists in the SAAHL U15 league. He also finished in in league scoring during the post-season averaging 3.11 points per game during the playoffs for the Broncos while leading Humboldt to the SAAHL Championship.

Lethbridge held two picks in the second round of the draft. With the 23^rd overall pick, the Hurricanes selected forward Chase Petersen. The Mossbank, SK, product totaled 69 points (27g-42a) with 26 penalty minutes in 29 regular season games with the Swift Current Broncos U15 AA team, leading the club in scoring. Petersen added 13 points in four post-season games. The 6’0, 172-pound forward served as part of the leadership group for the Broncos U15 team.

With the 36^th overall pick in the second round, the ‘Canes picked forward Gavin Lesiuk. The 6’3, 184-pound forward from Duncan, BC, collected 24 points (10g-14a) with 52 penalty minutes in 22 regular season games with the Okanagan Hockey Academy AAA U15 Prep team during the 2022-2023 season. Lesiuk recorded six points (4g-2a) and 18 penalty minutes in 30 games in 2021-2022 with the Pacific Coast Hockey Academy where he was teammates with Hurricanes netminder Koen Cleaver.

The Hurricanes held a pair of fourth round picks, including the 73^rd and 88^th overall selections. Lethbridge picked defenceman William Scott with the 73^rd overall selection. Scott who hails from Kelowna, BC, collected 25 points (1g-24a) and 43 penalty minutes with the Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep team in 2022-2023 while going pointless in four post-season games. The ‘Canes added another defenceman, Grady Pichette from Okotoks, AB. The 6’0, 170-pound rearguard recorded eight assists and 18 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Okotoks Oilers U15 AAA team. He added three helpers in nine post-season games.

In the fifth round (102^nd overall), the Hurricanes selected goaltender Brody Rotar. The 6’1, 161-pound puck-stopper appeared in 24 games with the Lethbridge Golden Hawks U15 AAA team posting a record of 6-13-3 with a 4.07 goals against average and a .902 save percentage. Rotar posted a .910 SV% and a 4.00 GAA in two post-season games with the Golden Hawks.

The Hurricanes selected forward Trace Langan in the sixth-round (118^th overall). The Swan River, MB, product racked up 49 points (28g-21a) and 83 penalty minutes in 32 games with the Parkland Rangers U15 AAA team. Langan added 10 points (7g-3a) with 14 penalty minutes in five post-season games. He is the younger brother of former WHLer Tristan Langan who spent four years with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

With the seventh-round (146^th overall) selection, the Hurricanes picked forward Easton Daneault from Red Deer, AB. The 5’5, 133-pound forward recorded an impressive 71 points (39g-42a) with ten penalty minutes in 34 games in 2022-2023 leading the Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA team in goals, assists and points. Daneault added seven assists in five playoff games with the Rebels U15.

The ‘Canes select another Lethbridge product picking forward Hayden Iron Shirt in the eighth-round (168^th overall). The 5’10, 133-pound forward collected 44 points (25g-19a) with 68 penalty minutes in 30 regular season games with the Lethbridge Golden Hawks U15 team while going pointless in two post-season games. Iron Shirt finished tied for the team lead in goals while finishing second in scoring for the Golden Hawks in 2022-2023.

In the ninth round, the Hurricanes drafted defenceman William Hogan with the 190^th overall selection. The 5’10, 140-pound rearguard collected 14 points (2g-12a) with 22 penalty minutes with 31 regular season games with the Edmonton CAC Canadians U15 AAA. The St. Albert, AB, product added three assists in four playoff games.

The ‘Canes took Theron Bensler in the 12^th round (256^th overall). The Medicine Hat, AB, product appeared in 30 regular season games collecting 24 points (10g-14a) with 52 penalty minutes. The 6’2, 192-pound rearguard also totaled eight points (4g-4a) in five post-season games with the Medicine Hat Hounds U16 AA team. Bensler finished second in team scoring with the Tigers.

With their final pick, Lethbridge selected defenceman Grady Taylor in the 13^th round (278^th overall). The Brandon, MB, product appeared in 30 regular season games with the Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAA team where he collected 14 points (8g-6a) with 39 penalty minutes. The 5’11, 160-pound rearguard added three points (1g-2a) and 12 penalty minutes in 14 post-season games.

The Hurricanes will conclude the 2023 drafts with the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft on Wednesday, July 5^th at 9:00am MT where the ‘Canes will hold the 42^nd overall selection.