Hurricanes Select 15 Players in 2024 WHL Prospects Draft
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club selected 15 players in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, including eight forwards, six defencemen and one goaltender.
With the 13th overall selection, the ‘Canes picked 2009-born forward Tyden Lafournaise. The 15-year-old appeared in 32 regular season games during the 2023-2024 season with the Winnipeg Bruins U15 AAA team where he collected a whopping 126 points (66g-60a) along with 20 penalty minutes. He added 23 points (13g-10a) and four penalty minutes in seven post-season games with the Bruins.
“I believe that Lafournaise could be the best forward in the WHL,” said Hurricanes Head Scout Rob MacLachlan. “We targeted Tyden from Christmas time on, and we didn’t think we would be able to get him at 13th overall; so it’s a really happy day for the Lethbridge Hurricanes to get someone that we really targeted.
Tyden is an elite offensive forward with a tremendous ability to both score goals and to distribute and use his linemates. We project him to be a key piece in our organization at the center-ice position in the future.”
The 6’0, 170-pound forward added six points (3g-3a) in four regular season games with the Winnipeg Bruins U17 AAA team while collecting seven points (5g-2a) in six playoff games. Lafournaise finished the 2023-2024 season leading the U15 league in points (126), assists (60) while sitting third in goals (66). He was named a first-team league all-star.
In the second round, the Hurricanes picked 6’2, 175-pound defenceman Reid Soper with the 32nd overall pick. The Edmonton, AB, product skated in 25 regular season games with the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep team collecting 10 points (4g-6a) along with 16 penalty minutes. Soper added two assists in five post-season games with NAX. He registered three assists in five regular season games with the NAX U17 team during the 2023-2024 season.
Lethbridge selected goaltender Leif Oaten with their third-round pick (58th overall). The 6’1, 193-pound netminder posted an 11-1-0-0 record in 12 appearances collecting a 2.90 goals against average and a .914 save percentage with the Edge U15 Prep team in 2023-2024. He added a record of 2-0-1 in three post-season games with a 3.91 GAA and an .879 SV%. The Calgary, AB, product was the first goaltender selected in the 2024 WHL Draft. He collected a 2.03 GAA and a .914 SV% in three games at the Alberta Cup.
The ‘Canes held two fourth-round draft picks. The Hurricanes selected forward Cohen Pentney with the 80th overall pick. The Calgary, AB, product skated in 31 games with the Calgary U15 Flames during the 2023-204 season. The 5’9, 132-pound forward recorded 59 points (27g-32a) along with 14 penalty minutes while adding six points (2g-4a) and two penalty minutes in four post-season games.
With their second fourth-round pick, Lethbridge took forward Jake Evans with the 84th overall pick. The product of Saskatoon, SK, racked up 36 points (17g-19a) along with four penalty minutes in 17 regular season games with the Saskatoon Generals. He also added 11 points (3g-8a) in six playoff games. Evans also appeared in five games going pointless with the Saskatoon Contacts U18 team during the 2023-2024 season.
In the fifth round, the Hurricanes selected defenceman Finn Kelly with the 102nd overall pick. The 6’0, 173-pound rearguard skated in 26 regular season games with the Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA team where he collected five assists and 55 penalty minutes. The Rimbey, AB, product added two helpers and six penalty minutes in four playoff games while collecting one assist in five games at the Alberta U15 Provincials.
Lethbridge held two sixth round picks where they first chose Matteo Di Stefano with the 124th overall pick. The 6’1, 160-pound forward from Port Coquitlam, BC, totaled 34 points (11g-23a) along with 42 penalty minutes in 27 regular season games. Di Stefano picked up two points (1g-1a) and six penalty minutes in three post-season games.
The ‘Canes selected defenceman Colt Carter with their second sixth-round pick at 132nd overall. The right-shot defenceman spent the 2023-2024 season with the St. Albert U15 Sabres where he produced 55 points (25g-30a) along with four penalty minutes in just 34 regular season games. Carter added 10 points (4g-6a) in four playoff games with the Sabres while adding 12 points (3g-9a) ain five games at the Alberta U15 Provincials.
With their seventh-round selection (146th overall), the Hurricanes picked forward Eric Berger. The 6’1, 165-pound forward from Virden, MB, spent the 2023-2024 season with the Southwest Cougars of the WPU15 league where he collected 66 points (41g-25a) with 40 penalty minutes in 32 games. Berger collected an addition 11 points (7g-4a) in nine post-season games.
With the 168th overall, the ‘Canes chose defenceman Tate Serfas. The 6’1, 160-pound rearguard from Lake Country, BC, played with the RHA Kelowna U15 Prep team appearing in 26 games totaling seven points (1g-6a) and 14 penalty minutes. Serfas was held pointless in three playoff games.
The Hurricanes took another forward in the ninth-round (190th overall) selecting Grady McNish. The Rivers, MB, product collected 46 points (25g-21a) along with 12 penalty minutes in 32 regular season games with the Yellowhead Chiefs U14 AAA team. He had an impressive playoff where he racked up 24 points (15g-9a) in 11 post-season games.
The ‘Canes selected two additional forward and two defenceman in the later rounds of the draft. Lethbridge selected Dawson Spence in the 11th round (234th overall) from the Lethbridge Golden Hawks U15 AAA team. The Lethbridge, AB, product produced 24 points (10g-14a) along with 22 penalty minutes in 34 games while added two goals in three playoff games.
In the 12th round (256th overall), the Hurricanes chose forward Kale Breton. The 6’3, 181-pound forward from Lac La Biche, AB, scored 10 goals and 25 assists in 26 games with 52 penalty minutes with the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 team. He added 10 points in the playoffs.
The Hurricanes selected defenceman Maysen Devries in the 13th round (278th overall). The Abbotsford, BC, product collected 15 points (4g-11a) along with four penalty minutes in 25 games with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U15 team. He added two assists in one game with the U17 Thunderbirds.
The ‘Canes final pick – in the 14th round (289th overall) – was defenceman Lucas Jacobson. The 6’1, 155-pound defenceman from Banff, AB, appeared in 22 games with the Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA team where he totaled three points (1g-2a) along with 14 penalty minutes.
In total, the Hurricanes drafted 17 players, including nine forwards, six defencemen and two goaltenders in the WHL Prospects Draft and the US Priority Draft this week. The Canadian Hockey League will host the annual CHL Import Draft on Wednesday, July 3rd.
Season Tickets for the 2024-2025 season Hurricanes season, including the new premium season ticket, are now available for purchase. Season Tickets can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.
