Lethbridge Hurricanes – 2024 Draft Preview
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes prepare for another set of WHL Drafts this week, beginning with the 2024 US Priority Draft on Wednesday followed by the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday.
Draft week begins on Wednesday at 10:00am when the WHL hosts their fifth annual US Priority Draft where teams can select players in the United States region. Last year, the ‘Canes selected North McKee with the 14th overall pick while taking Logan Stuart in the second-round (36th overall) in the two-round draft. The Hurricanes will hold the 13th and 35th overall selections.
On Thursday, the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft will take place which will mark the 35th edition of the draft that began in 1990. The draft will begin at 10:00am featuring a first-round broadcast on CHLTV.
In the 2023 WHL Draft, the Hurricanes selected a total of 12 players – including six forwards, five defencemen and one goaltender. The ‘Canes first-round selection Dayne Beuker – who has committed to the US National Development Team – is the only player picked in the top five rounds who has not signed with the Hurricanes. Since the 2023 Draft, Lethbridge has signed Chase Petersen, Gavin Lesiuk, Will Scott, Grady Pichette and Brody Rotar to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreements – three of whom made their WHL debuts during the 2023-2024 regular season.
Lethbridge will hold at least one selection in each of the first nine rounds of the Prospects Draft, beginning with the 13th overall pick. The ‘Canes selections are:
1st round – 13th overall
2nd round – 32nd overall (via Vancouver – acquired in the Tyson Zimmer trade)
3rd round – 58th overall
4th round – 80th overall
5th round – 102nd overall
6th round – 113th overall (via Tri-City – acquired in the Jared Picklyk trade)
6th round – 124th overall
6th round – 132nd overall (via Prince George – acquired in the Ross Stanley trade)
7th round – 146th overall
8th round – 168th overall
9th round – 190th overall
11th round – 234th overall
12th round – 256th overall
13th round – 278th overall
14th round – 300th overall
15th round – 322nd overall
The Hurricanes traded selections include:
2nd round – 35th overall (traded to Victoria Royals in Nolan Bentham trade)
10th round – 212th overall (traded to Prince George)
The 2024 Draft marks the third time the Hurricanes have selected 13th overall. Previously, Lethbridge drafted Kenny Petkau (2002) and David Trofimenkoff (1990) with the 13th overall selection. Petkau went on to play 232 regular season games in the WHL, suiting up 134 games with the Hurricanes totaling 32 points (16g-16a) along with 79 penalty
minutes while Trofimenkoff spent parts of four season with the Hurricanes appearing in 101 career games as he sits as one of only eight goaltenders in ‘Canes history to play in over 100-games.
Other notable 13th overall selections over the 34-year history of the WHL Prospects Draft include:
2023 – Tri-City Americans – Cruz Pavao
2020 – Brandon Wheat Kings – Quinn Mantei
2018 – Victoria Royals – Nolan Bentham
2017 – Swift Current Broncos – Ben King
2012 – Victoria Royals – Chas Reddekopp
2010 – Tri-City Americans – Eric Comrie
2009 – Kootenay ICE – Colby Cave
1997 – Regina Pats – Garth Murray
Lethbridge Hurricanes US Priority and WHL Draft history:
US Draft – https://bit.ly/4aaKBUP
WHL Draft – https://bit.ly/3UOXcIE
The 2024 WHL Prospects Draft includes players born in 2009. The WHL Draft includes players eligible from Western Canada and the United States who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The 2024 US Priority Draft will take place beginning at 10:00am on Thursday, May 8th while the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft will commence at 10:00am on Thursday, May 9th with a live WHL Draft Show for the first round. You can follow the two drafts online at www.chl.ca/whl/draft or watch.chl.ca.