Oil Kings to select third overall in 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft

The Western Hockey League announced on Thursday the Edmonton Oil Kings will select third overall in the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft after a lottery process previously held at the WHL office in Calgary, AB.

The inaugural WHL U.S. Prospects Draft is scheduled to be held Wednesday, March 25 at 2:00 PM MT from the WHL office. It will follow the inaugural WHL U.S. Challenge Cup presented by NHL Seattle and Visit Kent, which is set for February 20-23 in Seattle, WA. The WHL U.S. Challenge Cup will bring many of the top-rated U.S.-born players from seven teams to the Pacific Northwest to compete against five of the top-rated Bantam teams from the province of British Columbia.

The 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft will consist of two rounds (44 selections), with each WHL Club allotted two draft choices.

All 22 WHL Clubs had equal opportunity to obtain the first-overall selection. The Club designated to select first overall in the first round will then select last in the second round (44th overall). The Club designated to select second overall in the first round will then select second-last in the second round (43rd overall). This pattern of selection repeats until all 22 WHL Clubs have had the opportunity to make two choices. Thus, the Oil Kings hold the 3rd and 42nd overall selections.

Players eligible for the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft will be 2005-born players who reside in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Players not selected in the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft on Thursday, May 7 in Red Deer, AB, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.

2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft – Order of Selection