Pats 2024 Prospect Update Pt. 2
Regina, Sask. — Leading up to next week’s WHL Prospects Draft, the Regina Pats will be providing an update on the current state of its prospect pool, including both signed and unsigned prospects in a four-part series.
Yesterday, we highlighted signed prospects from before the 2023 draft. Today, we continue by highlighting the five signed prospects from the 2023 Draft. Thursday, we look at unsigned drafted players prior to the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.
*Note: The order of these prospects are done by position and alphabetically.
Pt. 2: SIGNED PROSPECTS (2023 Draft)
Jett Deschamps | 2008 Defenceman | RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U17
Deschamps, 15, was named U17 Prep Tier 2 First Team All-Star. The Headingley, Man. product tallied 20 points (3G-17A) in 30 games this last season. The 5-foot-7, 121 lb. left-shot defenceman was drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. He was also nominated for the U17 Prep Tier II Division Top Defenceman.
“All indications from his coaches and our two scouts in Manitoba say he’s coming along. He was undersized when we drafted him so we have to be patient. He’s a kid with a lot of confidence and he believes in himself. You just have to let mother nature take its course and wait for him to grow a few inches and get stronger, heavier. He’s just a kid with a lot of patience on the ice and when we drafted him, he didn’t back down from anybody. He plays with a purpose out there and he wants to win.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin
Fenton Mann | 2008 Defenceman | Winnipeg Wild U18 AAA
Mann, 16, recorded eight points (2G-6A) in 40 games with the Wild last season. The 6-foot-2, 175 lb. left-shot defenceman from Winnipeg, Man. was drafted by the Pats in the seventh round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft after tallying 31 points (8G-23A) in 33 contests with the Wild’s U15 AAA program, earning Second All-Star Team honours.
“He’s come a long way, and I think we anticipated that when we signed him as a group. He’s got some purpose in his game, he’s got some edge in his game, he plays physical and he thinks the game pretty well. He can probably play in your top-four, play a shutdown role and add some offence in time. They all do if they do their part. I don’t think we projected Parker Berge to be a power play guy when we drafted him so these kids all evolve and change at different times. As a group, we just need to believe in the player and give him the proper guidance. Hopefully they grab the bull by the horns and run with it.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin
Zachary Lansard | 2008 Forward | RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U18
Lansard, 15, picked up eight points (4G-4A) in 10 games this past season as spending the majority of the year on the injured list. The St. Anne, Man. product was drafted by the Pats in the fourth-round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft and tallied 41 points (17G-24A) in 30 games in 2022-23 with the Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg (U15 Prep), finishing fourth on his team in points and third in goals. The 5-foot-11, 150 lb. right-shot forward also played with Team Manitoba at the 2017-18 Brick Invitational.
“He had a tough go with an upper-body injury, but he’s healed up and he’s coming along, shooting pucks. He’s built like a hockey player and that’s hard to describe in some peoples eyes but he’s just got the frame. He’s stretched up and might still be growing. I think he displays top-six ability and if he does his part, he’s got all the tools to take this game a long way.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin
Cohen Klassen | 2008 Forward | Warman Wildcats U18 AAA
Klassen, 15, produced 26 points (11G-15A) in 32 games in 2023-24 with the Wildcats, as well as three points (2G-1A) in five playoff games. The Martensville, Sask. product was the Pats first selection of the 2023 WHL Prospects draft, going in the third round, 51st overall. The 5-foot-10, 155 lb. left-shot forward tallied 61 points (32G-29A) in 24 games in 2022-23 with the Martensville Marauders, leading his team in goals, assists and points. His 32 goals were T-10th in the SAAHL U15 league.
“Their coach in Warman thought what we thought of him as a player because he played a ton. Courage Bear (Wildcats head coach) is a hard nose coach and encourages kids to play hard, compete and battle. Cohen must have been doing his part. I think he’s a player who has top-six ability. He’s stretching still, skates well and just a great kid, too. He wants to be a player and get to the next level. Whether it’s with us next year or back in Warman for another year, who knows.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin
Cameron Kuzma | 2008 Forward | Notre Dame Hounds U18 AAA
Kuzma, 15, finished the 2023-24 season with 31 points (16G-15A) in 37 games, leading the Hounds in goals and points. The St. Albert, Alta. product also played nine games with the Pats, adding one assist. The 6-foot-2, 181 lb. left-shot centre recorded 16 points (4G-12A) in 11 games with Delta’s U15 team before adding 22 points (10G-12A) in just eight games with HC Edmonton’s U15 club. Kuzma was drafted in the third round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.
“From watching him this past year, he played the way we thought he would play based off what we projected. He’s probably still growing into his body. You have to be careful projecting players but he has got what I believe to be a strong player down the road. All the reports say he’s a modal citizen off the ice from school work, training and everything. He is obviously doing the right things and I think when he gets with the group in Regina, this kid has a lot of upside.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin
