Raiders select 11 players at 2024 WHL Prospects Draft Presented by Windsor Plywood Prince Albert
The next wave of Prince Albert Raiders was chosen on Thursday during the WHL Prospects Draft Presented by Windsor Plywood Prince Albert. Six forwards, four defenceman, and one goaltender saw their names get called by Prince Albert.
After Landon DuPont went first overall to the Everett Silvertips, the Raiders used the second overall pick to select defenceman Brock Cripps from St. George’s School U15 Prep. In 26 games this season, Cripps was an offensive talent on the blue line, scoring 25 goals and adding 45 assists for 70 points, while winning multiple CSSHL awards, including the U15 Prep MVP.
Prince Albert made a trade with the Kelowna Rockets to acquire the fourth overall pick, trading away the ninth overall pick, a third round pick, and a 2025 fifth round pick in exchange. The green and gold used that fourth overall pick to grab NAX’s Ben Harvey, a right handed centreman. In 27 games with the U15 club, Harvey scored 19 goals and had 33 assists.
With the 31st overall pick, the Raiders took Prince Albert’s own Connor Howe, the little brother of Regina Pats star, Tanner Howe. The captain of the Prince Albert Pirates U15AA club, Howe was a threat with the puck, scoring 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points in just 16 games, averaging just under three points per game.
With their first pick in the third round, Prince Albert selected defenceman Liam Myhre from Nipawin, SK. He played for the North East Wolfpack this season, scoring 18 goals and adding 35 assists.
The Raiders then used their second third round pick to take another forward, this time going to Calgary to select Kyle Obobaifo, a strong power forward. The left handed winger scored 20 goals and picked up 18 helpers in 20 games with the Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep team.
Prince Albert took defenceman Nathan Castonguay in the fourth round. From Fort McMurray, Alberta, Castonguay scored six goals and added 24 assists playing for the St. Albert Sabres U15AAA club.
In the fifth round, the Raiders went the Manitoba route, selecting forward Knox Burton out of RHA Winnipeg. In 27 games with the team, Burton scored 15 goals and also had 18 assists.
Another Prince Albert kid saw his name taken by his hometown team, as the Raiders picked up Declan Borthwick in the sixth round. Borthwick was Howe’s teammate on the Prince Albert Pirates U15AA club, and was also a scoring machine. In 28 games, Borthwick scored 32 goals to go along with 25 assists.
The seventh round saw the green and gold select a player with an ex-NHL’er. Kade Corbet, son of Rene Corbet, was taken by the Raiders. The defenceman played for the Calgary Flames U15AAA squad this season, where he scored three goals and added 11 assists. His father, Rene, played six seasons in the NHL, spending time with the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins. While he was playing overseas when his pro career was winding down, Kade was actually born in Germany while he was playing for Adler Mannheim in the DEL.
The Raiders took their first and only goaltender of the draft in the eighth round, selecting Chase Kettles, who played for the Winnipeg Wild in 2023-24.
Rounding out the Raiders’ draft picks was forward Zack House, a Houston, TX product who suited up for the Houston Jr. Aeros 14UAA club this season.
