Braeden Cootes

Cootes was drafted 10th overall in the first round of the 2022 WHL draft from the Yale Hockey Academy. Making his WHL debut against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on January first, Cootes scored his first WHL point a day later in the Thunderbirds contest against the Everett Silvertips. Assisting Jared Davidsons game winning goal, Cootes earned the third star of the game in the Thunderbrids 6-3 win over the Silvertips. In 2023 Cootes was selected to represent team Canada red in the U-17 world juniors.