Western Hockey League to host 2024 U.S. Priority and Prospects Drafts this week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League will conduct the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft and 2024 WHL Prospects Draft online this Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Real-time results will be available at WHL.ca.
The 2024 WHL Prospects Draft will be livestreamed on WHL Live on CHL TV and the WHL’s YouTube channel, with pre-show coverage beginning at 9:30 a.m. MT and first-round coverage getting underway at 10 a.m. MT.
Hosted by Cami Kepke (WHL Manager, Communications) with analysis from former WHL defenceman Taylor Green (WHL Manager, Hockey Operations), fans can look forward to in-depth coverage, analysis, and insight from all WHL Clubs participating in the first round of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.
Granted Exceptional Player Status on Monday, April 8, it is expected that defenceman Landon DuPont (Calgary, Alta. / Edge School U18 Prep) will hear his name called atop the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft. The Everett Silvertips hold the first-overall selection in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.
Recent first-overall selections include 2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Year Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers, 2022), Spokane Chiefs forward Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs, 2021), Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard (Regina Pats, 2020), New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds, 2012), and Edmonton Oilers star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels, 2008).
2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft
Wednesday, May 8 at 10 a.m. MT
The Regina Pats will select first overall in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.
The 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will consist of two rounds and 44 selections, with each WHL Club presented with the opportunity to make two draft choices.
2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft – Order of Selection
FIRST ROUND | SECOND ROUND |
1. Regina Pats | 23. Kamloops Blazers |
2. Seattle Thunderbirds | 24. Tri-City Americans |
3. Calgary Hitmen | 25. Regina Pats |
4. Tri-City Americans | 26. Seattle Thunderbirds |
5. Edmonton Oil Kings | 27. Edmonton Oil Kings |
6. Kamloops Blazers | 28. Calgary Hitmen |
7. Spokane Chiefs | 29. Spokane Chiefs |
8. Victoria Royals | 30. Victoria Royals |
9. Prince Albert Raiders | 31. Prince Albert Raiders |
10. Vancouver Giants | 32. Vancouver Giants |
11. Kelowna Rockets | 33. Kelowna Rockets |
12. Wenatchee Wild | 34. Wenatchee Wild |
13. Lethbridge Hurricanes | 35. Lethbridge Hurricanes |
14. Brandon Wheat Kings | 36. Brandon Wheat Kings |
15. Red Deer Rebels | 37. Red Deer Rebels |
16. Medicine Hat Tigers | 38. Medicine Hat Tigers |
17. Swift Current Broncos | 39. Swift Current Broncos |
18. Moose Jaw Warriors | 40. Moose Jaw Warriors |
19. Everett Silvertips | 41. Everett Silvertips |
20. Portland Winterhawks | 42. Portland Winterhawks |
21. Prince George Cougars | 43. Prince George Cougars |
22. Saskatoon Blades | 44. Saskatoon Blades |
The order of selection was determined Wednesday, March 27 through the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery. All six WHL Clubs that did not qualify for the 2024 WHL Playoffs participated in the lottery. The lottery proceedings determined the order of selection for the first six picks in the first round of the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, which inverse order of standings from the 2023-24 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the second round.
Players eligible for the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2009-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 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 9, 2024, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.
Since the first WHL U.S. Priority Draft was hosted in 2020, a number of impact players have heard their names called, including Blake Fiddler (Edmonton Oil Kings, 2022), Quentin Bourne (Red Deer Rebels, 2021) and Gracyn Sawchyn (Seattle Thunderbirds, 2020).
2024 WHL Prospects Draft
Thursday, May 9 at 10 a.m. MT
WATCH LIVE – Pre-show at 9:30 a.m. MT / WHL Prospects Draft at 10 a.m. MT
The first round of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, including a 30-minute pre-show, will be livestreamed FREE via WHL Live on CHL TV and the WHL’s YouTube channel. The 2024 WHL Prospects Draft pre-show begins at 9:30 a.m. MT with host Cami Kepke and analyst Taylor Green, with live draft coverage beginning at 10 a.m. MT.
The Everett Silvertips hold the first-overall selection in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, as determined by the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery on March 27, 2024.
The Prince Albert Raiders own the second-overall pick in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, moving up from fourth to second after winning the draft lottery. This is the second consecutive season in which the Raiders have enjoyed a selection in the top two of the draft, having drafted defenceman Daxon Rudolph first overall and forward Riley Boychuk second overall in 2023.
2024 WHL Prospects Draft – First Round Order of Selection
- Everett Silvertips (from Kamloops)
- Prince Albert Raiders (from Seattle)
- Tri-City Americans
- Kelowna Rockets (via trades from Regina)
- Edmonton Oil Kings
- Calgary Hitmen
- Spokane Chiefs
- Victoria Royals
- Prince Albert Raiders
- Vancouver Giants
- Seattle Thunderbirds (via trades from Kelowna)
- Wenatchee Wild
- Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Brandon Wheat Kings
- Red Deer Rebels
- Medicine Hat Tigers
- Swift Current Broncos
- Victoria Royals (from Moose Jaw)
- Everett Silvertips
- Portland Winterhawks
- Prince George Cougars
- Kamloops Blazers (from Saskatoon)
The order of selection for the second round and all subsequent rounds will be the inverse order of the final 2023-24 WHL Regular Season standings. The complete order of selection for the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft can be found at WHL.ca.
Players eligible for the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft are 2009-born players 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.
Players not selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.