Rockets make ten selections in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft
The Kelowna Rockets selected a total of 10 players in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft that took place online today, including one goaltender, four defencemen and five forwards.
It was Rockets head scout Terry McFaul’s first WHL Prospect Draft since taking over the position from Lorne Frey. Typically held in May, the draft was pushed back to December due to Covid-19 to give teams time to evaluate players.
“The draft went very well,” said McFaul. “It was an off draft because you didn’t get to see the kids as much as you normally would in a normal year, we’re satisfied with how it went and with the kids that we selected today.
“The kids grow a lot over the summer, you really have to spread your scouts out to catch them. We tried to hit everything that we could, I thought that we did a pretty good job. I’ve been all over the place, Lorne has been all over, our team of scouts have done a great job.”
With their first pick of the day, the Rockets selected right shot defenceman Gabriel Guilbault in the third round (No. 61) from the Burnaby Winter Club U18 Prep of the CSSHL.
Guilbault, 15, has posted five assists and six penalty minutes through 11 games this season with the U18 Prep team.
The Burnaby product was named the 2019-20 Bantam Varsity Division MVP.
The 6’2″, 163-pound defenceman represented British Columbia at the 2021 WHL Cup, registering an assist and tw0 penalty minutes.
“We’re very excited to Gabriel in the third round. He’s a big defenceman, moves the puck well, good skater, can be physical and has some offence to him. He’s got lot’s of bite to his game, he’s going to be a good player.”
Our newest defenceman has got moves! pic.twitter.com/E5SgnRf0dG
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) December 9, 2021
Round 3, pick 61
PLAYER: Gabriel Guilbault
POSITION: Defence
HEIGHT: 6’2
WEIGHT: 163
BIRTHDATE: Jan. 7, 2006
HOMETOWN: Burnaby, BC
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-20 | Burnaby Winter Club U15 Varsity (CSSHL) | 30 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 14 |
| 2020-21 | Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep (CSSHL) | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Burnaby Winter Club U18 Prep (CSSHL) | 11 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
Round 6, pick 127
PLAYER: Logan Peskett
POSITION: F
HEIGHT: 6’2
WEIGHT: 178
BIRTHDATE: Sept. 14, 2006
HOMETOWN: North Vancouver, BC
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-20 | Vancouver NW Hawks U15 AAA (BCEHL) | 28 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 52 |
| 2020-21 | Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep G (CSSHL) | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 2021-22 | West Van Academy U18 Prep (CSSHL) | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 18 |
Round 7, pick 149
PLAYER: Cutter Knight
POSITION: RD
HEIGHT: 6’1
WEIGHT: 180
BIRTHDATE: Feb. 7, 2006
HOMETOWN: Swift Current, SK
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-20 | Swift Current Broncos U15 AA (SAAHL) | 31 | 1 | 24 | 25 | 8 |
| 2020-21 | Swift Current Broncos U15 AA (SAAHL) | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | Estevan Bears U18 AAA (SMAAAHL) | 24 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 26 |
Round 8, pick 171
PLAYER: Luke Mackenzie
POSITION: C/RW
HEIGHT: 5’11
WEIGHT: 167
BIRTHDATE: Aug. 14, 2006
HOMETOWN: Pipestone, MB
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-20 | Southwest Cougars U15 AAA (WAAA) | 35 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 15 |
| 2020-21 | Southwest Cougars U15 AAA (WAAA) | 8 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 10 |
| 2021-22 | Southwest Cougars U18 AAA (MU18HL) | 24 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 26 |
Round 9, pick 189
PLAYER: Brendan McFatridge
POSITION: F
HEIGHT: 5’10
WEIGHT: 165
BIRTHDATE: Jan. 9, 2006
HOMETOWN: Fort Saskatchewan, AB
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-20 | Fort Sask. Rangers U15 AAA (AMBHL) | 21 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Fort Sask. Rangers U15 AAA (AEHL) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | Fort Sask. Rangers U16 (AEHL) | 17 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 18 |
Round 9, pick 195
PLAYER: Jacob Labant
POSITION: F
HEIGHT: 6’3
WEIGHT: 192
BIRTHDATE: Apr. 5, 2006
HOMETOWN: St. Paul, AB
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-20 | OHA Edmonton U15 Prep (CSSHL) | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 36 |
| 2020-21 | OHA Edmonton U15 Prep (CSSHL) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | OHA Edmonton U18 Prep (CSSHL) | 21 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 28 |
Round 10, pick 218
PLAYER: Jacob Morris
POSITION: G
HEIGHT: 5’11
WEIGHT: 190
BIRTHDATE: Apr. 8, 2006
HOMETOWN: Regina, SK
| Season | Team | GP | GAA | SV% | RECORD |
| 2019-20 | Regina Aces U15 AA (SAAHL) | 17 | 4.84 | .865 | 5-11-0 |
| 2020-21 | Regina Aces U15 AA (SAAHL) | 3 | 6.33 | .822 | 1-2-0 |
Round 11, pick 237
PLAYER: Rowan Guest
POSITION: LD
HEIGHT: 6’3
WEIGHT: 167
BIRTHDATE: Jan. 31, 2006
HOMETOWN: Saskatoon, SK
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-20 | Saskatoon Bandits U15 (SAAHL) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | Saskatoon Generals U15 (SAAHL) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | Saskatoon Contacts U18 (SMAAAHL) | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Round 12, pick 259
PLAYER: Ismail Abougouche
POSITION: LD
HEIGHT: 6’1
WEIGHT: 165
BIRTHDATE: Jan. 30, 2006
HOMETOWN: Lac La Biche, AB
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-20 | Fort Sask. Rangers U15 (AMBHL) | 32 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 43 |
| 2020-21 | Fort Sask. Rangers U15 AAA (AEHL) | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2021-22 | Fort Sask. Rangers U16 (AEHL) | 17 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 28 |
Round 12, pick 281
PLAYER: Kayden Longley
POSITION: F
HEIGHT: 6’1
WEIGHT: 158
BIRTHDATE: Jan. 29, 2006
HOMETOWN: Wainwright, AB
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-20 | POE U15 Prep (CSSHL) | 27 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 8 |
| 2020-21 | Rink K U15 Prep (CSSHL) | 5 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Northern Alberta Xtreme U16 (CSSHL) | 14 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 18 |
