Trio of Wheat Kings taken in 2025 NHL Draft
Brandon Sun
Perry Bergson
Three Brandon Wheat Kings were taken in the National Hockey League draft on the weekend.
After the Anaheim Ducks took forward Roger McQueen 10th overall in the first round, Carter Klippenstein went in the fourth round 123rd overall to the Minnesota Wild, Brandon goalie Burke Hood of the Vancouver Giants was snagged in the sixth round with the 170th overall pick by the New York Islanders, and Anaheim went outside Central Scouting’s final draft rankings to take Wheat Kings forward Brady Turko in the seventh round, 200th overall.
It was the NHL’s first decentralized draft, which meant teams each set up their own remote war rooms in their cities and only the top 50 prospects were invited to Los Angeles.
Shortly after the six-foot-five, 198-pound McQueen was selected, his entire contingent of more than 30 people were taken to the Magic Kingdom from downtown L.A. to Disney by helicopter.
“That’s awesome,” McQueen told the Orange County Register. “I’ve got two younger sisters, too, that’ll love that. There are, I think, 30 of us, and there’ll be so many people that’ll love that and it’s awesome that they’re doing that.”
Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek told the Anaheim website the Ducks did extensive research into McQueen’s health, and were comfortable with the state of his back. That made taking a player Verbeek really appreciates a no-brainer.
“There’s certainly power forward written all over him in how he plays the game. He has a little bit of a mean side to him, which I like,” Verbeek said. “There’s a high compete there with him. And so I think that when we went through the injuries that he had, I think that we felt comfortable drafting him just all the things that he’s gone through to overcome the injury that we felt comfortable drafting him.”
Verbeek said the team is especially excited by his skill, noting he’ll need a full season somewhere before turning pro.
“Whatever Roger decides,” Verbeek said. “I think a lot of kids are being asked to do that, and we’ll leave that up to Roger that it’ll be his decision. And I don’t think that we really can interfere with that too much.
“He can ask us our opinion, but it’s really, at the end of the day, it’s his decision to decide what he’s going to do.”
Klippenstein had his family and close friends with him today, and they had the chance to celebrate with him in the fourth round when Minnesota took him.
“It’s surreal,” Klippenstein said. “You dream of it as a kid. When you see it pop up you don’t really believe it and triple check it and then it finally sets in. It actually probably still setting in. I’m ecstatic and very happy to have this opportunity.”
The fact he could share the experience with his Wheat Kings teammates McQueen and Turko made it even better, even though the three of them were in very different geographic locations.
“That was awesome,” Klippenstein said. “Obviously, Day 1 I was waiting for Roger to hear his name called and seeing him on a helicopter five minutes later was awesome for him. Watching it after all the stress was out and seeing Turks’ name come up was also awesome to see.”
The six-foot-three, 180-pound Klippenstein was assigned a C grade in Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list, ranked 121st among North American skaters in the mid-term report and ended up 88th in the final rankings.
“Carter is a hard-nosed two-way centre who excels on the penalty kill,” Wild director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett told the team’s website.
Klippenstein flew to Minneapolis from Calgary early Sunday morning for the camp, which won’t include any skating and instead is an orientation week.
“It’s like I almost don’t know what to do because I don’t have time to do anything,” Klippenstein said on Saturday evening as he prepared for the trip. “I’m just getting ready to go right now and have to drive to Calgary tonight and then I’m on a flight and I’m there. It’s an awesome experience and I’m grateful for all of it.”
Klippenstein was certainly thankful for the team and league who got him there. He acknowledged the Wheat Kings and WHL played a big role in making him a better player.
“It’s the premier development league,” Klippenstein said. “Teams are coming to watch us because it’s great hockey. That’s why I came this route and I can’t say a bad thing about it.”
Turko was the surprise of the group. While the six-foot, 167-pound forward never made any of Central Scouting’s lists, his play did draw the attention of pro scouts and he spoke to a few teams.
“Everyone is a little uncertain,” Turko said a few hours after he was picked. “You never know what can happen with the draft. I talked to a couple of teams and you just keep your hopes high. Luckily for me, it did work out and I’m grateful for the chance.”
The talented 17-year-old forward, who turns 18 in September, had seven goals and 19 assists in 68 games last season in his rookie WHL campaign. A season earlier, he lit up the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League with 41 goals and 49 assists in 41 games.
I thought this year was a good stepping stone for me,” Turko said. “Everyone’s first year in the Western League is a step up from whatever league they came from and there are challenges along the way. I persevered through them and thought the Wheat Kings did a great job of developing me as a player. I’m super excited for next year.”
He was one of just three Wheat Kings to play every game last season, joining Marcus Nguyen and Matteo Michels.
On Saturday, his family and a buddy were also on hand at Clear Lake as they monitored the proceedings.
“Obviously being a draft-eligible guy you’re kind of looking at it and seeing what’s going on, and seeing where your buddies go and teammates and friends I grew up with up playing with that I know had a chance to get drafted,” Turko said. “It was a pretty surreal feeling when I saw my name on the screen.”
Anaheim’s franchise is famously named after the 1992 movie The Mighty Ducks, which means many players have a slightly different relationship with the Ducks than with other teams. The team joined the NHL for the 1993-94 season.
“I grew up watching The Mighty Ducks for sure,” Turko said. “Every hockey kid has. It’s a great place to go to and I’m super excited for it.”
He flew to California on Sunday.
“It’s pretty crazy to even think about, getting drafted and seeing your friends and teammates and people you know get drafted,” Turko added. “It’s still just sinking in right now, and it’s something me and those guys will cherish for the rest of our lives.”
A handful of players listed in the final rankings with local ties weren’t selected, including Wheat Kings forwards Luke Mistelbacher (93) and Joby Baumuller (167th) plus defenceman Grayson Burzynski (191st), along with Swift Current Broncos defenceman Josh McGregor of Brandon (111th) and Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Aiden Ziprick of Russell (162nd).
Of the 224 players selected, 93 came from the Canadian Hockey League, including 33 from the WHL. The WHL had 34 players taken in 2024 and 33 in 2023.
