US Priority Draft set for Wednesday
BRANDON, M.B. – The Western Hockey League will conduct the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft and 2023 WHL Prospects Draft online this Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Real-time results will be available at https://whl.ca/draft. The Wheat Kings have a pair of selections in the US Priority Draft. Pick #6 and Pick #28. Last season the Wheat Kings had the #2 selection where they picked Jake Stuart, the son of former Regina Pat and long time NHLer Brad Stuart.
2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft
Wednesday, May 10 at 11 a.m. CST
The Spokane Chiefs hold the first-overall selection in the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.
The 2023 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.
2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft – First Round Order of Selection
1) Spokane Chiefs
2) Victoria Royals
3) Edmonton Oil Kings
4) Swift Current Broncos
5) Prince Albert Raiders
6) Brandon Wheat Kings
7) Kelowna Rockets
8) Vancouver Giants
9) Medicine Hat Tigers
10) Everett Silvertips
11) Calgary Hitmen
12) Regina Pats
13) Tri-City Americans
14) Lethbridge Hurricanes
15) Prince George Cougars
16) Moose Jaw Warriors
17) Portland Winterhawks
18) Red Deer Rebels
19) Saskatoon Blades
20) Kamloops Blazers
21) Seattle Thunderbirds
22) Winnipeg ICE
The order of selection was determined on March 29, 2023 through the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery. All six WHL Clubs that did not qualify for the 2023 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 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, with inverse order of standing from the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the second round.
Players eligible for the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2008-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 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 11, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.
The first WHL U.S. Priority Draft was held in 2020.
