Western Hockey League completes 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft

Calgary, Alta. –  The Western Hockey League completed the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft with WHL Clubs selecting 46 players through the two-round draft today.

With the first-overall selection, the Brandon Wheat Kings called the name of 5-foot-11, 152-pound centre Levi Ellingsen (Pasco, Wash. / STAR Hockey Academy U15 Prep). In 34 games with the U15 Prep squad, Ellingsen tallied 54 points (24G-30A).

The sons of three NHL alumni were selected in Thursday’s WHL U.S. Priority Draft, including Cruise Armstrong (Mars, Penn. / Mount St. Charles Academy 14U), who was selected 14th overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds, and is son of former Red Deer Rebel Colby Armstrong.

Forward Joseph Cullen (Moorehead, Minn. / Minnesota Blue Ox 14U), selected 20th overall by the Victoria Royals, is the son of longtime NHL forward Matt Cullen.

Centre Derek Langkow (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 14U), selected 45th overall by the Moose Jaw Warriors, is the son of former Tri-City American and longtime NHL forward Daymond Langkow.

In total, 11 states had players selected in the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, including a leading 19 from Minnesota.

WHL Clubs drafted a total of 31 forwards, 13 defencemen, and two goaltenders.

2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft – State-by-State Breakdown

Minnesota – 19
Texas – 6
California – 5
Arizona – 4
Colorado – 4
Alaska – 2
Washington – 2
Kansas – 1
Montana – 1
North Dakota – 1
Pennsylvania – 1

2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft – First Round

#1 – Brandon Wheat Kings

Name: Levi Ellingsen                 Position: Centre             Hometown: Pasco, Wash.
Team: STAR Hockey Academy U15 Prep                         Stats: 34GP – 24G-30A–54 points

#2 – Moose Jaw Warriors

Name: RJ Thompson                 Position: Forward          Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Team: Detroit Little Caesars 14U AAA                             Stats: 20GP – 28G-34A–52 points

#3 – Edmonton Oil Kings

Name: Ezekiel Kaebel                Position: Forward          Hometown: Lewisville, Texas
Team: Dallas Stars Elite 14U                                          Stats: 59GP – 57G-55A–112 points

#4 – Penticton Vees

Name: Carter Morris                 Position: Forward          Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Team: Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres 14U                            Stats: 56GP – 45G-66A–111 points

#5 – Vancouver Giants

Name: Drew Wilkinson              Position: Centre             Hometown: Bozeman, Mont.
Team: Edge School U15 Prep                                         Stats: 34GP – 14G-13A–27 points

#6 – Red Deer Rebels

Name: Eli Bimmerle      Position: Right Wing                  Hometown: Bartonville, Texas
Team: Dallas Stars Elite 14U                                          Stats: 59GP – 50G-44A–94 points

#7 – Saskatoon Blades

Name: Max Suter                      Position: Right Wing      Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 14U                                      Stats: 4GP – 2G-2A–4 points

#8 – Prince George Cougars

Name: Carson Janko                  Position: Right Wing      Hometown: Highland Village, Texas
Team: Dallas Stars Elite 14U                                          Stats: 56GP – 38G-51A–89 points

#9 – Kelowna Rockets

Name: Drew McDevitt               Position: Centre             Hometown: Tustin, Calif.
Team: California Goldrush HC 14U                                 Stats: 55GP – 44G-30A–74 points 

#10 – Wenatchee Wild

Name: Jake Mintenko                Position: Centre             Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Team: Colorado Rampage 14U                                       Stats: 50GP – 42G-34A–76 points 

#11 – Tri-City Americans

Name: Riley Wolkove                Position: Centre             Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Team: Los Angeles Jr. Kings 14U                                     Stats: 54GP – 25G-13A–38 points 

#12 – Regina Pats

Name: Henry Buttweiler            Position: Right Wing      Hometown: Alexandria, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Blue Ox 14U                                       Stats: 22GP – 17G-23A–40 points 

#13 – Swift Current Broncos

Name: Easton Dozark                Position: Defence          Hometown: Moorhead, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Blue Ox 14U                                       Stats: 22GP – 9G-29A–38 points 

#14 – Seattle Thunderbirds

Name: Cruise Armstrong           Position: Forward          Hometown: Mars, Penn.
Team: Mount St. Charles Academy 14U                          Stats: 50GP – 5G-27A–32 points 

#15 – Kamloops Blazers

Name: Collin Kim                      Position: Defence          Hometown: Azusa, Calif.
Team: Anaheim Jr. Ducks 14U                                        Stats: 46GP – 31G-27A–58 points 

#16 – Medicine Hat Tigers

Name: Jake Burmis                    Position: Defence          Hometown: Rogers, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Green Giants 14U                               Stats: 13GP – 5G-3A–8 points 

#17 – Spokane Chiefs

Name: Parker Colmer                Position: Forward          Hometown: Olathe, Kansas
Team: Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres 14U                            Stats: 59GP – 57G-65A–122 points

#18 – Portland Winterhawks

Name: Maverick McKinnon        Position: Forward          Hometown: Forest Lake, Minn.
Team: Forest Lake High School Rangers                          Stats: 26GP – 22G-28A–50 points

#19 – Everett Silvertips

Name: Henry Meier                   Position: Forward          Hometown: Woodbury, Minn.
Team: Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres 14U                            Stats: 58GP – 33G-27A–60 points 

#20 – Victoria Royals

Name: Joseph Cullen                 Position: Forward          Hometown: Moorhead, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Blue Ox 14U                                       Stats: 5GP – 5G-6A–11 points 

#21 – Calgary Hitmen

Name: Gabriel Belanger             Position: Forward          Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Team: Detroit Little Caesars 14U                                    Stats: 21GP – 22G-12A–34 points

#22 – Prince Albert Raiders

Name: Gavin Hamelin                Position: Centre             Hometown: Prosper, Texas
Team: Dallas Stars Elite 14U                                          Stats: 59GP – 35G-53A–88 points

#23 – Lethbridge Hurricanes

Name: Cash Whitmore              Position: Centre             Hometown: Parker, Colo.
Team: Colorado Thunderbirds 14U                                Stats: 52GP – 50G-19A–69 points

2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft – Second Round

#24 – Lethbridge Hurricanes

Name: Drew Kortan                  Position: Defence          Hometown: Moorhead, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Blue Ox 14U                                       Stats: 21GP – 2G-12A–14 points

#25 – Prince Albert Raiders

Name: Mason Schemenauer      Position: Defence          Hometown: Chaska, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Lakers 14U                                         Stats: 17GP – 5G-11A–16 points

#26 – Calgary Hitmen

Name: Keegan Brown                Position: Centre             Hometown: Englewood, Colo.
Team: Colorado Thunderbirds 14U                                Stats: 51GP – 30G-55A–85 points

#27 – Penticton Vees

Name: Parker Deraney              Position: Defence          Hometown: Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Blue Ox 14U                                       Stats: 6GP – 1G-1A–2 points

#28 – Victoria Royals

Name: Dean Stevens                 Position: Forward          Hometown: Minnetonka, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Lakers 14U                                         Stats: 17GP – 25G-8A–33 points

#29 – Everett Silvertips

Name: Drayden Demas              Position: Defence          Hometown: Peoria, Ariz.
Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 14U                                      Stats: 4GP – 0G-3A–3 points

#30 – Portland Winterhawks

Name: Gavin Godbout               Position: Defence          Hometown: Woodbury, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Moose 14U                                        Stats: 21GP – 13G-8A–21 points

#31 – Spokane Chiefs

Name: Brody Johnson               Position: Goaltender     Hometown: Minnetrista, Minn.
Team: Shakopee Sabers 14U                                          Stats: 33GP – 19-12-2, 2.48, .916

#32 – Medicine Hat Tigers

Name: Bauer Sullivan                Position: Forward          Hometown: Rosemount, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Moose 14U                                        Stats: 20GP – 10G-15A–25 points

#33 – Kamloops Blazers

Name: Chase Gill                       Position: Defence          Hometown: Seal Beach, Calif.
Team: California Goldrush HC 14U                                 Stats: 54GP – 13G-35A–48 points

#34 – Seattle Thunderbirds

Name: Beckett Ertel                  Position: Centre             Hometown: Southlake, Texas
Team: Dallas Stars Elite 14U                                          Stats: 44GP – 25G-22A–47 points

#35 – Swift Current Broncos

Name: John Gramer                  Position: Left Wing        Hometown: Moorhead, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Blue Ox 14U                                       Stats: 22GP – 15G-31A–46 points

#36 – Regina Pats

Name: Tyler Kunz                      Position: Left Wing        Hometown: Grand Forks, N.D.
Team: Grand Forks Aviators AA 14U                               Stats: 52GP – 48G-42A–90 points

#37 – Tri-City Americans

Name: Blake Redpath                Position: Defence          Hometown: Denver, Colo.
Team: Colorado Thunderbirds 14U                                Stats: 52GP – 18G-25A–43 points

#38 – Wenatchee Wild

Name: Owen Kraft                    Position: Forward          Hometown: Moorhead, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Blue Ox 14U                                       Stats: 22GP – 15G-24A–39 points

#39 – Kelowna Rockets

Name: Ryan Lee                        Position: Left Wing        Hometown: Cypress, Calif.
Team: Los Angeles Jr. Kings 14U                                     Stats: 56GP – 27G-30A– 57 points

#40 – Prince George Cougars

Name: Landon Jackson              Position: Defence          Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 14U                                      Stats: 4GP – 1G-0A–1 point

#41 – Saskatoon Blades

Name: Charles Johnson             Position: Defence          Hometown: Keller, Texas
Team: Dallas Stars Elite 14U                                          Stats: 59GP – 4G-19A–23 points

#42 – Red Deer Rebels

Name: Paxson Madill                 Position: Forward          Hometown: Hermantown, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Voyageurs 14U                                  Stats: 17GP – 12G-14A–26 points

#43 – Vancouver Giants

Name: Daniel Makovetskiy        Position: Centre             Hometown: Renton, Wash.
Team: STAR Hockey Academy U15 Prep                         Stats: 36GP – 35G-35A–70 points

#44 – Edmonton Oil Kings

Name: Carter Nash                    Position: Goaltender     Hometown: Hermantown, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Voyageurs 14U                                  Stats: 9GP – 5-4-0, 2.80, .918

#45 – Moose Jaw Warriors

Name: Derek Langkow              Position: Centre             Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Team: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 14U                                      Stats: 4GP – 0G-1A–1 point

#46 – Brandon Wheat Kings

Name: Ayven Hontvet               Position: Defence          Hometown: Warroad, Minn.
Team: Minnesota Blue Ox 14U                                       Stats: 22GP – 5G-21A–26 points

Players eligible for the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2010-born players who have resided in the United States for two or more consecutive hockey seasons immediately preceding the WHL U.S. Priority Draft. Should a player’s family have moved from WHL territory in Canada to the U.S. for at least one complete season, the player will be eligible for the WHL U.S. Priority Draft. To be eligible for the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, a player must reside in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming.

Players not selected in the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, beginning in the second round.

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, Alta. 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.