WHL Stars of Tomorrow – U18 Prospects – February 21, 2024

The WHL Stars of Tomorrow series highlights the biggest and brightest prospects on the cusp of becoming household names in the Western Hockey League.

Each week, four of the WHL’s top U18 prospects will be featured with reports from league and team representatives.

The series will also give an update on 18 additional prospects as they navigate their 15- and 16-year-old seasons. 

 

JAXON JACOBSON – FORWARD – 2023 1ST ROUND PICK (5TH OVERALL)

Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA (MU18HL)

32 Games – 34 Goals – 61 Assists – 95 Points

Jaxon Jacobson,

in his WHL debut…
in his home town…
with his childhood team…

nets his first career WHL goal!@bdnwheatkings pic.twitter.com/RWghGhYtof

— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 9, 2023

“Jaxon’s hockey sense and creativity is his greatest attribute. He has the ability to create and make plays very quickly. Jaxon Is the type of player that makes everybody around him better. Jaxon is also an incredible competitor, he wants to win every puck battle and every shift. His drive to be better shows in his commitment and work ethic both on and off the ice. He is the type of player that makes you sit on the edge of your seat every time he has the puck in the offensive zone.”

– Chris Moulton (Brandon Wheat Kings Director of Hockey Operations)

“Jaxon is a talented player who has already shown the ability to produce at the WHL level this season as an AP. He has an innate ability to find quiet spaces in the offensive zone and can beat goaltenders clean from anywhere inside the tops of the circles. Jaxon competes hard and despite not being the biggest player, he wins the majority of his battles in all three zones. He is an exciting player that will add offense and energy to the Brandon Wheat Kings lineup next season.”

– Taylor Green (WHL Manager of Hockey Operations)

 

TY MEUNIER – FORWARD – 2023 1ST ROUND PICK (7TH OVERALL)

St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA (AEHL U18)

33 Games – 24 Goals – 24 Assists – 48 Points

“Ty is another character player with a high compete level. Offensively, he understands how to create by attacking seams and use his elite shot to score or vision and deception set up team mates.”

– Curtis Hunt (Prince Albert Raiders General Manager)

“Last year’s 7th overall pick has continued to prove why he is one of the best goal scorers in the 2008 age group with 24 goals in 33 games in the AEHL U18 this season. Ty is a dangerous offensive player who likes to get downhill and put pressure on opposing defenders. While his release is his most dangerous asset, Ty is just as comfortable crashing the crease and finishing in tight as he is off the rush or on the powerplay. He is underrated as a playmaker, understanding his ability to draw attention as a shooting threat and uses this to create time and space for teammates. Ty is on track to be a key piece in what is a deep and talented Raiders prospect pool.”

– Taylor Green (WHL Manager of Hockey Operations)

 

JOE IGINLA – FORWARD – 2023 1ST ROUND PICK (12TH OVERALL)

RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 (CSSHL U18)

25 Games – 16 Goals – 23 Assists – 39 Points

🚨 JOE IGINLA HAS HIS FIRST WHL GOAL 🚨@EdmOilKings | #2026NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/J7qMikVxPj

— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 18, 2023

“Joe is a driven young man and a dangerous offensive player. He shows a dynamic skillset that blends power with poise and the threat of shot or pass. Combined with a unique understanding of the game, he is able to be in the middle of the action constantly. Joe’s desire to continue to drive his abilities forward with a highly competitive nature is very exciting, and we look forward to his further growth and development in our program.”

– Michael Chan (Edmonton Oil Kings Director of Scouting)

“Joe is an explosive player both as a skater and as an offensive creator. He drives play with his pace and energy with the ability to be a disruptive forchecker.. Joe is at his most dangerous off the rush, with the ability to maintain puck possession at top speed and create both as a shooter and passer when entering the zone. His compete and work ethic round out a well balanced skill set that should produce plenty of offense in seasons to come with the Oil Kings.”

– Taylor Green (WHL Manager of Hockey Operations)

 

TOMMY LAFRENIERE – FORWARD – 2022 8TH ROUND PICK (174TH OVERALL)

Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep (CSSHL U18)

29 Games – 26 Goals – 28 Assists – 54 Points

“Tommy is an offensive forward that has really elevated his game over the past three seasons at Yale. He’s a competitive two way forward with an ability to score and make plays at high speed. We’re excited to get him into our program and look forward to helping him take the next step in his development in the Western Hockey League. ”

– Aaron Keller (Kamloops Blazers Director of Player Personnel)

“A late round pick in the 2022 draft, Tommy Lafreniere has since progressed into a top prospect in the Blazers organization. Tommy has great sense as a two-way player and contributes in all situations for the Yale Lions U18 club. The puck seems to follow him around in the offensive zone and he has a knack for finding open space, making him constantly available. Tommy has upped his pace this season and has used it to put defenders on their heels in transition and on zone entries. His blend of puck skills, vision, and shot make him a dangerous player with a number of ways to create offensively.”

– Taylor Green (WHL Manager of Hockey Operations)

 

ERIC TU – GOALTENDER – 2023 2ND ROUND PICK (31ST OVERALL)

St. George’s School U18 Prep (CSSHL U18)

10 Games – 2.08 GAA – .935 SV%

 

CORBIN SANDERMAN – GOALTENDER – 2022 4TH ROUND PICK (86TH OVERALL)

OHA Edmonton U18 Prep (CSSHL U18)

13 Games – 3.75 GAA – .897 SV%

 

LACHLAN STANIFORTH – DEFENCE – 2022 6TH ROUND PICK (122ND OVERALL)

Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18 (BCEHL U18)

34 Games – 1 Goal – 10 Assists – 11 Points

 

CARSEN ADAIR – DEFENCE – 2022 3RD ROUND PICK (55TH OVERALL)

Warman Wildcats U18 AAA (SMAAAHL)

40 Games – 6 Goals – 14 Assists – 20 Points

 

AVERY WATSON – FORWARD – 8TH ROUND PICK (159TH OVERALL)

Edmonton Jr. Oilers U18 AAA (AEHL U18)

36 Games – 7 Goals – 18 Assists – 25 Points

 

CARSON DEICHERT – FORWARD – 2023 3RD ROUND PICK (60TH OVERALL)

Moose Jaw Warriors U18 AAA (SMAAAHL)

41 Games – 6 Goals – 18 Assists – 24 Points

 

LUKE MYHRE – FORWARD – 2022 5TH ROUND PICK (106TH OVERALL)

Prairie Hockey Academy U18 Prep (CSSHL U18)

29 Games – 12 Goals – 10 Assists – 22 Points

 

KAYDEN LEMIRE – DEFENCE – 2023 2ND ROUND PICK (37TH OVERALL)

OHA Edmonton U18 Prep (CSSHL U18)

26 Games – 15 Goals – 15 Assists – 30 Points

 

STEVEN STERANKA – FORWARD – 2022 7TH ROUND PICK (148TH OVERALL)

Regina Pat Canadians U18 AAA (SMAAAHL)

43 Games – 33 Goals – 28 Poinst – 61 Points

 

ZACHARY LANSARD – FORWARD – 2023 4TH ROUND PICK (78TH OVERALL)

RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U18 (CSSHL U18)

10 Games – 4 Goals – 4 Assists – 8 Points

 

LOCHLAN TETARENKO – FORWARD – 2022 3RD ROUND PICK (62ND OVERALL)

Edge School U18 Prep (CSSHL U18)

26 Games – 6 Goals – 14 Assists – 20 Points

 

COLTON GERRIOR – FORWARD – 2023 4TH ROUND PICK (87TH OVERALL)

Burnaby Winter Club U17 Prep (CSSHL U17)

30 Games – 27 Goals – 27 Assists – 54 Points

 

KADEN ALLAN – DEFENCE – 2023 2ND ROUND PICK (24TH OVERALL)

RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U18 (CSSHL U18)

29 Games – 5 Goals – 16 Assists – 21 Points

 

BERNEY WESTON – GOALTENDER – 2022 4TH ROUND PICK (74TH OVERALL)

Swift Current Legionnaires U18 (SMAAAHL)

25 Games – 2.73 GAA – .922 SV%

 

CLAYTON GILLMORE – FORWARD – 2022 8TH ROUND PICK (156TH OVERALL)

Okanagan Rockets U18 AAA (BCEHL U18)

31 Games – 9 Goals – 12 Assists – 21 Points

 

BRAYDON RIGGALL – DEFENCE – 2023 3RD ROUND PICK (58TH OVERALL)

Calgary Northstars U18 AAA (AEHL U18)

36 Games – 6 Goals – 8 Assists – 14 Points

 

GRANT REID – FORWARD – 2022 3RD ROUND PICK (47TH OVERALL)

Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep (CSSHL U18)

27 Games – 12 Goals – 16 Assists – 28 Points

 

JUSTIN PERREAULT – GOALTENDER – 2022 12TH ROUND PICK (264TH OVERALL)

Winnipeg Bruins U18 AAA (MU18HL)

24 Games – 3.05 GAA – .907 SV%