Here’s where Sask. WHL teams will pick in Wednesday’s prospects draft

Western Hockey League logo (Photo courtesy WHL)

The first round of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) prospects draft is scheduled for Wednesday and Saskatchewan teams are expected to be busy as they look toward building for the future.

For the second time in five years, the Regina Pats hold the first overall pick in the draft.

The Pats last selected first overall in 2020, when they drafted now Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard.

Regina also holds the 23rd overall pick in the first round, along with three picks in the second round – giving them five selections in the first 50 slots of the draft.

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Elsewhere in the first round, Prince Albert owns the 16th overall pick, Moose Jaw sits at 18 and Saskatoon is in the 22nd spot Wednesday.

Swift Current does not have a first-round pick after trading it to the Wenatchee Wild in the Connor Geekie acquisition in January 2024.

The first round of the WHL’s prospects draft is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time on Victory+.

The U.S. priority draft and rounds 2-15 of the WHL Draft will take place throughout the day on Thursday.

Maddox Schultz

According to online statistical hockey resource Elite Prospects, Regina’s Maddox Schultz is the number one ranked prospect for this year’s WHL draft.

The 15-year-old phenom has received national recognition throughout the past year and cemented himself as the best player in the 2025 draft while at the Telus Cup in April. Schultz led the tournament in goals (9), assists (11), and points (20) - recoding two hat-tricks and the overtime winner in the final game that crowned the Regina Pat Canadians Male U18 AAA national champions for the first time since 1999.

He was then named tournament MVP.

Schultz dominated the SMAAAHL regular season as well, recording a league leading 43 goals, 50 assists and 93 points in 44 games, at 14-years-old.

He added 22 points in 10 playoff games, helping the Pat Canadians to a league championship and was then vital in a perfect sweep of the western regional tournament for the Pat Canadians, giving them a spot in the Telus Cup.

Schultz elected not to pursue exceptional status with the Canadian Hockey League that would allow him to play full-time next season at 15, however, thanks to new league rules he will be eligible to play up to 34 WHL games in the 2025-26 season.

If Schutlz is selected by the Pats Wednesday, it would be the sixth time a Saskatchewan product has gone first overall since 2000.

Other players on the list include Berkley Catton (2021), Alex Forsberg (2010), Derrick Pouliot (2009), Jared Cowan (2006) and Brayden Cobourn (2000).

Other Saskatchewan Talent

Elite Prospects has three other Saskatchewan players rated to go in the first round of the WHL draft.

Regina defenseman Ryker Doka is the 9th rated prospect according to the online publication.

Doka spent last season with Delta Academy in the U15 Prep Canadian Sports School Hockey League (CSSHL), where he racked up 34 points (14 G – 20 A) in 21 games. In 2023-24, he scored 30 points in 20 games playing with the U15 Prep Notre Dame Hounds.

Ranked 16th among draft prospects is Riley Brown, from Milestone, Sask.

The 15-year-old forward scored 22 goals, adding 31 assists (53 points) in 33 games with the Northern Alberta Extreme in the CSSHL.

Like Doka, Brown also spent 2023-24 at Notre Dame, where he had 30 points in 24 games.

The top-rated player out of the Saskatchewan U15 AA Hockey League (SAAHL U15) is Humboldt Bronco Kash Elke at 18.

In 29 games, the Lanigan, Sask. product notched 33 goals and 33 assists in a 66-point season.

Elke also played six games with the Tisdale Trojans of the SMAAAHL, where he scored four points.

- With files from Drew Postey.