The Prince George Cougars hold the 17th overall pick in today’s first round of the WHL Prospects Draft.
The Regina Pats will go first in the order and are expected to pick 15-year-old centre Maddox Schultz.
The Regina native was granted exceptional status to play in the Saskatchewan U18 triple-A Hockey League and led the league with 43 goals and 93 points in 44 games, then had 22 points in 10 playoff games while leading the Regina Pat Canadians to the Telus Cup national championship.
The next four draft picks in the first round are held by Edmonton (from Moose Jaw), Kelowna, Penticton (as an expansion team) and Everett (from Kamloops).
The draft of players born in 2010, from Calgary, will be streamed live on Victory+ beginning at 3:30 p.m. PT.
The Cougars will also pick 40th (second round), 63rd (third round), 113th (fifth round, obtained in trade from Calgary), 152nd (seventh round, from Saskatoon), 155th (seventh round), 178th (eighth round), 207thth (ninth round, from Everett), 224th (10th round) and 247th (11th round).
Prince George native Kadric Mujcin, 15, who led the Cariboo Cougars U15s in scoring with 29 goals 34 assists and 63 points in 27 games and also had eight goals and 13 points in six playoff games, is on the Elite Prospects list of draft eligible players, ranked 148th.
Team selections for all subsequent Prospect Draft rounds beyond the first round will start Thursday following the US Priority Draft, which begins Thursday at 8 a.m. PT.
The Cougars hold the eighth and 39th picks in the two-round US Draft.
Results of the expansion draft to stock the Penticton Vees roster will be announced today at 1 p.m. (PT).
The Vees can select one player from each of the 22 teams.
Teams are allowed to place on their 50-player protected list either 16 of their 17-20 year-olds or 14 of their 16-19-year-olds plus three 20-year-olds. In addition, each team can protect six college-bound players.
The two WHL finalists, Medicine Hat and Spokane, won’t have to submit their protected lists for the expansion draft until after that series is complete. The winner of that series has until two days after the Memorial Cup to submit its list.
Penticton will be allowed to dress four 20-year-olds next season and in the WHL playoffs.
