The Prince George Cougars believe they’ve latched on to a Phoenix rising.
The Cougars used their 15th overall pick in Wednesday’s WHL U.S. Priority Draft to select Phoenix Cahill, a 2008-born defenceman from Minnesota.
Listed at six-foot-one, 179 pounds, Cahill played this past season in South Dakota for the Sioux Falls Power 14U triple-A team. In 14 games, he collected three goals and three assists.
Cahill also suited up in 10 games for the South Dakota U15 triple-A squad and picked up seven assists.
In the second round, 27th overall, the Cougars selected 2008-born forward Broden Scissors.
Scissors, a California native, had 16 goals and 10 assists in 52 games this past season for the Los Angeles Junior Kings 14U triple-A team. Scissors was called up for the playoffs to the Junior Kings 14U Tier 1 Elite and collected two assists in five games.
The Spokane Chiefs held the top pick in the draft and used it to select forward Brody Gillespie of Vancouver, Wash, who played in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League for RINK Academy Kelowna U-19 Prep. In 28 games, he put up 26 goals and 54 points.
The WHL Prospects Draft goes today.
The Prince Albert Raiders own the first two picks and will also draft seventh overall. Their first overall selection was acquired in a trade with Edmonton and their seventh pick came from a previous swap with Kelowna.
Draft order is based on order of finish in the 22-team league and Prince George will have the 15th overall pick.
The Cats hold five picks in the first three rounds.
