WHL Prospects Draft sees local talent selected

The Lethbridge Hurricanes selected Tristen Doyle from Bonnyville in the first round. Playing on the Northern Alberta U18 Prep, a team where he is the youngest player, the former Lakeland Panther defenceman has 23 points in 18 points as a 15-year-old.

Jacob Labant was taken in the 9th round, 195th overall by the Kelowna Rockets. The St. Paul native has shown offensive touch with 17 points in 21 games, good enough for second on his OHA Edmonton U18 Prep team.

Kelowna was not done there, selecting defenceman Ismail Abougouche from Lac La Biche in the 12th round, 259th overall. Although he was the second from last player chosen, Abougouche is touted as a good skater with a large 6’2″, 190lbs frame, and has 2 goals and 10 assists this year.

These were just three of the 214 young athletes chosen by WHL member clubs.

Players eligible for the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft were 2006-born players residing in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.