Okanagan products taken in WHL Prospects Draft, including legend’s son

Four Okanagan products were taken in the first round of the Western Hockey League’s Prospects Draft, including the son of an NHL legend.

The draft was for players born in 2008.

The Prince Albert Raiders used the first pick to take defenceman Daxon Rudolph from Lacombe, Alta. who played for Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep.

The Raiders also had the second selection and went with another Alberta product, forward Riley Boychuk of Cochrane, from the Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA program.

The Spokane Chiefs used the third pick to take forward Mathis Preston of Penticton from the Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep).

Medicine Hat Tigers took forward Liam Ruck of Osoyoos with the 9th pick and the Edmonton Oil Kings selected forward Joe Iginla, son of Jarome Iginla, from Lake Country. He plays for the RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep.

And rounding out the Okanagan players was Medicine Hat selecting forward Markus Ruck from Osoyoos from the Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep.

Of the 22 players selected in the first round, there were 13 forwards, eight defencemen and one goaltender chosen. Of those, eight came from Alberta, seven came from British Columbia, four from Saskatchewan, and three from Manitoba.

A total of 12 players from Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) teams were selected in the first round.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of all players selected in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

2023 WHL Prospects Draft Results – First Round

#1 – Prince Albert Raiders
Name: Daxon Rudolph Position: Defence Hometown: Lacombe, Alta.
Team: Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep Stats: 30GP – 17G-33A–50 points

#2 – Prince Albert Raiders
Name: Riley Boychuk Position: Forward Hometown: Cochrane, Alta.
Team: Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA Stats: 33GP – 18G-62A–80 points

#3 – Spokane Chiefs
Name: Mathis Preston Position: Forward Hometown: Penticton, B.C.
Team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 26GP – 45G-36A–81 points

#4 – Victoria Royals
Name: Keaton Verheoff Position: Defence Hometown: Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
Team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep Stats: 27GP – 13G-33A–46 points

#5 – Brandon Wheat Kings
Name: Jaxon Jacobson Position: Forward Hometown: Brandon, Man.
Team: Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA Stats: 44GP – 24G-36A–60 points

#6 – Vancouver Giants (from Swift Current)
Name: Ryan Lin Position: Defence Hometown: Richmond, B.C.
Team: Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 27GP – 17G-24A–41 points

#7 – Prince Albert Raiders (from Kelowna)
Name: Ty Meunier Position: Forward Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.
Team: St. Albert Sabres U15 AAA Stats: 32GP – 54G-34A–88 points

#8 – Vancouver Giants
Name: Brett Olson Position: Forward Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.
Team: St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA Stats: 35GP – 13G-17A–30 points

#9 – Medicine Hat Tigers
Name: Liam Ruck Position: Forward Hometown: Osoyoos, B.C.
Team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 27GP – 53G-37A–90 points

#10 – Everett Silvertips
Name: Brek Liske Position: Defence Hometown: Beausejour, Man.
Team: Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep Stats: 26GP – 10G-24A–34 points

#11 – Calgary Hitmen
Name: Noah Kosick Position: Forward Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
Team: Pacific Coast Hockey Academy U18 Prep Stats: 32GP – 10G-35A–45 points

#12 – Edmonton Oil Kings (from Regina)
Name: Joe Iginla Position: Forward Hometown: Lake Country, B.C.
Team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep Stats: 27GP – 37G-28A–65 points

#13 – Tri-City Americans
Name: Cruz Pavao Position: Forward Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Team: Edge School U15 Prep Stats: 23GP – 32G-35A–67 points

#14 – Lethbridge Hurricanes
Name: Dayne Beuker Position: Forward Hometown: Humboldt, Sask.
Team: Humboldt Broncos U15 AA Stats: 30GP – 47G-56A–103 points

#15 – Prince George Cougars
Name: Carson Carels Position: Defence Hometown: Cypress River, Man.
Team: Pilot Mound Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 20GP – 10G-22A–32 points

#16 – Moose Jaw Warriors
Name: Aaron Sawatzky Position: Defence Hometown: Didsbury, Alta.
Team: Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA Stats: 33GP – 10G-28A–38 points

#17– Portland Winterhawks
Name: Griffin Darby Position: Defence Hometown: Swift Current, Sask.
Team: Swift Current Broncos U15 AA Stats: 28GP – 6G-29A–35 points

#18 – Red Deer Rebels
Name: Beckett Hamilton Position: Forward Hometown: Humboldt, Sask.
Team: Humboldt Broncos U15 AA Stats: 29GP – 39G-44A–83 points

#19 – Brandon Wheat Kings (from Saskatoon)
Name: Giorgos Pantelas Position: Defence Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
Team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep Stats: 28GP – 7G-31A–38 points

#20 – Everett Silvertips (from Kamloops)
Name: Caine Wilke Position: Forward Hometown: Saskatoon, Sask.
Team: Saskatoon Stallions U15 AA Stats: 29GP – 28G-43A–71 points

#21 – Medicine Hat Tigers (from Seattle)
Name: Markus Ruck Position: Forward Hometown: Osoyoos, B.C
Team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep Stats: 27GP – 22G-65A–87 points

#22 – Spokane Chiefs (from Winnipeg)
Name: Carter Esler Position: Goaltender Hometown: Okotoks, Alta.
Team: Okotoks Oilers U15 AAA Stats: 13-6-2, 2.98 GAA, .925 SV%