By rdnewsNOW staff

in-person events cancelled

WHL announces changes for upcoming league events

Mar 24, 2020 | 11:14 AM

The Western Hockey League has announced a number of updates to events previously scheduled on the league’s calendar, including the 2020 WHL Awards, 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, 2020 WHL Bantam Draft Lottery, and 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft.

The 2020 WHL Bantam Draft Lottery and 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft will proceed as originally scheduled on Wednesday, March 25. The 2020 WHL Bantam Draft Lottery is scheduled for 11 a.m. MT at the WHL Office in Calgary, while the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft is scheduled to be conducted online at 2 p.m. MT.

The 2020 WHL Awards and 2020 WHL Bantam Draft – live events previously scheduled to be hosted in Red Deer on May 6 and May 7 – have been cancelled as a result of concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 WHL Bantam Draft will now be conducted online on Wednesday, April 22. Further details on both events will be provided at a later date.

The WHL Bantam Draft Lottery will involve the six lowest-place Clubs from the 2019-20 season – the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors, Tri-City Americans, Prince George Cougars, Regina Pats, and Red Deer Rebels. A team may only move up a maximum of two positions in the WHL Bantam Draft.

The WHL Bantam Draft Lottery will utilize 21 selection balls, the allotment of which is as follows:

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Swift Current Broncos – Six (pick previously traded via Lethbridge to the Regina Pats)

Moose Jaw Warriors – Five

Tri-City Americans – Four

Prince George Cougars – Three

Regina Pats – Two (pick previously traded to Saskatoon Blades)

Red Deer Rebels – One

In an effort to minimize gatherings of staff, the WHL Bantam Draft Lottery will be a closed event and will not be streamed live. Video of the proceedings will be available at WHL.ca following the conclusion of the event. The WHL Bantam Draft Lottery selection process will be performed by Bennett Huber from KPMG.

The order of selection for the second round and all other rounds in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft will be determined by the inverse order of the final standings for the 2019-20 WHL Regular Season.

Players eligible for the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft will be 2005-born players who reside 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.

The 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft will consist of two rounds, and 44 selections, with each WHL Club afforded the opportunity to make two draft choices. The Red Deer Rebels own the first overall selection, as well as the 44^th selection, in this draft.

Players eligible for the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft will be 2005-born players who reside in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Players not selected in the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.