(WHL)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

U.S. Priority Draft: Spokane Chiefs

Prince Albert Raiders to select first overall in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft

Mar 29, 2023 | 4:50 PM

The Western Hockey League (WHL) announced on Wednesday the Prince Albert Raiders will select first and second overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft following the completion of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery.

The Raiders won the draft lottery, moving from fourth to second overall. The Raiders own the first-overall selection, having acquired it in a trade with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

The 2023 WHL Prospects Draft is scheduled for Thursday, May 11, 2023, with first-round coverage streaming on WHL Live.

All six WHL Clubs that did not qualify for the 2023 WHL Playoffs participated in the lottery. The lottery proceedings determined the order of selection for the first six picks in the first round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, with inverse order of standing from the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the second round and all subsequent rounds.

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The Prince Albert Raiders (via Edmonton), Spokane Chiefs, and Victoria Royals had the opportunity to obtain the first-overall selection in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. The process for the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery was administered by Juan Guzman from KPMG.

(WHL)

Players eligible for the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft will be 2008-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.

2023 WHL U.S. PRIORITY DRAFT

The WHL also announced the Spokane Chiefs will select first overall in the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft following the completion of the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery.

The 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10, 2023, and will be conducted online at WHL.ca, consisting of two rounds and 44 selections with each WHL Club presented the opportunity to have two draft selections.

All six WHL Clubs that did not qualify for the 2023 WHL Playoffs participated in the lottery. The lottery proceedings determined the order of selection for the first six picks in the first round of the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, with inverse order of standing from the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the second round.

The Edmonton Oil Kings, Spokane Chiefs, Victoria Royals, Prince Albert Raiders, Brandon Wheat Kings, and Swift Current Broncos had the opportunity to obtain the first-overall selection in the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft. The process for the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery was administered by Juan Guzman from KPMG.

(WHL)

Players eligible for the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will be 2008-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 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 11, 2023, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.