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Wraps up on Thursday

2026 WHL Prospects Draft begins on Wednesday

May 4, 2026 | 2:16 PM

The 2026 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft is just days away, and the Red Deer Rebels are set to pick 17th overall in the first round.

The first round of the draft will take place on Wednesday, May 5, at 5 p.m., with the rest of the rounds to continue on Thursday.

After the Rebels make their first-round selection, which was acquired through a trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors, they’ll have a total of 12 more picks to make in rounds three through 10.

The Rebels’ upcoming picks in the WHL Prospects Draft include:

  • 1-17th overall (from Kelowna via Moose Jaw)
  • 3-48
  • 4-71 (from Swift Current via Moose Jaw)
  • 4-72 (from Vancouver via Kamloops)
  • 5-98
  • 6-121
  • 6-127 (from Spokane via Kelowna)
  • 7-144
  • 7-146 (from Regina)
  • 7-147 (from Victoria)
  • 8-167
  • 9-190
  • 10-213

The WHL previously announced that players born in the United States will be eligible for the draft this year, after they could only be selected primarily through the WHL U.S. Priority Draft. The U.S. Priority Draft will no longer be held by the league.

As a result, 2011-born players who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, 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 will be eligible to be selected.

In addition, players not selected in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will be able to be listed by WHL clubs at any time.

The U15 AAA Red Deer Rebels will have multiple players eligible for the draft, including forward Madden Daneault, who’s expected to be taken early in the first round.

During the 2025-26 campaign, Daneault notched 65 goals and 84 assists for 149 points in 34 games. He added 22 points in nine playoff games.