WHL to host 2025 Prospects Draft, U.S. Priority Draft, and Penticton Expansion Draft this week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League will conduct the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft, 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, and 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft this Wednesday and Thursday.
Results of the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft, celebrating the WHL’s Penticton Vees, will be announced via WHL.ca at 2 p.m. MT / 1 p.m. PT. Additional coverage of the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft can be seen during the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft Show on Victory+.
The first round of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft will be livestreamed FREE on Victory+, with coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. MT / 3:30 p.m. PT.
Real-time results for the WHL Prospects Draft and WHL U.S. Priority Draft will be available at WHL.ca.
Hosted by Cami Kepke (WHL Manager, Community Engagement & Content) and Brad Ginnell (WHL Manager, Hockey Operations), fans can look forward to in-depth coverage, analysis, and insight from all WHL Clubs participating in the first round of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft.
The Regina Pats hold the first-overall selection in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft. The last time the Pats selected first overall in the WHL Prospects Draft, they called the name of current Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard back in 2020.
Other recent first-overall picks include 2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Year Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips, 2024), 2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Year Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers, 2022), and Seattle Kraken prospect Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs, 2021) among others.
2025 WHL Prospects Draft
Wednesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. MT
WATCH FREE on VICTORY+ – Pre-show at 4:30 p.m. MT / WHL Prospects Draft at 5 p.m. MT
Hosted live from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, the first round of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft will stream free on Victory+. The remainder of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft will be completed Thursday, May 8, beginning after the conclusion of the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.
The Regina Pats hold the first-overall selection in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, as determined by the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery on April 10.
2025 WHL Prospects Draft – First Round Order of Selection
| 1. Regina Pats | 13. Vancouver Giants (from Edmonton) |
| 2. Edmonton Oil Kings (from Moose Jaw) | 14. Kamloops Blazers (from Saskatoon) |
| 3. Kelowna Rockets | 15. Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 4. Penticton Vees | 16. Prince Albert Raiders |
| 5. Everett Silvertips (from Kamloops) | 17. Prince George Cougars |
| 6. Vancouver Giants (from Wenatchee) | 18. Moose Jaw Warriors (from Lethbridge) |
| 7. Red Deer Rebels | 19. Victoria Royals |
| 8. Edmonton Oil Kings (from Seattle) | 20. Kelowna Rockets (from Spokane) |
| 9. Tri-City Americans | 21. Seattle Thunderbirds (from Calgary) |
| 10. Wenatchee Wild (from Swift Current) | 22. Saskatoon Blades (from Medicine Hat) |
| 11. Kamloops Blazers (from Vancouver) | 23. Regina Pats (from Everett) |
| 12. Brandon Wheat Kings (from Portland) |
The order of selection for the second round and all subsequent rounds will be the inverse order of the final standings from the 2024-25 WHL Regular Season. The complete order of selection for the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft can be found at WHL.ca.
Players eligible for the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft are 2010-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.
Players not selected in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.
2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft
Thursday, May 8 at 9 a.m. MT
The Brandon Wheat Kings will select first overall in the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, which will be hosted online at WHL.ca.
The 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will consist of two rounds and 46 selections, with each WHL Club presented with the opportunity to make two draft choices.
2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft – Order of Selection
| FIRST ROUND | SECOND ROUND |
| 1. Brandon Wheat Kings | 24. Lethbridge Hurricanes |
| 2. Moose Jaw Warriors | 25. Prince Albert Raiders |
| 3. Edmonton Oil Kings | 26. Calgary Hitmen |
| 4. Penticton Vees | 27. Penticton Vees |
| 5. Vancouver Giants | 28. Victoria Royals |
| 6. Red Deer Rebels | 29. Everett Silvertips |
| 7. Saskatoon Blades | 30. Portland Winterhawks |
| 8. Prince George Cougars | 31. Spokane Chiefs |
| 9. Kelowna Rockets | 32. Medicine Hat Tigers |
| 10. Wenatchee Wild | 33. Kamloops Blazers |
| 11. Tri-City Americans | 34. Seattle Thunderbirds |
| 12. Regina Pats | 35. Swift Current Broncos |
| 13. Swift Current Broncos | 36. Regina Pats |
| 14. Seattle Thunderbirds | 37. Tri-City Americans |
| 15. Kamloops Blazers | 38. Wenatchee Wild |
| 16. Medicine Hat Tigers | 39. Kelowna Rockets |
| 17. Spokane Chiefs | 40. Prince George Cougars |
| 18. Portland Winterhawks | 41. Saskatoon Blades |
| 19. Everett Silvertips | 42. Red Deer Rebels |
| 20. Victoria Royals | 43. Vancouver Giants |
| 21. Calgary Hitmen | 44. Edmonton Oil Kings |
| 22. Prince Albert Raiders | 45. Moose Jaw Warriors |
| 23. Lethbridge Hurricanes | 46. Brandon Wheat Kings |
The order of selection for the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft was determined April 10 through the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery.
Players eligible for the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2010-born players who have resided in the United States for two or more consecutive hockey seasons immediately preceding the WHL U.S. Priority Draft. Should a player’s family have moved from WHL territory in Canada to the U.S. for at least one complete season, the player will be eligible for the WHL U.S. Priority Draft. To be eligible for the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, a player must reside in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming.
Players not selected in the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, beginning in the second round.
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.