Numerous Saskatchewan players, who both grew up or play within the province, had been chosen on this 12 months’s draft over the Canada Day lengthy weekend in Las Vegas.
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The 2024 NHL Draft had the Saskatchewan hockey pipeline flowing but once more.
Numerous Saskatchewan players, who both grew up within the province or play within the province, had been chosen on this 12 months’s draft held over the Canada Day lengthy weekend down in Las Vegas.
Saskatoon’s Berkley Catton went No. 8 total to Seattle Kraken. Catton, who racked up 116 factors in 68 video games this previous season with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs, grew up enjoying in Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association’s Redwings zone. He was the primary SMHA participant to get picked first total within the WHL Bantam Draft when the Chiefs selected him No. 1 in 2021.
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The former Saskatoon Contacts winger thought he would possibly find yourself with the Calgary Flames, his favorite staff rising up, at No. 9 on this 12 months’s NHL Draft, however the Kraken beat them to the punch, only one choose earlier.
BLADES’ GARDNER GOES TO COLUMBUS
Saskatoon Blades rookie netminder Evan Gardner was chosen within the second spherical, sixtieth total, by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The 6-foot-2 goalie had among the finest rookie seasons in franchise historical past. Gardner, 18, completed the 2023-24 marketing campaign with a 21-5-0-2 document, main the WHL in save share (. 927) and goals-against common (1.91) — each single-season franchise information for any Blades goalie with a minimal of 30 video games performed. Gardner’s 4 shutouts had been tied for second within the league with teammate Austin Elliott.
Gardner, who hails from Fort St. John, B.C., helped Saskatoon seize its fifth Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy, awarded to the WHL’s high common season staff. The WHL finalist for rookie of the 12 months and humanitarian of the 12 months was a two-time WHL goalie of the week and three-time WHL rookie of the week.
Prince Albert product Tanner Howe, from the Regina Pats, was chosen forty sixth total by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The former AAA Prince Albert Minto, who put up 77 factors in 68 video games this previous season, joins Saskatoon product and former Contacts ahead Brayden Yager within the Penguins group.
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Former Saskatoon AAA Blazers defenceman Tarin Smith, who hails from Porcupine Plain, was chosen 79th total by the Anaheim Ducks. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Smith spent final season with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips and recorded 44 factors in 67 video games.
Melfort product Nate Misskey, a member of the WHL’s Victoria Royals, was drafted 143rd total by the San Jose Sharks. Misskey has measurement at 6-foot-4 and 210 kilos. The blueliner, a former Prince Albert AAA Minto, had 34 factors in 44 video games with the Royals.
Chase Wutzke, a goaltender out of Debden who performed for the Saskatoon AAA Contacts, was chosen 142 total by the Minnesota Wild. The 6-foot-2, 162-pound Wutzke had a .904 save-percentage and a 2.82 goals-against common in 36 video games with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels this previous season.
Wutzke shall be joined within the NHL Wild group by Prince Albert Raiders ahead Ryder Ritchie, a local of Calgary, who was chosen forty fifth total by the Wild. Ritchie averaged practically some extent a recreation with the Raiders this previous season with 44 factors in 47 video games.
While numerous Saskatchewan players did see their title referred to as, a number of weren’t so lucky. Saskatoon minor hockey product Josh Zakreski, who performs for the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, was ranked 157 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting; and Matthew Van Blaricom, who spent this previous season as a ahead for the Humboldt Broncos within the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, was rated at No. 139.
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Moose Jaw Warriors ahead Pavel McKenzie, from Cumberland House, entered this 12 months’s draft ranked No. 176 among North American skaters. The 6-foot, 176-pound McKenzie put up 15 targets and 36 factors in 63 video games as a WHL rookie.
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