The WHL over the past 5 years has been a top producer for NHL talent, and now with the NCAA rule change, has been a hotbed for NCAA commitments. Below is a quick breakdown of the 2025 draft, featuring some of the top U14 (2010) players within Canada and the US.
227 total selections over 15 rounds
Selections by position : Forwards - 120 Defenseman - 81 Goaltenders - 26
The CSSHL made up over 36% of all selections, including almost half (48%) of 1st round picks, and picks within rounds 1-5. Every WHL team had at least 1 selection
Regina headlined this year’s draft selecting 2 very explosive and dynamic prospects in Maddox Schultz at 1st overall and Liam Pue at 3rd overall. Both players were dominant playing up at U18s last season. Regina also selected Logan Henry from BWC Academy 23rd overall.
Most Selections - Penticton led all WHL teams with 16 (new team), followed by Swift Current (13)
Regina’s 2nd 1st round pick at 3rd overall Liam Pue was the only player selected out of the Junior Prospects Hockey League (JPHL)
Of the 26 goaltenders selected, 12 were over 6’0” already. The CSSHL U15s (10) and AEHL (9) made up 73% of all goaltender selections
Leonardo Domenichelli was the only player selected from outside North America (7th round Vancouver), playing juniors last season in Switzerland.
Almost half (13 of 30) selections from Sask U15 AA were made in the first 5 rounds.
17 of the 23 selections out of the US came from Minnesota, led by 5 from Shattuck St Mary’s U14 team. and 3 each from Minnesota Walleye U14 and Minnesota Blue Ox U14
Shattuck’s Kain Martinuik was the only player selected out of the US in the 1st round, going 15th overall to Saskatoon.
The 3 top producers came out of the CSSHL, with St Albert being the only Alberta (AEHL) team in the top 10.
Winnipeg Bruins program made up over 40% of all selections out of Winnipeg (WAAA).
