The Prince George Cougars headed to the prairies for their initial selection at the 2021 WHL Prospects draft.
With the 15th overall pick, the Cats took defenceman Tyson Buczkowski of the Saskatoon Blazers U-18 program.
The Cougars then selected forward Hunter Laing from the Rink Academy program in Kelowna 33rd overall.
Our scouts were busy today. Take a look at our 11 picks from the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.#WHLDraft
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— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) December 10, 2021
In round three, the Cats took right-winger Riley Ashe (56th overall) from the Saskatoon Blazers followed by defenceman Matt Lahey (63rd overall) from the Pacific Coast Hockey Academy.
Terik Parascak was the Cougars lone selection in the fourth round (78th overall). The Lethbridge-born forward plays for the Edge School program in Calgary.
Goaltender Madden Mulawka was taken in round five (100th overall) out of the Edmonton MLAC U-18 team.
Another blueliner was taken in round six as Tyson Matthews was the selection (128th) from the Okanagan Rockets U-17 club.
In addition, the Cats had two selections in the seventh. They were Garret Thom (142nd overall) from OHA Edmonton followed by Carter Onrait of the Estevan Bears (144th overall).
The Cougars remained busy in the later rounds plucking defenceman Drew Peterson and Reis Nyland with 164th and 166th selections.
Director of Scouting Bob Simmonds with a scouting report on Tyson Buczkowski. #WHLDraft pic.twitter.com/jrQDbnk7Ue
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) December 9, 2021
The Cougars ended up making 11 picks, six forwards, four defencemen and one goalie.
In addition, three PG products were taken by other WHL clubs.
Forward Miguel Marques was taken 10th overall by the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
He is currently with the Delta Hockey Academy’s U-17 Prep team.
Marques is the highest PG minor hockey player picked in the WHL draft since 2007, when the Prince George Cougars selected forward Brett Connolly 10th overall.
Forward Rebman Smyth was picked by the Saskatoon Blades in round three (62nd overall).
To top it off, the Everett Silvertips scooped up defenceman Kenyon McIsaac of the Burnaby Winter Club U-16 prep team in the ninth round (190th overall)
Forward Diego Johnson of Fort Saint James heard his name called in the sixth round by the Seattle Thunderbirds (120th overall).
The Cougars first pick, 15th overall, was defenceman Tyson Buczkowski from Saskatoon.
The Western Hockey League has completed the 2021 Prospects Draft.
214 players were selected by WHL Clubs Thursday.
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— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 10, 2021