The Prince George Cougars made ten picks during the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.
The Cougars selected five forwards, four defenceman, and one netminder.
The Cougars’ first pick of the day came at number 21, which they used on 5’10” winger Dade Wotherspoon from Martensville, Saskatchewan.
“His performance in the playoffs just really built on what we saw all season during the regular part of the season, and his performance was off the charts,” said Cougars Director of Scouting Bob Simmonds.
“We look at him having all the skills that we want up in Prince George, size, ability to create offence, plays a strong two-way game. We’re very happy to add him to the Cougars organization.”
In 27 games with Martensville U15 AA, Dade Wotherspoon collected 103 points (53-50-103) 🤯.
The nearly 6-foot forward brings it!#WHLDraft • #ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/gQvRzyBwpC
— xy – Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) May 9, 2024
In the second round, the Cougars used the 41st overall pick to solidify their future blueline, selecting Cooper Bratton from Moosimin, Saskatchewan.
In 27 games with the U15 AA Sask East Oilers, Bratton notched 52 points. (20G, 32A)
After that it was the waiting game for the Cougars, as their next pick was their fourth round, 88th overall pick, which was used on right winger Ollie Reid of Coldstream, BC.
In 27 games with the Yale Hockey Acadamy U15 Prep team, Reid notched 52 points. (22G, 30A)
The Cougars went back to the blueline in the fifth round, picking Tatum Fouquette from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan with the 110th pick.
Fouquette played in 27 games for the Prince Albert Pirates U15 AA club, scoring 28 goals and adding 14 assists.
With no picks in the sixth, the Cougars had to wait until the seventh round, where they used the 154th pick on Dixon Hartwich, a centre from St. Andrews, Manitoba.
The Cougars’ eighth round, 176th overall pick was used on a goaltender that put up impressive numbers in the BCEHL this past season.
In 16 games with the U15 Fraser Valley Thunderbirds, Davin Chyld amassed a record of 13-2-0, while posting five shutouts and a GAA of 1.12.
The Cougars had two picks in the ninth, which they used on Keenan Fox (179th) and Ryder Schnitzler (198).
The Cougars’ last two picks of the day came in the tenth round, and were used on Gus Rustebakke (212) and Reeve Waugh. (220)
Connor Feeney was the lone Prince George product chosen in the draft, going 91st overall to the Calgary Hitmen.
Feeney suited up in 20 games for the Cariboo Cougars U15 AAA team, putting up 17 points. (8G, 9A)
The Saskatoon Blades picked up goaltender Dysen Loewen from Fort St. John with the 243rd pick.
In total, 237 players were selected by WHL member Clubs, including 130 forwards, 84 defencemen, and 23 goaltenders.
Alberta led all provincial branches with 94 players selected.
A total of 54 players from B.C. were chosen, with another 45 players coming from Saskatchewan.
Manitoba saw 33 players selected.
The proceedings saw eight players selected from the United States, following on the heels of 44 American-born players taken in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft on Wednesday.
The full draft results can be found here.
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