Reigning from Kamloops, BC, Cuthbertson manned Yale’s U15 Prep blueline across 16 games last season, registering 2 goals and 10 assists for 12 points. He would also suit up for a single U17 Prep game during the 2025/26 season. At the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, Cuthbertson would be selected 58th overall by Lethbridge prior to being signed earlier last week.

Gavin McKenna (2026 – Toronto Maple Leafs) joins Connor Bedard (2023 – Chicago Blackhawks) as the second ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni selected first overall at an NHL Entry Draft. Daxon Rudolph (2026 – Buffalo Sabres) joins Bowen Byram (2019 – Colorado Avalanche) as the highest selected ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ defenseman at an NHL Entry Draft, with each going fourth overall. 

The six ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni selected in the first round beat the previous ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ record of five set in 2021, 2023 and 2025. A record 25 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni were selected at both the 2023 and 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Two alumni were selected inside the Top 5, and four inside the Top 10, both ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ records. 

A total of 223 players were selected at this year’s draft with 10.3% of players selected having played in the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.

106 players developed in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) were selected at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, making up 47.5% of the players selected. The CHL’s 106 selections were its highest total in 16 years, dating back to 2010, and marked the first time since 2013 that the CHL reached the 100-pick mark at the NHL Draft.

39 of those 106 players were developed in the WHL, with 22 of the 23 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni making up 56.4% of WHLers. All 23 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni selected were developed in the CHL, making up 21.7% of all CHLers.

In total, 193 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni have now being selected at the NHL Draft since 2012. 157 of those 193 (81%) have been selected in the last seven years. 58 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni have gone on to play NHL regular season or playoff games. 

Number of Players Selected Per Draft

1. 2024 – 25
2. 2023 – 25
3. 2026 – 23
4. 2021 – 23
5. 2022 – 21
6. 2020 – 20
7. 2025 – 20
8. 2019 – 7
9. 2016 – 7
10. 2018 – 6
11. 2017 – 6
12. 2015 – 3
13. 2014 – 3
14. 2012 – 3
15. 2013 – 2

Most Players Selected from a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Program In League History

1. Yale Hockey Academy – 26
2. Pursuit of Excellence/RHA Kelowna– 26
   • 14 POE, 12 RHA Kelowna
3. Edge School – 23
4. Northern Alberta Xtreme – 22
5. Okanagan Hockey Academy – 21
6. BWC Academy – 18
7. Delta Hockey Academy – 17
8. RHA Winnipeg – 16
9. OHA Edmonton – 12
10. West Van Warriors – 8
    • 5 West Van, 3 NSW
11. St. George’s School – 7
12. Pacific Coast Hockey Academy – 5
13. South Alberta Hockey Academy – 3
14. Notre Dame Hounds – 2
15. Calgary International Hockey Academy – 1
16. Champions Hockey Academy – 1
17. CIH Academy – 1
18. Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy – 1
19. Mount Academy – 1
20. Ontario Hockey Academy – 1
21. Pilot Mound Hockey Academy – 1
22. Prairie Hockey Academy – 1

14 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Programs saw student-athletes selected at this years draft:

• Okanagan Hockey Academy – 5
• RHA Kelowna – 5
• Northern Alberta Xtreme – 4
• Edge School – 3
• Delta Hockey Academy – 2
• OHA Edmonton – 2
• Calgary International Hockey Academy – 1
• Champions Hockey Academy – 1
• Ontario Hockey Academy – 1
• Pacific Coast Hockey Academy – 1
• Pilot Mound Hockey Academy -1
• RHA Winnipeg- 1
• South Alberta Hockey Academy – 1
• Yale Hockey Academy – 1

Reigning out of Maple Ridge, BC and playing in his second season with Yale Hockey Academy’s U15 Prep squadron, Bradbeer has been a commanding presence with on the blueline in the offensive zone. In the 2024/25 season, Bradbeer showcased his ability to be a gamechanger, posting 15 points across 36 games as a 2011-born defender. This past year in his draft eligible season, Bradbeer stepped up and posted one of the best offensive seasons from a U15 Prep blueliner. Bradbeer would record 61 points in 29 games played placing him in the top-5 for most points recorded in a single season by a U15 Prep defenseman. Those 61 points trailed only Vancouver Giants’ prospect Eli Vickers (62) during the 2025/26 season. After his groundbreaking season, Bradbeer would be selected 22nd overall by the Swift Current Broncos at the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. Bradbeer would be named a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep (BC/US Division) Second Team All-Star.

Entering his second season with Pilot Mound Hockey Academy’s U15 Prep team, Manitou MB’s Vodden was the Buffaloes’ most reliable source of offense during the 2025/26 season. The veteran forward led Pilot Mound Hockey Academy in scoring with 44 points in 30 games played. In the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Western Championship U15 Prep Division II Championships, Vodden would decimate the competition, acquiring 13 points across 5 games. The Buffaloes would fall just shy in the finals to RHA Kelowna, but Vodden’s impact impressed WHL scouts. Following an impressive season, Vodden would be named a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep (Prairie Division) Second Team All-Star, and later be selected by the Edmonton Oil Kings with the 51st pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. Vodden follows in the footsteps of fellow Pilot Mound student-athlete, Cole Landreville, as the second straight Pilot Mound student-athlete to be selected by the Oil Kings.

An RHA Winnipeg student-athlete during the 2022/23 season, Lorette, MB’s Laliberte has signed his WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Portland Winterhawks. After a strong 30 point campaign with RHA Winnipeg, Laliberte would make the jump to Junior A with the MJHL’s Niverville Nighthawks where he would post 59 points across two seasons. Laliberte would also acquire a bronze medal with Canada West’s U19 team at the 2024/25 World Junior A Challenge.

A forward from Winnipeg, MB, Jarvis spent two seasons in the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ with RHA Winnipeg, tallying 126 points in 62 games during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons.

Stankoven, a forward from Kamloops, BC, joined Yale Hockey Academy for the 2017/18 U15 Prep season, posting 90 points in 30 games, leading the division with 57 goals.

Jarvis and Stankoven join Yale Hockey Academy’s Bowen Byram (2022, Colorado Avalanche) and Okanagan Hockey Academy’s Josh Mahura (2024, Florida Panthers) as the only ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni to win a Stanley Cup.

After leading the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep division with 43 goals, 55 assists and 98 points this past season, Teagan Dernisky has signed with the Saskatoon Blades, who took him 15th overall at the 2026 WHL Draft. The Delta, BC forward was a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep (BC/US Division) Fist Team All-Star in his second U15 Prep season with Yale. Last season Dernisky tallied 14 points in 24 U15 Prep games.

A defenseman from Cloverdale, BC, Tyson Wolanski has signed with the Regina Pats. The Pats selected him in the second round, 31st overall at the 2026 WHL Draft after he tallied 47 points in 29 games, earning ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep (BC/US Division) Fist Team All-Star honours and being named a finalist for the U15 Prep Top Defenseman Award. Last season Wolanski was named to the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep (BC/US Division) All Rookie Team, recording 7 points in 34 games.

After being selected second overall at the 2026 WHL Draft, Yale Hockey Academy student-athlete Parker McMillan has signed with the Wenatchee Wild.

McMillan joined Yale for the 2024/25 U15 Prep season, recording 56 points in 35 games as he was named to the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep (BC/US Division) All-Rookie Team. The following U15 Prep season the Vancouver, BC forward finished second in league scoring with 91 points in 25 games, earning ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep (BC/US Division) First Team All-Star honours, while winning the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep Top Forward and MVP Awards.

The Tri-City Americans have signed their first and second round picks from the 2026 WHL Draft. Kenzo Gibson was selected 6th, while Lincoln Baschuk was taken 37th.

A forward from North Vancouver, BC, Gibson has spent the last three seasons in the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, joining the league as an underage player with the North Shore Warriors U15 team in 2023/24. He would spend the following two seasons with the BWC Academy U15 Prep team, totaling 53 goals and 55 assists in 55 games. Gibson was named a U15 (BC/US Division) First Team All-Star in 2023/24, a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep (BC/US Division) All-Rookie Team in 2024/25, and a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U15 Prep (BC/US Division) Second Team All-Star in 2025/26.

Baschuk joined the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) for the 2024/25 U15 season, tallying 29 points in 22 games while being named a Top Defenseman Award Finalist and a U15 (Prairie Division) First Team All-Star. This past U15 Prep season the Edmonton, AB defender had 23 points in 29 games.

Originally undrafted to the WHL, River Arnason has signed with the Kamloops Blazers. The 2008 born forward from Winnipeg, MB spent three seasons in the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ with RHA Winnipeg. He would finish third in team scoring during the 2022/23 U15 Prep season, tallying 43 points in 30 games. The following U17 Prep campaign he finished second on his team with 41 points in 22 games while being named a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U17 Prep Tier II Second Team All-Star and the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U17 Prep Tier II Most Sportsmanlike Award winner.

During the 2024/25 U18 Prep season, Arnason would lead all skaters with 30 goals and 64 points, earning ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U18 Prep (Prairie Division) First Team All-Star honours.

The 39 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni are currently playing in the QMJHL, NCAA and WHL. Of the 78 WHL players who find their names on the list, 45% (35/78) are ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni. 95% of the 39 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni are currently playing in the CHL (OHL, QMJHL, WHL).

Gavin McKenna is the highest ranked ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ skater coming in as the Top Ranked North American skater. He will look to join Connor Bedard (North Shore Warriors) as the second ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumnus selected first overall. Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff, Daxon Rudolph, Ryan Lin, Liam Ruck, Ben MacBeath, Markus Ruck, Chase Harrington and Mathis Preston all find themselves ranked inside the Top 32. The current ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ record for most alumni selected in the first round (5) happened three times: 2021, 2023 & 2025. 

The 39 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni represent 15 different member programs, with Edge School and RHA Winnipeg leading the way with eight:

• Northern Alberta Xtreme – 9
• RHA Kelowna – 7
• Okanagan Hockey Academy – 6
• Edge School – 4
• South Alberta Hockey Academy – 4
• Delta Hockey Academy – 3
• OHA Edmonton – 3
• Pacific Coast Hockey Academy – 3
• Calgary International Hockey Academy – 2
• Yale Hockey Academy – 2
• Notre Dame Hounds – 1
• Ontario Hockey Academy – 1
• Pilot Mound Hockey Academy – 1
• RHA Winnipeg – 1
• Stanstead College – 1

Among the 224 ranked North American skaters include 38 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni:

Among the 37 ranked North American skaters include 1 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni:

The Red Deer, AB defenseman spent the 2021/22 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ U18 Prep season with Yale, tallying 21 points in 35 games.

Undrafted to the WHL, Christensen joined the Prince Albert Raiders for the 2022/23 season, tallying 9 points in 64 games. He would have a breakout season in 2023/24, posting 45 points in 68 games, earning WHL (East) Second All-Star Team honours.

Last season Christensen would be named captain and lead all WHL defensemen with 22 goals, finishing the season with 46 points in 68 games. This season Christensen tallied 48 points in 63 regular season games and currently has 1 point in 5 playoff games as the number one seed Raiders have advanced to the second round.

The 37 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni are currently playing in the NCAA, QMJHL, and WHL, with 95% of the 37 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni playing in the CHL (OHL, QMJHL, WHL).

Gavin McKenna is the highest ranked ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ skater coming in at first in North America. McKenna looks to join Connor Bedard (West Van Academy) as the second ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alum to be selected first overall after Bedard did so in 2023.

Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels, Daxon Rudolph, Ryan Lin, Ben MacBeath, Mathis Preston, Liam Ruck, Charlie Morrison, Markus Ruck and Chase Harrington all find themselves ranked inside the Top 32.

Only five ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni have ever been selected inside the Top 5 of the NHL Draft, a number that has a chance to be nearly doubled this season with McKenna, Verhoeff and Carels being ranked inside the Top 3, and Rudolph in striking distance at sixth.

In total, 170 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni have been selected at an NHL Entry Draft while 56 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni have played in the NHL.

The 37 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni represent 16 different member programs, with the Northern Alberta Xtreme leading the way with eight:

• Northern Alberta Xtreme – 8
• Okanagan Hockey Academy – 7
• RHA Kelowna – 7
• Edge School – 4
• South Alberta Hockey Academy – 4
• Calgary International Hockey Academy – 3
• Delta Hockey Academy – 3
• Pacific Coast Hockey Academy – 3
• OHA Edmonton – 2
• Champions Hockey Academy – 1
• Notre Dame Hounds – 1
• Ontario Hockey Academy – 1
• Pilot Mound Hockey Academy – 1
• RHA Winnipeg – 1
• Stanstead College – 1
• Yale Hockey Academy – 1

Among the 224 ranked North American skaters include 36 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni:

Among the 37 ranked North American skaters include 1 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ alumni: