By Hockey Saskatchewan

REGINA, Sask. – The Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft concluded on Thursday, May 8, 2025, with this year’s draft highlighting 2010-born eligible players.

The WHL Prospects Draft is an opportunity for young players to take the next step in their hockey development and set their sights toward a future NHL Entry Draft down the road.

The first Saskatchewan-born player to hear their name called was Maddox Schultz (Regina) of the U18 AAA Regina Pat Canadians who was taken 1st overall by the Regina Pats. The centreman is the seventh player from the province to be selected with the first pick of the draft since its inception in 1990.

Here are the first overall WHL picks from Saskatchewan:

• Jarret Stoll (Melville) – 1997
• Braydon Coburn (Shaunavon) – 2000
• Jared Cowen (Saskatoon) – 2006
• Derrick Pouliot (Estevan) – 2009
• Alex Forsberg (Waldheim) – 2010
• Berkly Catton (Saskatoon) – 2021
• Maddox Schultz (Regina) – 2025

Note: The first overall pick in 2015, Ty Smith, was born in Lloydminster—a city that lies directly on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.

Selected at No. 18 was U15 AA Humboldt Broncos centreman Kash Elke (Lanigan) who was selected by the Moose Jaw Warriors. In total, Saskatchewan had two players chosen in the first round and all are members of the Sask First high-performance program.

When the final round concluded, Saskatchewan was fortunate to have 36 players selected overall. In comparison, the province saw a total of 45 players selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft and 44 were selected the previous year.

Saskatchewan players selected were as follows:

 For the complete list of players selected in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, click HERE.

About HOCKEY SASKATCHEWAN

Hockey Saskatchewan was established in 1912 and is the governing body for organized hockey in the province. With a mission to lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences, Hockey Saskatchewan encourages competition at all levels – from recreational to high performance. Hockey Saskatchewan has grown through the years and is Saskatchewan’s largest sports organization with over 45,000 members comprised of players, coaches, and officials. For more information, please visit www.hockeysask.ca or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.