The Western Hockey League’s 2024 Prospects Draft was held on Thursday, May 9th.
The Everett Silvertips selected Exceptional Status defenceman Landon DuPont (May 28th, 2009) from Calgary and the Edge School U18 Prep with the first overall pick. The 14 year old DuPont is the first blueliner to ever be granted Exceptional Player Status by the WHL. As a result, he is eligible to play in the league on a full-time basis beginning with the 2024-2025 WHL regular season. Landon is the son of former NHLer and Calgary Flames alumni member Micki Dupont.
Center Crew Martinson (April 30th, 2009) from Olds was chosen by the Tri-City Americans with the second pick in the second round – number 24 overall. Martinson had 20 goals and 48 points in 19 Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) regular season games last season for the Red Deer U15 AAA Rebels. He added 10 more goals and 14 points in 4 playoff games.
Martinson’s teammate from the Red Deer U15 AAA Rebels, Brock Dingman (July 26, 2009) from Carstairs was taken in the sixth round – number 121 overall by the Vancouver Giants. Dingman is a right handed shooting defenceman who recorded 32 points – including 11 goals – in 34 AEHL regular season games in 2023-2024.
The Medicine Hat Tigers used a ninth round pick – number 181 overall – on right winger Tayte Hoiland (July 10th, 2009) from Rocky Mountain House. A teammate of Martinson and Dingman on the Red Deer U15 AAA Rebels, Hoiland posted 33 goals and 51 points in 34 AEHL regular season contests last season.
The Red Deer Rebels had the 15th overall selection in the first round and they used it to add defenceman Graeme Pickering (March 22nd, 2009) from St. Adolphe, Manitoba and the Rink Hockey Academy Winnipeg U15 Prep. Pickering shoots right handed and had 36 points in 27 Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) regular season games in 2023-2024.
This year’s Prospects Draft saw WHL member teams claim a total of 237 players. Alberta led all provincial branches with 94 players selected.
