Last Thursday was the 2023 Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft and multiple members of the U15 Airdrie Xtreme and surrounding athletes will hopefully be playing in the WHL sooner rather than later.

The Xtreme had two members that were drafted in the first round. Riley Boychuk, who is from Cochrane was selected second overall by the Prince Albert Raiders. Aaron Sawatzky from Didsbury was selected 16th overall by the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The second round saw another Cochranite from the Xtreme, Bennett Kelly join Boychuk in being selected by the Raiders 27th overall. Olds resident Dermont Johnston was selected 43rd overall to the Prince George Cougars.

Airdronian Caelen Joudrey was selected in the third round, 66th overall by the Winnipeg Ice.

The fourth round saw two more Xtreme members selected, Rhett Sather 66th overall to the Spokane Chiefs and Isaac Davies from Carstairs 72nd to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Round five kept the trend going with two more being selected. Airdronian Finn Bagley was selected 92nd to the Seattle Thunderbirds and Will McLaughlin 105th to the Portland Winterhawks.

Skipping a few rounds,  Griffin Horne from Lac Des Arcs finished off the draft for the Xtreme and was selected in the eighth round to the Calgary Hitman. Ryan Pederson who lives in Rocky View County and played for the Notre Dame Hounds U15 Prep was selected 169th overall.

While not playing for the Xtreme, Airdronian Keegan Bailey, who played for Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep was selected with the 197th pick in the ninth round to the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Another Rocky View County resident, Ty Krooshoop of the Bow Valley Timberwolves U15 AA was selected in the 10th round, 203rd overall to the Prince Albert Raiders

There are currently multiple Airdronians playing in the WHL including Josh Davies who was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the NHL draft last year.

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