The Prince Albert Raiders are hoping Wednesday’s Prospects Draft Lottery win is a precursor to on-ice success starting Thursday.

P-A had one of their balls drawn Wednesday, moving them up from fourth to second in the 2024 W-H-L Prospects Draft to be held May 9. The Raiders acquired the fourth overall pick from Seattle in the Nolan Allan trade from back in November, 2022. Everett will have the first overall selection while Regina will have first pick in the U-S Priority Draft, to be held the previous day, May 8. Following are the news releases from the W-H-L…..

EVERETT SILVERTIPS TO SELECT FIRST OVERALL IN 2024 WHL PROSPECTS DRAFT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2024

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today the Everett Silvertips will select first overall in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft following the completion of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery.

The Prince Albert Raiders won the draft lottery, moving from fourth to second overall, having previously acquired the first-round pick belonging to the Seattle Thunderbirds. As a result, the Everett Silvertips retain the first-overall pick, having previously acquired the first-round selection belonging to the Kamloops Blazers.

The 2024 WHL Prospects Draft is scheduled for Thursday, May 9, 2024, with first-round coverage streaming on WHL Live on CHL TV.

The six WHL Clubs that did not qualify for the 2024 WHL Playoffs, unless they traded their first-round pick, participated in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery. The lottery proceedings determined the order of selection for the first six picks in the first round of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, with inverse order of standing from the 2023-24 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the remainder of the first round and all subsequent rounds.

2024 WHL PROSPECTS DRAFT – FIRST ROUND ORDER OF SELECTION

1. Everett Silvertips (from Kamloops)
2. Prince Albert Raiders (from Seattle)
3. Tri-City Americans
4. Kelowna Rockets (via trades from Regina)
5. Edmonton Oil Kings
6. Calgary Hitmen
7. Spokane Chiefs
8. Victoria Royals
9. Prince Albert Raiders
10. Vancouver Giants
11. Seattle Thunderbirds (via trades from Kelowna)
12. Wenatchee Wild
13. Lethbridge Hurricanes
14. Brandon Wheat Kings
15. Red Deer Rebels
16. Medicine Hat Tigers
17. Swift Current Broncos
18. Victoria Royals (from Moose Jaw)
19. Everett Silvertips
20. Portland Winterhawks
21. Prince George Cougars
22. Kamloops Blazers (from Saskatoon)

The Kelowna Rockets (via Regina), Tri-City Americans, and Everett Silvertips (via Kamloops) had the opportunity to obtain the first-overall selection in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft. The process for the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery was administered by Josh Glenn of KPMG.

2024 WHL PROSPECTS DRAFT – SECOND ROUND (AND SUBSEQUENT ROUNDS) ORDER OF SELECTION

1. Kamloops Blazers
2. Tri-City Americans
3. Regina Pats
4. Seattle Thunderbirds
5. Edmonton Oil Kings
6. Calgary Hitmen
7. Spokane Chiefs
8. Victoria Royals
9. Prince Albert Raiders
10. Vancouver Giants
11. Kelowna Rockets
12. Wenatchee Wild
13. Lethbridge Hurricanes
14. Brandon Wheat Kings
15. Red Deer Rebels
16. Medicine Hat Tigers
17. Swift Current Broncos
18. Moose Jaw Warriors
19. Everett Silvertips
20. Portland Winterhawks
21. Prince George Cougars
22. Saskatoon Blades

Since 2000, numerous impactful players have heard their names called with the first-overall pick, including but not limited to Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers, 2022), Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs, 2021), Connor Bedard (Regina Pats, 2020), Matthew Savoie (Winnipeg ICE, 2019), Dylan Guenther (Edmonton Oil Kings, 2018), Kaiden Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders, 2017), Peyton Krebs (Kootenay ICE, 2016), Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds, 2012), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels, 2008), and Braydon Coburn (Portland Winterhawks, 2000).

Players eligible for the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft are 2009-born players who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Players not selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.

REGINA PATS TO SELECT FIRST OVERALL IN 2024 WHL U.S. PRIORITY DRAFT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2024

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today the Regina Pats will select first overall in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft following the completion of the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery.

The 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, 2024, and will be conducted online at WHL.ca. The 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will consist of two rounds and 44 selections, with each WHL Club presented with the opportunity to have two draft selections.

All six WHL Clubs that did not qualify for the 2024 WHL Playoffs participated in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery. The lottery proceedings determined the order of selection for the first six picks in the first round of the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, with inverse order of standing from the 2023-24 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the remainder of the first round and second round.

The Kamloops Blazers, Tri-City Americans, Regina Pats, Seattle Thunderbirds, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Calgary Hitmen had the opportunity to obtain the first-overall selection in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft. The process for the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery was administered by Josh Glenn of KPMG.

2024 WHL U.S. PRIORITY DRAFT – ORDER OF SELECTION

Recent players to come through the WHL U.S. Priority Draft include Brody Gillespie (Spokane Chiefs, 2023), Blake Fiddler (Edmonton Oil Kings, 2022), and Gracyn Sawchyn (Seattle Thunderbirds, 2020).

Players eligible for the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2009-born players who reside in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Players not selected in the 2024 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 9, 2024, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.