2025 WHL Draft tracker: Tigers’ U.S. Priority and Prospect Draft selections
By James Tubb on May 8, 2025.
NEWS FILE PHOTO
The city staff at Co-op Place built the ice and put in the logos and lines on July 30 ahead of the 2024-25 Medicine Hat Tigers season.WHL U.S. Priority Draft
Round One
The Brandon Wheat Kings opened the WHL U.S. Priority Draft by selecting forward Levi Ellington from Pasco, WASH. The 15-year-old had 14 goals. and 27 points in 10 games with STAR Hockey Academy U14AAA in 2024-25.16th overall: D Jake Burmis
The Tigers selected defenceman Jake Burmis from Rogers, MN with the 16th overall pick. The 15-year-old had 27 goals and 82 points in 63 games with Rogers Bantam U15AA this season. He also played 13 games for Minnesota Green Giants U14AAA, notching five goals and eight points. On Elite Prospects, he’s listed as a 5-foot-9, 150lbs.Round Two
32nd overall: F Bauer Sullivan
With their second-pick, the Tigers drafted forward Bauer Sullivan of Rosemount, MN. The 14-year-old (15 in June) had 10 goals and 25 points in 20 games with the MN Moose U14AAA. He’s listed as 5-foot-7, 154 lbs on Elite Prospects.WHL Prospects Draft
The Tigers did not make any selections in the first round Wednesday night trading their 2025 first-round pick to the Saskatoon Blades on Jan. 6 for defenceman Tanner Molendyk and forward Misha Volotovskii.Second round
36th overall: D Luke Warrener
The Tigers traded into the second round, acquiring the 36th overall pick from the Victoria Royals to select defenceman Luke Warrener from the South Alberta Hockey Academy U18 team. Warrener, from East Amherst, NY, had six goals and 15 points in 32 games with SAHA last season. Medicine Hat sent the Royals the 50th overall pick and the 91st overall pick in exchange for the 36th selection.Third round
67th overall: D Hunter Saddleback
Medicine Hat further bolstered their blue line, selecting defencmean Hunter Saddleback 67th overall from the St. Albert Sabres. The 15-foot-11 15-year-old had nine goals and 37 points in 29 games at the U15AAA level. The St. Albert product added two assists in five provincials games. The Tigers acquired the 67th overall pick in the Matt Paranych deal on Dec. 13, 2024, also receiving a 2028 fourth-round pick from the Regina Pats.Fourth round
78th overall: G Ben Meyer
Medicine Hat went goaltender in the fourth round, selecting Regina product Ben Meyer 78th overall. The 5-foot-10 goaltender played for the Notre Dame Hounds U15 prep team, posting a 2-18-3 record with a 4.73 goals against average and a .891 save percentage. In the CSSHL playoffs, he was 2-1 with a 3.36 GAA and a .916 SV%
The Tigers acquired the 78th overall pick in 2023, sending defenceman Pasha Bocharov to the Tri-City Americans.
Fifth round
109th overall: F Michael Kuzik
Medicine Hat drafted thier first forward of the prospects draft, selecting Langley, B.C. product Michael Kuzik 109th overall. The 5-foot-9 centre plays for the Yale Hockey Academy’s U15 Prep team in the CSSHL. He played 27 games last season, notching 18 goals and 44 points. He added a goal and three points in four playoff games. The Tigers acquired the 109th pick in 2021 as part of a three-way deal with the Prince George Cougars and Saskatoon Blades.115th overall: F Duke Lesnar
Medicine Hat had a seocnd pick in the fifth round, selecitng forward Duke Lesnar of ALexandria, MN with the 115th pick. Lesnar is the son of famous wrestler Brock Lesnar and he plays for the Notre Dame Hounds U15 Prep team. In 30 games he had 13 goals and 28 points. The 115th overall pick was acquired on Oct. 18, 2022 as part of the deal that sent Oren Shtrom and two draft picks to the Everett Silvertips in exchange for goaltender Evan May and the selection.Sixth round
The first Medicine Hat product selected in the 2025 WHL draft came in the sxith round, with forward Carter Gilchrist being selected 128th overall by the Victoria Royals. Gilchrist had 18 goals and 40 points in 34 games with the U15AAA South East Athletic Club Tigers this season. He also played five games at the Alberta Cup, with three goals and four points.137th overall: F Adam Benassaya
The Tigers went State-side in the sixth round, selcting forward Adam Benassaya from Manhattan Beach, Calif. with the 137th pick. The 14-year-old (15 in May), stands 5-foot-1o and plays for the Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres U14 team. In 59 games this seaosn, he had 13 goals and 46 points.Seventh round
143rd overall: F Trae Alexander
Medicne Hat picked a third straight forward, dipping into British Columbia to select Trae Alexander 143rd overall. The 5-foot-3, 14-year-old (15 in August), plays for the NEBC Trackers U15 AA team. He had 36 goals and 83 points in 31 games. Medicine Hat acquired the 143rd overall pick in a trade on Sept 13, 2022, sending forward Ashton Ferster to the Kamloops Blazers.160th overall: F Eric Savage Keller
The Tigers picked twice in the sevneth round, selecting forward Eric Savage Keller 160th overall. The 14-year-old (15 in September) Calgary product plays for the Calgary CRAA U15AAA Royals and had 18 goals and 35 points in 34 games.Eighth round
163rd overall: F Casey Pearson
The run on forwards continued for the Tigers, selecting forward Casey Pearson 163rd overall from the Delta Hcokey Academy U15 Prep team. The Squamish, B.C. product had 16 goals and 40 points in 35 CSSHL games this season. He’ll turn 15 on May 25. Medicine Hat acquired the 163rd overall pick from the Wenatchee Wild on Oct. 16, 2024 in the deal that sent goaltnder Zach Zahara to the U.S. division.183rd overall: F Vlad Ibragimov
With the 183rd overall pick, the Medicine Hat Tigers select forward Vlad Ibragimov from the North Shore Warriors U18 Prep. The 16-year-old of Moskva, Rus. scored 19 goals and tallied 40 points in 36 games in his first season at the CSSHL U18 level.Ninth round
190th overall: F Jack Frisky
With the 190th overall pick, the Medicine Hat Tigers select forward Jack Frisky of Martensville, Sask. The 14-year-old (15 in June) plays for the U15 Saskatoon Outlaws. He had 23 goals and 48 points in 21 games. The Tigers pass on their 206th overall pick, signalling they are done selecting players in the 2025 WHL Draft. See Friday’s News for a full breakdown of the draft.-35
Subscribe
Login
Please login to comment
1 Comment
Oldest
