Tigers 2024 WHL Draft tracker

By James Tubb on May 9, 2024.

First round

The Everett Silvertips open the WHL draft by selecting right-shot defenceman Landon DuPont from the Edge Hockey Academy.

The Calgary product received exceptional status from the Western Hockey League and Hockey Canada in the spring after putting up 19 goals and 62 pints in 30 games with the Edge Academy U18 team.

With their first pick of the draft, the Medicine Hat Tigers select forward Luke Ruptash from the St. Albert U15AAA Sabres.

The 5-foot-10 St. Albert product had 28 goals and 57 points in 29 regular season games. He added four goals and eight points in four playoff games and four goals and five points in five provincials games.

Tigers director of player personnel Bobby Fox said on the WHL’s livestream they see a lot of intangibles in Ruptash’s game.

“We got a competitive forward, physical who has a mean streak but he is also offensively gifted,” Fox said. “He plays really hard, he’ll cut that crease and go to the paint and he has a knack around the net.”

Fox says Ruptash fits in well with their prospect pool and their deep forward group.

“He fits right in with our skilled forwards and he brings an element of hardness too that is going to compliment anyone of our lines.”

Trade: Tigers acquire 18-year-old defenceman Jonas Woo from the Wenatchee Wild for 19-year-old defenceman Reid Andresen and a 2025 third round pick.

Woo suited up in all 68 games last season with the Wild, recording eight goals and 24 points. He added two assists in six playoff games this season.

The Winnipeg product played 78 games for the former Winnipeg Ice, with three goals and 24 points in the regular season. He tallied one goal and five points in 34 playoff games in Winnipeg.

“We’re really excited to add Jonas to our hockey club,” Tigers general manager Willie Desjardins said in a team release. “Jonas shows offensive prowess, he’s competitive while also being a strong defender, with his experience in long playoff runs from his time with the ICE and Wentachee last season, he’ll bring plenty of experience to make us successful.”

Andresen played in 210 games with the Tigers scoring 20 goals and 86 points. He also suited up in nine playoff games with a goal and four points.

“We want to thank Andy for all the time he’s put in with our team the past three full seasons,” Desjardins said. “Reid was a huge contributor to our defensive core and we wish him all the best in Wenatchee.”

Second round

No picks made.

Third round

Trade: The Tigers send captain Tyler MacKenzie to the Everett Silvertips for the 64th overall pick in the 2024 WHL draft.

MacKenzie is heading into his overage season in the WHL, he’s played in 197 games in Medicine Hat and was named the franchise’s 40th captain during the 2023-2024 season.

The Red Deer product had 16 goals and 47 points playing in all 68 games last season. He totalled 197 games for the Tigers over four seasons with 39 goals and 115 points.

“Tyler was a great Tiger through the last four years,” Desjardins said in a team release. “He’s been with us through some tough times and with his work ethic and leadership brought us to great times the last two seasons. It’s always a tough decision when it comes overagers as we can only keep three but we know Tyler is going to do incredible things in Everett and we’re going to miss him, we wish him all the best with the Silvertips.”

Trade: The Tigers acquire defenceman Bryce Pickford in multiple picks deal with Thunderbirds

The Tigers trade for 18-year-old defenceman Bryce Pickford from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for the 64th overall pick acquired  in the MacKenzie trade, a 2025 2nd, 2025 3rd round pick and a conditional 2027 5th round pick.

The 18-year-old defenceman has played in 121 games in the WHL, amassing eight goals 35 points. Pickford won a championship with the Thunderbirds in the 2022-23 season.

““Bryce set us up for success for the next two years,” Desjardins said in a team release. “We needed to add depth to our backend with moves made today and going forward, he brings plenty of experience from past playoff runs that lead to championships, Bryce is a strong defender that will help us get that competitive edge we need going forward.”

Fourth round

Trade: The Tigers acquire forward Mathew Ward from Swift Current Broncos for trio of picks

The Tigers trade for 20-year-old gritty forward Mathew Ward from the Broncos for the 42nd pick in this draft, a 2027 3rd and a 2028 4th to the Broncos.

Ward has 73 goals and 208 points in 199 WHL games, all with Swift Current.

With the 83rd pick in the draft, the Tigers selected goaltender Cash Christie from the St. George’s School U15 prep.

The 5-foot-10 North Vancouver product had a 2.79 GAA and a .929 SV% with a 9-2-0 record in 14 games with St. Geroge’s. He put up a line of 1.43 GAA and .959 SV% in two playoff games.

Fifth round

With the 97th pick, the Tigers selected defenceman Zack Nieckar from the OHA Edmonton U15 prep team.

The 5-foot-9 Sherwood Park product had three goals and 16 points in 20 CSSHL games this season. He added an assist in three playoff games.

At 105th, the Tigers drafted forward Noah Alexander from the Winnipeg Wild U15AAA Red team.

The 5-foot-9 Winnipeg product had 37 goals and 65 points in 32 games for the Wild, tallying 18 goals and 31 points in 14 playoff games.

Seventh round

With the 149th pick, the Tigers looked locally and selected defenceman Jude Martin of the Medicine Hat U15AA Hounds.

The 6-foot-3 three Oyen product had three goals and six points in eight games for the Hounds.

Eighth round

With the 171st pick, the Tigers selected defencemen Kayne Wright from the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep team.

The 5-foot-9.5 Edmonton product had four goals and 19 points in 25 games for NAX. He added two goals and eight points in five games in the CSSHL playoffs.

Ninth round

With the 181st pick, the Tigers select forward Tayte Hoiland from the Red Deer U15 AAA Rebels.

The 5-foot-6 Rocky Mountain House product had 33 goals and 51 points in 34 AEHL games.

A mere 12 picks later, Medicine Hat drafted defenceman Kingston King from Okanagan Colorado U14.

The 5-foot-7 Valencia, Colorado product had two goals and 10 points in 30 games.

Tenth round

With the 215th pick, the Medicine Hat Tigers select forward Devon Zahara from Edmonton CAC U15AAA.

The 5-foot-4 Edm. product had 13 goals and 26 points in 26 games.

This story will be updated throughout the day with the Tigers draft selections and local products drafted.

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