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.

James Tubb @ReporterTubb

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-1o 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 Pasah 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.

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

See Friday’s News for a full story on the draft and a preview of the WHL Championship series between the Tigers and the Spokane Chiefs.

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