Tigers excited by WHL U.S. Draft, find valued depth in Prospects Draft

By JAMES TUBB on May 9, 2025.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

Despite not having a first-round pick, the Medicine Hat Tigers are excited by the players selected in Thursday’s WHL Drafts.

The Tigers drafted 13 players total across the WHL’s U.S. Priority Draft and the second-through-15th rounds of the WHL Prospects Draft.

After many deliberations, phone calls, energy drinks and pepperoni sticks consumed, director of player personnel Bobby Fox was happy with how their draft board shook out, with nine forwards, three defenceman and one goaltender added to the franchise.

“There was lots of depth, there were lots of guys available and I had (scouts) banging on the table for certain guys, knowing they’re really good players,” Fox said. “We still felt there was lots of value even further down in the draft and we definitely like the guys we got.”

They opened the day with two U.S. Priority Draft selections, taking Minnesota products defenceman Jake Burmis and Bauer Sullivan. Both are high-end players, Fox says, and players they believe will be intrigued to join the orange and black.

“Jake’s a high-end defensive defenceman who can wheel, and he’s going to bring so much and add to the dynamic of our back end,” Fox said. “Bauer just has a motor that won’t quit. First time I saw him play, this guy is the epitome of how we want the Tigers to play, and he’s going to fit in really well.”

They entered the Prospects Draft without a first-round pick to use Wednesday and without a second rounder Thursday. A few calls later, they swung a deal with the Victoria Royals for the 36th overall pick to take defenceman Luke Warrener from the South Alberta Hockey Academy.

The 16-year-old had six goals and 15 points in 32 games with SAHA last season. Fox says they couldn’t wait until their first pick at 50, moving it with the 91st pick to bring in the East Amherst, NY product.

“We explored every option we could, we were working the phone, seeing if we can make anything work to jump ahead of a few teams because he was obviously our target and we’re really, really excited to have him,” Fox said.

They took defenceman Hunter Saddleback 67th overall before a goalie run saw them grab Ben Meyer at 78. Fox says the net minder has passion they couldn’t pass up.

“He hates to get scored on, he competes so hard, he kept that team in so many games this year,” Fox said.

The Tigers then grabbed a run of forwards, drafting eight straight to end the day with Michael Kuzik (109), Duke Lesnar (115), Adam Benassaya (137), Trae Alexander (143), Eric Savage Keller (160), Casey Pearson (163), Vlad Ibragimov (183) and Jack Frisky (190) joining the organization.

Duke Lesnar is the son of WWE and UFC legend Brock Lesnar, growing up in Alexandria, Man., while playing for the Notre Dame Hounds. Fox says he’s talked to Brock, sharing a passion for the UFC and he says Duke is cut from the same cloth.

“Brock is a very imposing young man, but he’s a very down to earth guy as well, I’ve enjoyed my conversations with Brock,” Fox said. “Duke is one of the most improved players this year. He’s extremely physical, hard to play against. There’s a raw package there that really excites me.”

Vlad Ibragimov was born in Russia but moved to B.C. to play for the North Shore Warriors U18 Prep. Fox says he saw the 16-year-old skate in Calgary over the summer and has followed him since.

“At that time, he wasn’t eligible to be picked, so we had him in our back pocket,” Fox said. “We knew he was a guy who put up some pretty good numbers at U18 as a 15-year old this year, he’s fast and he competes. One of the questions asked was, ‘Is this a guy that we would list in the future?’ And we thought there is a real strong possibility that this is a guy we would.

“We also have Steve Marr, former captain of the Tigers, he coaches within that program and he had a lot of good things to say about his upside.”

The only Medicine Hat product selected in the 2025 WHL draft came in the sixth round, with forward Carter Gilchrist being selected 128th overall by the Victoria Royals.

Tigers 2025 Drafts

U.S. Draft

D, Jake Burmis

Picked 16th overall

Hometown: Rogers, MN

Minn. Rogers Bantam U15AA

2025: 63 GP, 27 G, 55 A, 82 P

F, Bauer Sullivan

Picked 32nd overall

Hometown: Rosemount, MN

MN Moose U14AAA

2025: 20 GP, 10 G, 15 A, 25 P

WHL Prospects Draft

Second round

D, Luke Warrener

Picked 36th overall

Hometown: East Amherst, N.Y.

SAHA U18

2025: 32 GP, 6 G, 9 A, 15 P

Third round

D, Hunter Saddleback

Picked 67th overall

Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.

St. Albert U15AAA Sabres

2025: 29 GP, 9 G, 28 A, 37 P

Fourth round

G, Ben Meyer

Picked 78th overall

Hometown: Regina, Sask.

Notre Dame Hounds U15 Prep

2025: 4.73 GAA, .891 SV%, 2-18-3

Fifth round

C, Michael Kuzik

Picked 109th overall

Hometown: Langley, B.C.

Yale Hockey Academy U15

2025: 27 GP, 18 G, 26 A, 44 P

F, Duke Lesnar

Picked 115th overall

Hometown: Alexandria, MN

Notre Dame Hounds U15 Prep

2025: 30 GP, 13 G, 15 A, 28 P

Sixth round

F, Adam Benassaya

Picked 137th overall

From: Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres U14

2025: 59 GP, 13 G, 33 A, 46 P

Seventh round

F, Trae Alexander

Picked 143rd overall

Hometown: Fort St. John, B.C.

NEBC Trackers U15 AA

2025: 31 GP, 36 G, 47 A, 83 P

F, Eric Savage Keller

Picked 160th overall

Hometown: Calgary, Alta.

Calgary CRAA U15AAA Royals

2025: 34 GP, 18 G, 17 A, 35 P

Eighth round

F, Casey Pearson

Picked 163rd overall

Hometown: Squamish, B.C.

Delta HA U15 Prep

2025: 35 GP, 16 G, 24 A, 40 P

F, Vlad Ibragimov

Picked 183rd overall

Hometown: Moskva, Russ.

North Shore Warriors U18

2025: 36 GP, 19 G, 21 A, 40 P

Ninth round

F, Jack Frisky

Picked 190th overall

Hometown: Saskatoon

Saskatoon Outlaws U15 AA

2025: 21 GP, 23 G, 25 A, 48 P

96
-95