Nine Albertans registered in Hockey Alberta/Hockey Canada sanctioned programs, heard their names called during the first round of the 2024 WHL Draft on Thursday.
Calgary’s Landon DuPont was selected first overall by the Everett Silvertips. DuPont, who spent last season with the Edge School U18 Prep team, where he recorded 19 goals and 62 points in 30 regular season games. DuPont has been granted Exceptional Player Status and is eligible to play in the WHL on a full-time basis begining with the 2024-25 WHL regular season. He becomes the first Albertan and second player in WHL history to earn this honour following Connor Bedard in 2020. In total, nine players have been granted Exceptional Status in CHL history.
Two other Albertans went in the top five of the draft. Airdrie Defenceman Aden Bouchard went third overall to the Tri-City Americans and was followed by Edmonton’s Ben Harvey who was selected fourth by the Prince Albert Raiders.
Those who were selected in the top 10 include:
Ossie McIntyre, St. Albert (Spokane Chiefs) Owen Hayden, Calgary (Kelowna Rockets)Rounding out the list of Albertans selected in the first round are:
Brock England, Airdrie (Seattle Thunderbirds) Luke Ruptash, St. Albert (Medicine Hat Tigers) Mirco Dufour, Rocky View (Everett Silvertips) Jordin St. Louis, Airdrie (Portland Winterhawks)Three of the 9 Albertans (McIntyre, Hayden, Ruptash) are from the Alberta Elite Hockey League.
A full list of Albertans registered in Hockey Alberta/ Hockey Canada sanctioned programs drafted can be found below:
Pick Player Team Position Hometown FIRST ROUND 1 Landon Dupont Everett Silvertips Defence Calgary 3 Aden Bouchard Tri-City Americans Defence Airdrie 4 Ben Harvey Prince Albert Raiders Centre Edmonton 7 Ossie McIntyre Spokane Chiefs Centre St. Albert 9 Owen Hayden Kelowna Rockets Defence Calgary 11 Brock England Seattle Thunderbirds Centre Airdrie 16 Luke Ruptash Medicine Hat Tigers Centre/Right Wing St. Albert 19 Mirco Dufour Everett Silvertips Centre Rocky View 20 Jordin St. Louis Portland Winterhawks Centre Airdrie