MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- Moose Jaw Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger and his scouting staff weren’t all that busy through the first four rounds of the 2024 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft on Thursday afternoon.
Thanks to Ripplinger’s efforts to build the team that will take the ice in the WHL Final beginning Friday in Portland, the Warriors had a single second round pick in the opening four rounds. They ended up taking 11 players total, 10 of which came in the fifth through 11th rounds.
The WHL Prospects Draft takes place every May, with teams selecting the top 14-year-olds from throughout western Canada.
Leading the way for the Warriors was defenceman Cohen Williams, who the Warriors picked in the second round, 40th overall. The 6-foot-3, 186-pound Cawston, B.C. product played for Okanagan Hockey Academy last season and had three goals and 20 points in 27 games.
The Warriors’ first-round pick went to Victoria as part of the Brayden Schuurman and Kalem Parker deal, while their third-round selection went to Wenatchee as part of the Matthew Savoie deal and fourth round pick to Brandon via Vancouver as part of the Ethan Semeniuk - Marek Howell trade.
With their first pick of the fifth round, the Warriors selected defenceman Cooper Perrin from the Saskatoon Outlaws U15 AAs. A 5-foot-11, 175-pound Saskatoon product, Perrin played 24 games with the Outlaws and had 10 goals and 29 points to go along with 64 penalty minutes.
The Warriors second pick in round five Moose Jaw select centre Maxon Johnston from the Sask East Oilers U15 AAs. The 5-foot-11, 154-pound Esterhazy product had 25 goals and 44 points in 27 games and added another seven goals and nine points in four playoff games.
Moose Jaw also had two picks in the sixth round, first selecting Preston Hoppe from the
Humboldt Broncos U15 AA. Playing for his hometown team last season, the 5-foot-9, 151-pound right winger had 43 goals and 75 points in only 28 games. He was even more effective in the playoffs with 11 goals and 21 points in eight games as Humboldt reached the SAAHL North Division Final.
Eight picks later, the Warriors selected Willaims’ teammate Carson Smith from OHA U15 Prep. The 5-foot-11, 167-pound West Kelowna, B.C. left winger had 10 goals and 21 points in 26 games and another goal and four points in three playoff games.
Next up was goaltender Cade Mitchell from the Swift Current Broncos U15 AA. A 5-foot-11, 151-pound Gull Lake product, Mitchell played 18 games for Swift Current and had a 2.38 goals against average and .922 save percentage while posting a 15-3 record.
With their lone selection in the eighth round, the Warriors picked up Brandon product Theran Turner. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAA defenceman had four goals and 21 points in 32 games last season.
The Warriors also had one pick in the ninth round and selected North Vancouver left winger Tobin Schaefer. A 5-foot-8, 125-pound member of the Vancouver NW Hawks U15 AAAs, Schaefer put up 16 goals and 29 points in 28 games in 2023-24.
With their first pick in the 10th round, the Warriors selected defenceman Ethan Fidelak. The 6-foot-3, 171-pound St. Albert product played for his hometown AAA Sabres and had 13 assists in 34 games.
The Warriors then made Saskatoon’s Karter Hilbig the 217th selection overall with their second 10th round pick. The 6-foot-0, 150-pound goaltender played for the Saskatoon Stallions in the SAAHL, posting a 3.61 GAA and .888 SP through 16 regular season games.
Moose Jaw wrapped up their 2024 Prospects Draft by selecting Saskatoon’s Nash Coquet in the 11th round, 239th overall. A 5-foot-9, 153-pound forward with the Saskatoon Outlaws, Coquet had 21 goals and 51 points in 27 games before adding another two goals and four points in three games. Coquet also played two playoff games for the U18 AA Riverkings, scoring twice with three points.
The Everett Silvertips selected defenceman Landon Dupont first overall, as expected, after Dupont was granted exceptional player status last month and will be able to play a full season in the WHL in 2023-24.
Be sure to check back for a look at each player with GM Jason Ripplinger in the near future!
