The WHL's Prospect Draft took place on May 9, as teams from across Western Canada tried to secure their future with picks from various places. Of the 237 prospects selected, 33 came from the province of Manitoba.

Tyden Lafournaise of Winnipeg was the highest selected Manitoba, going to Lethbridge with the 13th pick. He played centre last season with the U15 Winnipeg Bruins Gold squad, where he scored 126 points in 32 games.

Lafournaise shared his excitement at joining the the team.

"It was amazing. Coming into the day, you just want to get drafted is the first start, and then you want to get drafted to a great organization. Just hearing my name called by Lethbridge, and hearing such amazing things come from them, it really meant a lot to me to know I'm going to be in good hands for my future."

He also adds that he's incredibly grateful for the people who have supported him along the way to this milestone.

Graeme Pickering, a defenceman for the RINK Hockey Academy (RHA), was selected 15th by the Red Deer Rebels. He hails from St. Adolphe and put up 36 points in 27 games with the RHA.

Ludovic Perreault, another Winnipeg-born centre, was selected 18th overall by the Victoria Royals after his second season with the Winnipeg Bruins Brown team. He scored 67 goals while tallying 92 points in 32 games at the U15 level.

Asher Gingras from Steinbach was picked up by the Kamloops Blazers 22nd overall. He played this past season with the U15 Eastman Selects, totalling 53 points in 21 games.

Antonio Correia spent the season with his hometown Winnipeg Bruins Black squad. He was picked 28th by the Calgary Hitmen after putting up 71 points in 32 games.

Prabh Bhathal of Winnipeg tore up the U15 level with the Thrashers White team. He scored 83 goals in 32 games, reaching 119 points, and was selected by the Brandon Wheat Kings 36th overall.

Calum Brownlee was a teammate of Antonio Correia's, and he added 29 points from the blueline in 32 games. He was selected 42nd overall by the Swift Current Broncos.

Madden Tymchak was selected 46th overall by the Kamloops Blazers. He finished this past season with the RHA U15 scoring 30 points in 25 games as a defenceman.

The 53rd overall selection was Drayden Uhrina from Winnipeg, another RHA U15 player. He tallied 51 points in 25 games. He was selected by the Victoria Royals.

The Brandon Wheat Kings went to a familiar well with the 59th selection, picking Easten Turko, the younger brother of another Wheat Kings selection, Brady Turko. Easten held down the blueline this past season with the U15 Brandon Wheat Kings, while scoring 45 points in 32 games.

Cole Secord of La Salle became the 62nd pick of the draft, as he also joins the Kamloops Blazers. He put up 54 points in 26 games with the Pembina Valley Hawks U15 club.

Cohen Lewko played with the Winnipeg RHA U15 team as well, scoring 42 points in 26 games. He was taken 77th overall by the Saskatoon Blades.

Urijah Moosetail tended the net for the U15 Brandon Wheat Kings, backstopping the team to 15 wins. He was selected 81st overall by the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.

William Picklyk of Mitchell, Manitoba got the call from the Everett Silvertips at 90th overall. He spent the last year with the U15 Eastman Selects, scoring 82 points in 32 games.

Linkin Stadnek, a Thompson product, went 93rd to the Kelowna Rockets. Last season at the Okanagan Hockey Academy, he played in 21 games and added 12 points.

Winnipeg's Anthony Bedard was selected shortly thereafter, going 96th overall to the Spokane Chiefs. He played RHA U15 hockey in Manitoba's Capital, scoring 40 points in 24 games.

Dauphin's Forrest Karlson played the past year for the Pilot Mound Hockey Academy, where he notched 42 points in 27 games. He was chosen 98th overall by the Red Deer Rebels.

Noah Alexander, who resides in the provincial capital, played for the U15 Winnipeg Wild's Red team, where he compiled 65 points over 32 games. He was selected 105th by the Medicine Hat Tigers.

With the 111th pick in the draft, the Prince Albert Raiders selected Knox Burton from Brandon. He played last season with the RHA in Winnipeg, scoring 33 points in 27 games.

The following pick, #112, would see the Edmonton Oil Kings select Paxton White of La Salle. He spent time last year with the Pembina Valley Hawks, manning the blueline and collecting 20 points in 30 games.

Hudson Champagne would be the next Manitoban selected, going 127th to the Tri-City Americans. His last season was spent with the Brandon Wheat Kings U15 team, where he posted 51 points in 28 appearances.

Spencer Kuntz was selected 133rd by the Saskatoon Blades. The defenceman played for Winnipeg's RHA, depositing 25 points in 27 games.

Aiden Sitarz, also from Winnipeg, would be selected with the next pick, 134 by the Kamloops Blazers. He tallied 66 points in 31 games with the Winnipeg Bruins U15 Gold squad.

Ryland Moore was taken 138th by the Victoria Royals. He played last season in Winnipeg Bruins's Brown team and scored 35 points in 32 games.

Nolan Harding added his name to the list, via the pick at 141. He played with the Winnipeg RHA's U15 program and put away 34 points in 27 games.

With pick 147, the Tri-City Americans added Eric Berger of Virden. He notched 66 points in 31 games with the U15 Southwest Cougars.

Dixon Hartwich went to the Prince George Cougars, 154th overall. He spent the season with the Winnipeg Thrashers Blue team, putting up 43 points in 28 games.

Chase Kettles of Headingley was picked 164th by the Prince Albert Raiders. He backstopped the Winnipeg Wild Green team to 6 wins this past year.

Mason Chubey put up 61 points with the Winnipeg Bruins Brown U15 team. He was picked 169th by the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Theran Turner's season with the U15 Brandon Wheat Kings saw him score 21 points while manning the blueline for 32 games. He was picked 173rd by the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Grady McNish of Rivers played 32 games with the Yellowhead Chiefs U15 team, where he scored 25 goals and 46 points. The Lethbridge Hurricanes made him the 190th pick in the draft.

At 196, the Wenatchee Wild selected Atticus Cruz from the Winnipeg Wild's Green team. Cruz had 46 points and 66 penalty minutes in 32 games.

The last Manitoba-born player picked in the WHL Prospects draft was Hunter Ethelston of Brandon. He was selected with the 287th pick but was only the 236th prospect chosen. Ethelston played last season with the U15 Brandon Wheat Kings and scored 18 points in 29 games. 

Congratulations to all the prospects chosen throughout the event.