2021-22 WHL Season, East Division, Eastern Division, WHL Prospects Draft

Pats make nine selections in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft

Written by Kevin Shaw on

 

The Regina Pats entered the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft without their first-round pick. The pick was traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on August 18th in exchange for Zack Stringer.

That changed early in the day when the Pats traded their first-round pick in the 2023 Draft in exchange for Kamloops’ first-rounder this year, which just so happened to be the 21st selection.

How the selections went…

Now that the Pats moved into the first round, they took Jaxsin Vaughan with that 21st pick. The 6-foot-1, 185 lb. forward from Merritt, BC is currently playing for Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna. In 12 games he has 12 points (9G, 3A). His twin brother Corbin just so happens to play on the same team.

The Pats picked 21st overall one other time; they picked Brayden Metz in 2005 (the pick was at that time in the second round).

With the Pats’ second-round pick they picked Corbin Vaughan 30th overall, who just so happens to be Jaxsin’s twin brother. This Vaughan is a 6-foot-0, 190 lb. left shooting defenseman. In nine games at Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna, he has scored twice and added three assists for five points

Ryan Thomas was the only other Pat selection at this spot, he was picked in 1996.

The Pats did not have a third-round pick in the draft this year.

The Pats picked Raiden Zacharias with their fourth-round pick, 75th overall. The Saskatoon, SK product is playing for the Saskatoon Blazers in the Saskatchewan U18 league. The 5-foot-10 179 lb. forward has 19 points in 19 games to this point on the season (4G, 15A).

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/673282/raiden-zacharias

This was the first time the Pats picked at 75.

With their first of two fifth-round picks the Pats took Winnipeg, MB product Aaron Krestanowich 92nd overall. A 6-foot-0, 175 lb. defenseman is currently playing on the Winnipeg Wild in Manitoba U18 League. He has collected 8 points in 12 games (2G, 6A).

The Pats have one other selection at 92nd spot, that would be Sam McGinley in 2005.

Regina switched provinces for their second fifth-round pick. With their 107th overall selection, the Pats picked Brock Souch out of Edmonton. The 5-foot-8, 140 lb. forward is currently playing for the Northern Alberta Xtreme U16. He has 19 points in 16 games (9G, 13A).

This is also the first time the Pats picked at 107th.

The Pats moved back to their home province with their sixth-round pick, 119th overall, in which they selected Carter Ralston out of Unity. The 6-foot-1, 160 lb. forward is currently skating with the U18 Tisdale Trojans. In 22 games with the Trojans, he has 11 points (6G, 5A)

Another first-time selection at this spot.

With their first of two seventh-round picks, the Pats picked Dru Mushumanski a product of Rossburn, MB. The 5-foot-9, 145 lb. forward is playing for the U18 Parkland Rangers where he has 7 points in 11 games (2G, 5A).

The Pats have picked at 141st twice before; they picked Scott Eberle in 2003 and Brent Raedeke in 2005.

They then used their second pick of the round, 151st overall, on Kaslo Ferner. The 5-foot-8, 135 lb. forward from Kelowna is playing for the Okanagan Rockets U18. In 10 games this season he has 6 points (4G, 2A).

Ferner is the first pick the Pats had at 151st overall.

The Pats rounded out their picks with a goaltender. Nicolas Rempel was scooped up with the 172nd overall pick. The 6-foot, 162 lb. Winnipeg product is currently a teammate of Pats’ fifth-rounder Krestanowich with the Winnipeg Wild U18. In nine games, he’s 7-0-1 with a 2.35 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

Rempel is the fourth pick and third goaltender that the Pats have made at 172nd overall; Jake Ellingson was picked in 1996, Mark Kehrig in 2000, and Jesse Deckert in 2001.

Some Prospects Drafts history: The Pats have made 290 picks in the history of the draft dating back to 1990… 97 picks with hometowns in Saskatchewan, 87 from Alberta, 48 from Manitoba, 40 from British Columbia, and 18 players from the Unites States… 151 drafted as forwards, 111 drafted as defensemen, and 28 drafted as goaltenders.