The Regina Pats have bolstered their prospect pool during the annual Western Hockey League draft, held Wednesday and Thursday. With their first-round selection, ninth overall, the team drafted goaltender Fletcher MacDonald, a 14-year-old from Edmonton. MacDonald becomes the highest-drafted goaltender in Pats history and the first goalie selected in the top 10 of the WHL draft since 2016.
MacDonald's Impressive Season
MacDonald, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 199 pounds, played last season with the Canadian Athletic Club U15 AA squad in the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL). He posted a 2.87 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage with one shutout in 28 games, earning first-team all-star honours. In the playoffs, he recorded a 1.51 goals-against average and a .969 save percentage in two games before his team was eliminated in the first round.
MacDonald also backstopped his team to a 2026 Alberta Cup championship, earning first-team all-star honours with a .942 save percentage in three games. Pats general manager Dale Derkatch praised his performance, noting, "Pretty amazing numbers that he put up on a not very good team."
Pats' Draft Strategy
Regina did not have the No. 1 and No. 3 picks like last year, when they selected Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue. This year, after forward Madden Daneault went first overall to the Kelowna Rockets, the Pats opted for MacDonald. The team is set to draft twice in the second round (31st and 35th overall) and once in the third round (62nd overall). They will also have two picks in the sixth round, two in the ninth round, and one each in the 10th and 11th rounds.
Local Players Selected
Five Saskatchewan-born players were taken in the first round. Regina product Rylan Edwards, a forward, was selected 18th overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings. Last season, Edwards played for the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep team, recording 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points in 28 games. Other first-round picks from Saskatchewan include Jax Bubnick (11th, Seattle Thunderbirds), Wyatt Bitz (13th, Everett Silvertips), Danny Ramazanov (17th, Red Deer Rebels), and Cullen Stephenson (10th, Portland Winterhawks).
