RINK Hockey Academy in 麻豆精选 was made one proud organization on Wednesday morning.
The Western Hockey League鈥檚 (WHL) U.S. Priority Draft started at 9 a.m. on May 10, where teams each get to draft two players from the United States, with all players available this year born in 2008. Despite being from America, the players are still eligible if they鈥檙e playing in Canada.
And with the first two overall selections, the Spokane Chiefs took Brody Gillespie and the Victoria Royals took Cruz Waltze, both from RINK Hockey Academy U15 prep team. Gillespie is from Vancouver, Washington while Waltze is from Richland, Washington.
HUGE Congrats to current U15 Prep Student-Athlete Brody Gillespie on being selected 1st overall in the @TheWHL US Priority Draft! https://t.co/Um2DwQYPOT
鈥� RINK Hockey Academy 麻豆精选 (@rha_kelowna) May 10, 2023
This past season, Gillispie finished second in team scoring with 54 points (26 goals, 28 assists) in 28 games. Waltze was fifth in team scoring with 46 points in 28 games (24 goals, 22 assists).
HUGE Congrats to current U15 Prep Student-Athlete Cruz Waltze on being selected 2nd overall in the @TheWHL US Priority Draft! https://t.co/eNLLeIMVvy
鈥� RINK Hockey Academy 麻豆精选 (@rha_kelowna) May 10, 2023
麻豆精选 Rockets
Meanwhile the hometown team had the seventh overall pick in Wednesday鈥檚 draft. With the pick, they took forward Kalder Varga, from Chicago Mission U14 from Geneva, Illinois.
Varga collected 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 15 games this season.
Welcome to 麻豆精选, Kalder Varga!
鈥� 麻豆精选 Rockets (@麻豆精选_Rockets) May 10, 2023
Kalder is the son of former Tacoma Rocket John Varga.#WHLDraft pic.twitter.com/BWeuj5sTCt
He is the son of former Tacoma Rocket, John Varga. He played for the Rockets for all four seasons in Tacoma before the team moved to 麻豆精选 in 1995.
With their second pick in the draft (26th overall), the Rockets selected Oliver Kanat, a goaltender from the Los Angeles Jr. Kings U14 team.
In 28 games last season, the Newport Beach, California native collected a goals against average of 1.53 and a save percentage of .922.
The WHL Prospects Draft takes place on Thursday, May 11 at 9 a.m. It can be followed on the WHL鈥檚 website.
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