A player-by-player look at the draft

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This article was published 09/05/2025 (283 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon Wheat Kings director of hockey operations Chris Moulton discusses what he likes about each of the players the club drafted on Wednesday and Thursday, and also in the U.S. Prospects draft on Thursday morning.

• ROUND 1 (12th overall) — Cruz Jim.

Home: Grande Prairie, Alta.

5-8, 150 lbs, D.

Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep

35gp, 13g, 53a, 66p, 42pim.

“On-ice leadership, great vision, just competes, doesn’t like to lose, wants the puck on his stick when the game is on the line. He’s the total package when it comes to creating offence and helping his team have success. He does all the little things, checks all the right boxes. He’s one of those guys going into the last minute of the game, you have him on the ice. You always want those guys. He’s extremely good on the power play and gets pucks through. He’s going to help our offence for years to come.”

• ROUND 2 (38th overall) — Ahmad Fayad.

Home: Edmonton.

5-8, 175 lbs, F.

Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep

36gp, 27g, 54a, 81p, 32pim.

“Ahmad is very skilled, period. He was the top-scoring guy in the CSSHL and he got there for a reason. He makes those around him better. He has incredible vision and he’s a competitor. He’s not afraid to go to the tough areas and to create offence. He gets in the corner and finishes his checks if he has to, he takes a check to make a play. His strongest attribute is his skill for sure.”

• ROUND 4 (83rd overall) — Joffrey Chan.

Home: Vancouver.

6-1, 166 lbs, G.

St. George’s School U15 Prep.

17gp, 2.45 gaa, .918 save percentage.

“He’s a very good goaltender with lots more to come. He’s a good goaltender now but there’s a larger ceiling for him. He played in a good program in St. George’s. He’s tall and he’s lean so he has lots of growth left. I just think right now he’s a guy who has a ton of upside.”

• ROUND 5 (107th overall) — Logan Olsen.

Home: Warman, Sask.

5-10, 145 lbs, D.

Warman Wildcats U15 AA.

29gp, 9g, 34a, 43p, 46pim.

“Logan has the ability to create some offence, he has the ability to make plays but he’s also not afraid to engage and defend hard. He plays with a competitive edge and works really, really hard. He’s just a really well-rounded player.”

• ROUND 7 (146th overall) — Mark Munday.

Home: Winnipeg.

5-5, 120 lbs, F.

Winnipeg Wild U15 AAA Red.

22gp, 16g, 19a, 35p, 42pim.

“Mark is an on-ice leader, lots of character, plays with maturity. He plays through injuries, he fights through adversity, he’s just a real quality hockey player and seems like a quality young man. He just brings what we want in a Wheat King, character and compete.”

• ROUND 7 (153rd overall) — Logan Dosenberger.

Home: Regina.

6-0, 163 lbs, D.

Regina Pat Blues U15 AA.

27gp, 5g, 23a, 28p, 18pim.

“Untapped potential. He’s a good-sized kid, lots of skill, sees the ice, makes plays. I think we’re just scratching the surface with this guy. He has the ability to defend hard, he’s strong and will lean on kids. He’s got good feet. I see a huge ceiling on this guy.”

• ROUND 8 (176th overall) — Brayden Watt.

Home: Brandon.

5-9, 144 lbs, F.

Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAA.

31gp, 21g, 41a, 62p, 29pim.

“He’s just a well-rounded player. He really competes hard, he leads his team by example, he plays in all situations. I thought he was really good for his local team this year. I noticed him right away and identified him as a possible draftee the first time I saw him play. I really like his game. I think he plays 200 foot and he’s not afraid to engage or get involved.”

• ROUND 10 (222nd overall) — Liam Green.

Home: Winnipeg.

5-6, 120 lbs, D.

Winnipeg Wild U15 AAA Red.

30gp, 7g, 18a, 25p, 24pim.

“Untapped potential. I thought he was one of the most improved players throughout the year. I thought his game grew, his puck skills improved, he looked far more confident by the end of the year. I think he’s a very complete defenceman who has the ability to contribute a little bit but also make good decisions and transition the puck up the ice.”

• ROUND 11 (245th overall) — Tristan Will.

Home: Woodbury, Minn.

6-0, 174 lbs, F.

Minnesota Moose 14U.

16gp, 12g, 8a, 20p, 6pim.

“A really good player. He seems to have some skill, he has some vision, he has the ability to create. Getting to know the bits and pieces I know and using the wisdom from my American contacts and my scouts, they thought getting him as a late addition was a huge get for us.”

• ROUND 12 (268th overall) — Taren Anderson.

Home: Pilot Butte, Sask.

5-9, 141 lbs, F.

Prairie Storm U15 AA.

26gp, 29g, 21a, 50p, 66pim.

“A leader, a competitor. He was one of the leaders on his hockey team and always led by example. Not the biggest guy, yet he plays big. He’s super competitive, has grit and jam, just doesn’t take many shifts off. He was exceptional at the end of the season for his team. I never shy away from guys who are leaders.”

U.S. DRAFT

• ROUND ONE (1st overall) — Levi Ellingsen.

Home: Pasco, Wash.

5-11, 158 lbs, F.

STAR Hockey Academy U15 Prep

34gp, 24g, 30a, 54p, 62pim.

“When he tells you he thinks he plays like J.T. Miller and Sam Bennett, it pretty much explain who he is. He is skill and grit. He has a lot of skill, he has good hands, he has really good sense, he makes those around him better, he has a great release and he can score. On top of that, he’s fearless and he loves to engage physically and get involved. He has a greasy side that drives the opposition crazy that we love about him. He’s a really good package of that grit and skill.”

• ROUND TWO (46th overall) — Ayven Hontvet.

Home: Warroad, Minn.

6-1, 220 lbs, D.

Minnesota Blue Ox U14.

22gp, 5g, 21a, 26p, 19pim.

“On top of the size, he’s a good player. He’s not just a big body, he’s a big body who can make plays, that is strong on pucks, that has a heavy shot. He is a big body with lots of really good tools.”