CSSHL Sets Records for Second Straight WHL Draft

For the second straight year the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) has set records at the Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft.

Chloe Primerano (BWC Academy) made history becoming the first ever female skater selected in a Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Draft when the Vancouver Giants selected the defenseman in the 13th round, 268th overall.

Gavin McKenna (RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna) became the first CSSHL student-athlete since Connor Bedard (West Van Academy/2020) to be selected first overall, and the sixth in league history joining Bedard, Matthew Savoie (Northern Alberta Xtreme & RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg/2019), Dylan Guenther (Northern Alberta Xtreme/2018), Kaiden Guhle (OHA Edmonton/2017), and Ty Smith (Delta Hockey Academy/2015).

The CSSHL set new highs in both the number of players selected in the first round (16), and total players selected (96), making up 40% of this year’s WHL Draft class. The previous high for both of these marks were 15 first rounders in 2018, and 95 total players selected in the 2021 WHL Draft.

An additional two CSSHL student-athletes were selected the day before in the U.S. Priority Draft as St. George’s School forward Rui Han (7th overall/Victoria Royals) and Trace Frieden (19th overall/Saskatoon Blades) both heard their names called.

By the Numbers

Program Breakdown:
Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) – 13
RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna – 11
Delta Hockey Academy – 10
RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg – 10
Yale Hockey Academy – 10
BWC Academy – 9
Edge School – 9
Pacific Coast Hockey Academy (PCHA) – 7
Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) – 5
OHA Edmonton – 5
Shawnigan Lake School – 3
Notre Dame – 2
St. George’s School – 2

Round Breakdown:
First Round: 16/22
Second Round: 10/22
Third Round: 10/22
Fourth Round: 9/22
Fifth Round: 8/22
Sixth Round: 11/22
Seventh Round: 8:22
Eighth Round: 7:22
Ninth Round: 6/22
Tenth Round: 5/16
Eleventh Round: 2/12
Twelfth Round: 2/8
Thirteenth Round: 2/5
Fourteenth Round: 0/1
Total: 96/240