Canes draft quality pieces

By Lethbridge Herald on May 8, 2025.

Lethbridge Hurricanes head scout Garry Carson prepares to speak to reporters about how the drafts went for the team on Thursday.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Hurricanes head scout Garry Carson spoke to media upon completion of the WHL Prospects Draft and U.S. Priority Draft on Thursday about important future pieces both on offence and defence  the team was able to draft.

“We really were  fortunate to get a couple quality d-men (defencemen) early, (a) couple (of) quality, bigger forwards early that can put up some numbers and we’re very excited … to get that,” said Carson.

The Canes drafted nine players on the day and didn’t have a pick until the fourth round until a trade bumped them up to the third round.

The Canes started the draft by trading their fourth round pick (74th overall) and a 2027 fourth round pick to the Victoria Royals in exchange for their 54th pick in the third round.

With that pick, Lethbridge selected Liam McFadden out of the OHA Edmonton U15 Prep program.

The 6-foot, 174-pound defenceman had 26 points (4 goals,22 assists) in 36 games with the U15 squad and  had another four points with the OHA Edmonton U17AAA Prep team in the regular season.

“They (Alberta regional scouts) were really loving what they (saw) in Liam all year in regards to his footspeed, his size, his ability to transport pucks up the ice and create some offence,” said Carson.

The Canes then acquired the 79th overall pick from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Lethbridge used that 79th overall pick  in the fourth round to draft 5-foot 10, 137-pound forward Luka Samu from the North Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep team.

Samu saw time on the team’s  top lines, provided offence and was on the powerplay units.

“Also played with a little bit of an edge and we needed to put some skill back into our line-up,” said Carson.

“He has that ability to be a top six forward at some time.”

Samu collected 52 points (23 goals, 29 assists) in 36 regular games and produce another five points in five postseason games last season.

The Canes took Winnipeg Thrashers U15AAA Blue’s Graham Gard with the 87th pick in the draft.

The  5-foot-11,149-pound Gard put up 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in 32 games and added another 11 points in the playoffs and collected four points with the Thrasher U17 team.

Nixxon Arcand-Vandale was plucked at 133rd overall from the Saskatoon  U15AA Bandits

The six-foot, 163- pound left winger had 78 points (39 goals, 39 assists) in 27 games and had 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 10 playoff games for the Bandits.

That pick was acquired in a trade with the Regina Pats, who got a 2028 draft pick in the deal.

Carson talked about getting some players on the list that had some offensive prowess and highlighted Arcand-Vandale.

“He put up big numbers because he’s a big strong forward that can shoot  the puck also and has no trouble getting to the net,” said Carson.

Right side defenceman Jake Beaty, who stands at 5-foot 10 and weighs 160 pounds was taken by the Canes in the seventh round at 156th overall from the Southwest Cougars U15AAA team.

Beaty had 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 31 regular season games and he had another six points in eight  playoff games this past season.

Forward Jase Broderick was chosen in the eighth round from Fort Saskatchewan Rangers U15AAA team.

Broderick amassed 61 points (34 goal, 27 assists) in 34 games with the Rangers.

At 202nd overall, Lethbridge took  the 6-foot-1, 168-pound Nixon Wright from the Red Deer U15AA Rebels .

The defenceman had 16 points in 31 regular games and no points in the five playoff games last season.

Beau Anholt was chosen from the Warman Wildcats U15AA team at 248th overall.

The  6-foot, 180-pound forward produced 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 29 regular season games last season.

The Canes last pick in the draft was six-foot, 175-pound goalie Cohen Kuntz from the Humboldt U15AA Broncos.

Kuntz started in 18 regular season games where he had a 3.67 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.

The Canes passed on their rounds 13,14 and 15 picks.

The WHL Prospects Draft began on Wednesday with the first round

The Canes began Thursday  by participating in the U.S. Priority Draft

Lethbridge selected Cash Whitmore with the 23rd pick in the Priority Draft.

The five-foot-11, 163-pound Whitmore had 82 points (62g, 20a) in 59 games with the Colorado Thunderbirds 14U AA team last season.

“ (A) heavy forward that can put  pucks in the net,” said Carson.

The Canes then took 5-foot-11, 155- pound defenceman Drew Kortan with the very next pick.

Kortan had two goals and 12 assists with the Minnesota Blue OX 14U team last season.

Locals

Fort Macleod goalie Chase Nielson of the Lethbridge U15AAA Golden Hawks was the first local player to be selected as went 56th overall to the Red Deer Rebels.

Nielson had a 9-10 record with a 3.67 goals against average and a 0.923 save percentage last season .

Nielson’s teammate, Briggs Fabro, was drafted 97th overall by  the Kamloops Blazers.

Fabro had 52 points (23 goals, 29 points) in 34 games last season.