Hurricanes go offensive heavy in Prospects Draft

By Lethbridge Herald on May 11, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes were shaping the future of their team through the WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday.

The Hurricanes may like the looks of their first round pick at 14th overall in the future, as they selected Dayne Beuker from the Humboldt Broncos U15AA program.

Beuker was the second leading scorer in the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League this past season with 47 goals, 56 assists for 103 points.

“Yeah really excited about our picks so far,” said Peter Anholt, Hurricanes general manager to media in between rounds in the early afternoon.

“I look at Dayne Beuker, this guy is an elite player. His dad played in the league in Portland. He does have some other options that he’ll explore, but we are really excited about him. We’ve got a real good relationship with the family and the player and he’s a special player. And we were really, really looking for a No. 1 centre iceman in this draft because you just don’t find those guys and they’re hard to trade for. So it’s something that we really haven’t had in a couple years — a legitimate centre iceman, you know a top end guy — since maybe (Dylan) Cozens.”

The Hurricanes then chose 6’0”, 172 pound centreman Chase Petersen from Swift Current Broncos U15AA team at 23rd overall.

“(A) big kid (that) can really skate and we like the upside of this player,” said Anholt.

“He’s still developing as both a player and as a person. So, we really, really like his upside.”

Petersen had 27 goals, and 42 assists in 29 games and led the team in scoring last season.

Forward Gavin Lesiuk was chosen at No. 36 by Lethbridge.

Lesiuk is a 6’3”, 184-pound forward from the Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep and had 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 22 games played last season.

“Now this is a big strong kid that can really skate (and) can play with good players,” said Anholt.

The Hurricanes were going into the draft wanting to add skillful forwards.

“That was the whole idea of this draft,” he said.

“Our backend has been our strength of the last number of years and it still sets up good having (Tristen) Doyle and (Will) Sharpe there. So you know we think we’re solid there and then of course (Noah) Chadwick’s there too as an 18-year-old. So, we like where we’re at, there’s still a lot more picks yet but some really good building blocks for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.”

Anholt said it was a good pool.

“I think it kind of drops off a little bit now after say the fourth round,” said Anholt.

The Hurricanes also selected defenceman William Scott (77th), defenceman Grady Pichette (88th) , goalie and local product Brody Rotar (102nd), forward Trace Langen at (118th) , forward Easton Daneault (146th), forward and Lethbridge product Hayden Iron Shirt (168th), defenceman William Hogan (190th) and defenceman Theron Bensler (256th overall).