For those who are interested (and from the response I get to this every year, it seems quite a few people out there are), here's my annual breakdown of WHL prospects playing in this year's tournament. I count 118 WHL-listed players in the tournament this year, plus 14 more who are listed as Affiliate players of their teams, so we may or may not see them playing in the Macs.
That number is down a bit from last year but can probably be explained simply by the fact that the Macs will have five entries this year from outside the WHL player-recruiting territories - three teams from Europe (the Austria, Belarussian, and Hungarian national U-17/U-18 teams) plus two from the Eastern U.S. - whereas last year they had three teams in those categories. Plus there are also two other American entries this year (one each from Alaska and Arizona) and neither of those had any WHL-listed players. So this list is composed from 18 of the 25 teams since 7 of them have no WHL prospects on them.
There are 11 WHL first round bantam picks in this year's tournament (all from the 2016 draft) and 16 second round picks (12 from the 2016 draft and 4 from 2015) so just right there you can see there's a lot of future WHLers playing.
A few things to note:
- this is based on WHL protected lists as of late November. I suspect they are fairly accurate as of today (December 9) but by the time the tournament begins on December 26, there may have been some more protected list changes made and one or two of these kids may not be listed anymore - and in turn there may be one or two newly-listed names missing as well. If anyone is aware of any corrections to make, please do feel free to notify me. My email and Twitter addresses are over on the right hand side.
- Information given is player birth year and position, plus WHL team owning their rights and how the team acquired them.
- I've specified which players are Affiliated Players (AP's). Those players may or may not be called up to play in the tournament.
- I have not researched injury situations or junior callups, so it's possible some of these players are hurt or have been temporarily called up to Junior A or even their WHL clubs, and thus won't be playing.
Any errors are mine. Corrections always welcome.
If you want to follow the tournament from afar, you can do so through their website at http://macstournament.ab.ca/
Here's the list, by midget team:
Calgary Buffaloes (8):
Sam Anderson (00-F) - Brandon Wheat Kings - listed player, spring 2016
Zach Ashton (01-D) - Saskatoon Blades - 2016 3rd round bantam pick
Paycen Bjorklund (00-F) - Tri-City Americans - 2015 2nd round bantam pick
Logan Dyck (99-G) - Medicine Hat Tigers - listed player, fall 2016
Taylor Gauthier (01-G) - Prince George Cougars - 2016 1st round bantam pick
Quinn Olson (01-F) - Prince Albert Raiders - 2016 6th round bantam pick
Jaxon Steele (00-F) - Medicine Hat Tigers - listed player, fall 2015
Andrew Viggars (00-D) - Calgary Hitmen - 2015 8th round bantam pick
Calgary Flames (5):
Joel Craven (00-D) - Medicine Hat Tigers - listed player, spring 2016
Dylan Holloway (01-F) - Everett Silvertips - 2016 6th round bantam pick
Aiden Mucenski (99-D) - Brandon Wheat Kings - listed player, fall 2014
Evan Patrician (01-F) - Vancouver Giants - 2016 7th round bantam pick
Benjamin Sanderson (00-F) - Kootenay Ice - 2015 6th round bantam pick
Calgary Northstars (6 + 1 AP):
Chase Felgueiras (00-D) - Prince Albert Raiders - 2015 6th round bantam pick
Michael Johnson (00-F) - Medicine Hat Tigers - 2015 5th round bantam pick
Tyler Lowe (00-D) - Prince Albert Raiders - 2015 3rd round bantam pick
Nolan Orzeck (01-D) - Kootenay Ice - 2016 4th round bantam pick
Brayden Tracey (01-F) - Moose Jaw Warriors - 2016 1st round bantam pick
Eric Van Impe (01-D) - Spokane Chiefs - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
AP: Blake Stevenson (01-F) - Tri-City Americans - 2016 4th round bantam pick
Calgary Royals (2 + 1 AP):
Louis Jamernik (00-F) - Moose Jaw Warriors - 2015 3rd round bantam pick
Zane Kindrachuk (00-F) - Kootenay Ice - listed player, fall 2015
AP: Dominic Turner (00-F) - Swift Current Broncos - 2015 12th round bantam pick
Cariboo Cougars (7 + 3 AP):
Jonas Harkins (00-D) - Prince George Cougars - 2015 2nd round bantam pick
Riley Krane (00-F) - Regina Pats - 2015 8th round bantam pick
Joel Patsey (99-D) - Prince George Cougars - 2014 8th round bantam pick
Reid Perepeluk (00-F) - Prince George Cougars - 2015 6th round bantam pick
Jesse Pomeroy (99-D) - Regina Pats - listed player, spring 2016
Grady Thomas (01-F) - Kelowna Rockets - listed player, fall 2016
Zachary Wickson (99-G) - Prince George Cougars - listed player, fall 2016
AP: Dylan Cozens (01-F) - Lethbridge Hurricanes - 2016 1st round bantam pick
AP: Corey Cunningham (01-F) - Vancouver Giants - listed player, summer 2016
AP: Colton Kitchen (01-D) - Kootenay Ice - 2016 9th round bantam pick
Edmonton SSAC (4):
Blair Bush (00-D) - Saskatoon Blades - listed player, fall 2016
Liam Keeler (01-F) - Edmonton Oil Kings - 2016 1st round bantam pick
Bryan McAndrews (01-D) - Tri-City Americans - 2016 5th round bantam pick
Zafir Rawji (01-F) - Edmonton Oil Kings - listed player, fall 2016
Foothills Bisons (10):
Cayde Augustine (01-D) - Kelowna Rockets - listed player, fall 2016
Liam Belcourt (00-D) - Tri-City Americans - 2015 4th round bantam pick
Cole Clayton (00-D) - Medicine Hat Tigers - 2015 3rd round bantam pick
Tarun Fizer (01-F) - Victoria Royals - 2016 4th round bantam pick
Zach Huber (00-F) - Calgary Hitmen - 2015 4th round bantam pick
Joel Krahenbil (00-F) - Spokane Chiefs - 2015 7th round bantam pick
Peyton Krebs (01-F) - Kootenay Ice - 2016 1st round bantam pick
Brandon Machado (00-F) - Saskatoon Blades - 2015 5th round bantam pick
Tyler Strath (00-D) - Lethbridge Hurricanes - 2015 3rd round bantam pick
Tyson Terretta (00-D) - Seattle Thunderbirds - 2015 7th round bantam pick
Greater Vancouver Canadians (10):
Michael Araki-Young (00-F) - Kootenay Ice - 2015 9th round bantam pick
Scott Atkinson (00-F) - Edmonton Oil Kings - 2015 5th round bantam pick
Hunter Donohoe (00-D) - Red Deer Rebels - listed player, fall 2016
Chris Douglas (00-F) - Red Deer Rebels - listed player, fall 2016
Niklas Hoem (00-G) - Prince George Cougars - listed player, spring 2016
Nathan Kelly (00-D) - Moose Jaw Warriors - listed player, fall 2016
Sasha Mutala (01-F) - Tri-City Americans - 2016 1st round bantam pick
Sam Pouliot (00-D) - Red Deer Rebels - listed player, fall 2016
Henry Rybinski (01-F) - Medicine Hat Tigers - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
Owen Williams (00-D) - Regina Pats - 2015 9th round bantam pick
Leduc Oil Kings (3 + 1 AP)
Jakin Smallwood (01-F) - Moose Jaw Warriors - 2016 5th round bantam pick
Tyler Smithies (00-F) - Moose Jaw Warriors - listed player, spring 2016
Kyle Walker (00-D) - Everett Silvertips - listed player, fall 2015
AP: Dillon Hamaliuk (00-F) - Seattle Thunderbirds - 2015 6th round bantam pick
Moose Jaw Generals (6 + 1 AP):
Hunter Arps (99-G) - Brandon Wheat Kings - 2014 5th round bantam pick
Devan Harrison (00-D) - Kamloops Blazers - 2015 2nd round bantam pick
Nolan Jones (01-D) - Lethbridge Hurricanes - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
Reece Newkirk (01-F) - Portland Winterhawks - 2016 3rd round bantam pick
Evan Thomas (99-F) - Kootenay Ice - 2014 10th round bantam pick
Jake Tremblay (00-F) - Kamloops Blazers - 2015 7th round bantam pick
AP: Mkyllan Couture (01-D) - Prince Albert Raiders - 2016 8th round bantam pick
Notre Dame Hounds (7):
Zack Kosteniuk (00-F) - Lethbridge Hurricanes - 2015 6th round bantam pick
Cordel Larson (01-F) - Spokane Chiefs - 2016 9th round bantam pick
Justin Lee (00-D) - Edmonton Oil Kings - listed player, fall 2015
Luke Mylymok (01-F) - Victoria Royals - 2016 4th round bantam pick
Nolan Renwick (01-F) - Swift Current Broncos - 2016 6th round bantam pick
Loeden Schaufler (00-D) - Kootenay Ice - 2015 3rd round bantam pick
Quinn Schmiemann (01-D) - Kamloops Blazers - 2016 3rd round bantam pick
Okanagan Rockets (1):
Coleton Bilodeau (00-F) - Moose Jaw Warriors - 2015 8th round bantam pick
Prince Albert Mintos (8):
Logan Barlage (01-F) - Swift Current Broncos - 2016 1st round bantam pick
Austin Lamotte (01-F) - Prince Albert Raiders - listed player, summer 2016
Layne Matechuk (00-D) - Medicine Hat Tigers - 2015 2nd round bantam pick
Alex Moar (01-D) - Everett Silvertips - 2016 5th round bantam pick
Connor Pyne (00-F) - Seattle Thunderbirds - 2015 3rd round bantam pick
Braden Schneider (01-D) - Brandon Wheat Kings - 2016 1st round bantam pick
Kyrell Sopotyk (01-F) - Kamloops Blazers - 2016 5th round bantam pick
Cael Zimmerman (01-F) - Calgary Hitmen - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
Red Deer Optimist Chiefs (6 + 2 AP):
Luke Bast (00-D) - Victoria Royals - 2015 6th round bantam pick
Kyle Budvarson (00-D) - Prince Albert Raiders - listed player, spring 2016
Hayden Clayton (00-F) - Lethbridge Hurricanes - listed player, fall 2015
Josh McNeil (00-F) - Medicine Hat Tigers - 2015 8th round bantam pick
Deegan Mofford (01-F) - Kelowna Rockets - 2016 3rd round bantam pick
Adam Sandstrom (99-D) - Regina Pats - 2014 10th round bantam pick
AP: Jackson Rider (01-D) - Calgary Hitmen - 2016 6th round bantam pick
Regina Pat Canadians (12 + 2 AP):
Harrison Blaisdell (01-F) - Vancouver Giants - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
Carson Denomie (00-F) - Kamloops Blazers - 2015 5th round bantam pick
Parker Hendren (01-D) - Vancouver Giants - 2016 7th round bantam pick
Adam Herold (01-D) - Prince Albert Raiders - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
Eric Houk (01-F) - Regina Pats - listed player, fall 2016
Alex Kannok-Leipert (00-D) - Vancouver Giants - 2015 4th round bantam pick
Tyler Lees (00-F) - Saskatoon Blades - 2015 5th round bantam pick
Tylor Ludwar (99-D) - Kamloops Blazers - listed player, fall 2014
Dean McNabb (00-G) - Victoria Royals - 2015 3rd round bantam pick
Eric Pearce (01-F) - Prince Albert Raiders - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
Lukas Sillinger (00-F) - Regina Pats - 2015 6th round bantam pick
Ben Solomon (00-D) - Calgary Hitmen - listed player, fall 2015
AP: Carter Belitski (01-F) - Vancouver Giants - listed player, summer 2016
AP: Sebastian Eger (01-D) - Edmonton Oil Kings - 2016 12th round bantam pick
Saskatoon Contacts (8 + 2 AP):
Cole Beamin (01-D) - Prince George Cougars - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
Jordan Frey (00-G) - Edmonton Oil Kings - listed player, fall 2016
Eli Lieffers (00-F) - Kootenay Ice - 2015 4th round bantam pick
Jack Michell (01-D) - Prince George Cougars - 2016 3rd round bantam pick
Alex Morozoff (01-F) - Red Deer Rebels - 2016 7th round bantam pick
Luke Penner (00-D) - Kootenay Ice - 2015 8th round bantam pick
Rayce Ramsay (01-G) - Kamloops Blazers - listed player, fall 2016
Connor Zary (01-F) - Kamloops Blazers - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
AP: Jagger Prosofsky (01-F) - Kamloops Blazers - 2016 11th round bantam pick
AP: Zack Smith (01-F) - Kamloops Blazers - listed player, fall 2016
Sherwood Park Kings (9 + 2 AP):
Bryce Bader (01-F) - Calgary Hitmen - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
Eric Blanchette (00-F) - Medicine Hat Tigers - listed player, fall 2016
Ethan Browne (01-F) - Everett Silvertips - 2016 1st round bantam pick
Carter Chorney (01-F) - Spokane Chiefs - 2016 2nd round bantam pick
Ty Ettinger (00-D) - Brandon Wheat Kings - 2015 5th round bantam pick
Ethan Kruger (01-G) - Brandon Wheat Kings - 2016 5th round bantam pick
Jake Lee (01-D) - Seattle Thunderbirds - 2016 1st round bantam pick
Chase Lowry (00-F) - Red Deer Rebels - 2015 3rd round bantam pick
Matthew Robertson (01-D) - Edmonton Oil Kings - 2016 1st round bantam pick
AP: Liam Antoniuk (01-D) - Saskatoon Blades - 2016 6th round bantam pick
AP: Brett Wieschorster (01-F) - Kootenay Ice - 2016 5th round bantam pick
Vancouver NE Chiefs (6):
Arshdeep Bains (01-F) - Red Deer Rebels - listed player, summer 2016
Jason Chu (01-D) - Portland Winterhawks - 2016 4th round bantam pick
Haydn Delorme (00-F) - Vancouver Giants - 2015 9th round bantam pick
Ethan Leyh (01-F) - Spokane Chiefs - 2016 8th round bantam pick
Liam Ryan (00-F) - Prince George Cougars - 2015 7th round bantam pick
Juliano Santalucia (01-D) - Calgary Hitmen - 2016 7th round bantam pick
