While no current Eastman Selects were picked in the 2023 Western Hockey League prospects draft, three of the region’s players were taken May 11.

Brek Liske, a defensemen from Beausejour, had his name called in the first round by the Everett Silvertips. He spent last season playing for the Northern Alberta Xtreme’s U15 prep team, picking up 34 points in 26 regular season games. That strong offensive presence continued in the playoffs, as the Xtreme won their league, with Liske picking up 10 assists and one goal in five games.

During the 2021/2022 season, Liske scored 28 points in 31 regular season games for the U15 Eastman Selects AAA team.

Ste Anne’s Zach Lansard was the next Eastman player taken. The forward was taken in the fourth round by the Regina Pats. He spent the 2022/2023 season with the Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg, scoring 17 goals and 24 assists in 30 games for their U15 team. He even suited up for the U16 team, appearing in a regular season game and two post-season games, notching four assists.

During the 2021/2022 season, Lansard scored 49 points in 32 regular season games for the U15 Selects, adding 13 playoff points in eight games.

Regina took seven players from Manitoba in the 2023 draft.

Finally, Lac du Bonnet’s Brnson Hirst was taken in the ninth round by the Moose Jaw Warriors. The D-man scored at a point-per-game pace for the Pilot Mound Hockey Academy last season.

Players born in 2008 were available to be selected in this year’s WHL draft. Last year, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League shifted from drafting 15-year-olds to 16-year-olds in their prospect draft.

Three Eastman players were selected in last year’s WHL draft in Owen Martin (Oakbank), Reece Gault (Oakbank) and Remy Hlady (Tyndall).

Martin was able to make his first appearance in the WHL this season, appearing in a single game for the Spokane Chiefs, while playing for Rink’s U18 team.

Gault split his time between the U16 and U18 Rink teams. He also made the Team Manitoba Canada Winter Games roster.

Hlady made it three-for-three on 2022 WHL picks heading to the Rink Hockey Academy, also splitting time between the U16 and U18 teams.