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Maddox Schultz is staying home to begin his WHL career.
The 15-year-old hockey phenom was selected by his hometown Regina Pats first overall in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft.
“It feels pretty special. Growing up and watching this team play and putting on the jersey today, it’s a pretty cool moment for me and my family,” Schultz said.
The last time the Pats selected first overall, the club selected Connor Bedard.
Bedard, the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, sent Schultz a video congratulating him on the accomplishment.
“I watched it. He’s my idol and someone I really look up to. To hear him say my name and say all those great things about me, it’s something I’ll never forget,” Schultz said.
The Regina Pat Canadians forward led the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League in scoring with 93 points (43 goals, 50 assists) in 44 regular-season contests. He also led the SMU18AAAHL in points during the playoffs with 22 (nine goals, 13 assists). He was the league MVP.
He carried that momentum through the Telus Cup – the national hockey championship tournament for U18 AAA male hockey. He led the tournament with 20 points, tying him for the fourth-most all-time at the tournament with Sam Reinhart. Only Cliff Ronning (26), Sidney Crosby (24), and Alexander Kerfoot (22) have scored more points at the tournament.
Regina won the tournament, and Schultz was named the tournament MVP.
“It’s been a whirlwind, and I couldn’t have scripted it any better. It has been great so far and just really looking forward to starting up with the Regina Pats,” Schultz said.
Schultz said he was told by the Pats a few days ago they would be selecting him first overall.
“It was a pretty special moment.”
Regina Pats general manager Al Millar said there was never any other option for them at number one.
“I think some people thought I was being coy when we won the lottery,” Millar said. “We weren’t going to announce anything publicly until we were able to sit down with Maddox and his family.”
Schultz and his family elected not to pursue exceptional status in the WHL due to the league’s western development model. Since Schultz was granted exceptional status by Hockey Saskatchewan to play in the U18 league, he is eligible to play up to 34 games in his 15-year-old season.
The Pats won the WHL Draft Lottery after a season that saw them finish 16-44-5-3 – the second-worst record in the league. The Moose Jaw Warriors had a league-worst 15-45-6-2 record but couldn’t get the first overall pick after trading their first-round selection to the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Millar said it was a bonus to keep a hometown kid in Regina to play for the Pats.
“Getting to know Maddox and his family, their passion for the Regina Pats and the city and how they have followed the team and cheered the team for years — Maddox talks about Sam Steel being one of his favourite players when he was a young man,” Millar said. “Maddox was the best player available for us at one and all that comes along with it, with him being a local player is a great bonus for the hockey club and his family.”
Moving up for Pue
The Pats had even more fireworks for their fans on draft day.
After the Edmonton Oil Kings selected defenceman Holden Wouters second overall, Millar and the club decided to jump at the chance to take Liam Pue.
Pue, a 15-year-old who was granted exceptional status by the Junior Prospects Hockey League to play U18, remained on the board. He was considered to be close to Schultz in terms of talent, even being considered the number one prospect at one point earlier in the season.
With the third overall pick of the 2025 #WHLDraft, the Regina Pats are proud to select Liam Pue!
Welcome to Regina, Liam! pic.twitter.com/Xday8MFdd7
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) May 7, 2025
Regina traded their second-round pick (26th overall), a 2026 first, and a 2027 first to jump to third overall to draft the Langley, B.C., product.
“It’s a big honour knowing they traded up to get me. I’m super stoked to get things going and being able to be drafted on the same team as Maddox, he’s an amazing guy and I’m super pumped I get to be a part of this team with him,” Pue said.
Pue had 50 points (30 goals, 29 assists) while playing 29 U18 games this past season.
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Millar said they were only going to make the deal if Pue was available at third overall. He said the deal came together around 4:30 p.m. the day of the draft.
“Gutsy (move) — I don’t know but I hope it’s a smart one,” Millar said. “We talked about the draft capital we built, and everything was on the table as we were getting ready for the draft … We had built that draft capital to use it wisely to put our club in the best position to get better and have a chance to win a championship one day.”
Regina also selected forward Logan Henry in the first round (23rd overall). Henry had 51 points (32 goals, 19 assists) with the U15 Burnaby Winter Club.
Other Saskatchewan teams make selections
After a pair of trades, the Saskatoon Blades ended up making the 15th selection. The Swift Current Broncos originally traded with the Brandon Wheat Kings for the pick. The Broncos gave up forward Luke Mistelbacher and defenceman Grayson Burzynski for the 15th pick, a 2025 second (Saskatoon), along with the Wheat Kings third-round pick in 2027, third and sixth-round picks in 2028, along with forward Alex Letourneau.
Swift Current then traded the 15th pick to Saskatoon for the 22nd pick, 72nd pick, and 93rd pick in the 2025 draft.
Saskatoon selected left winger Kain Martinuik. Martinuik had 80 points (44 goals, 36 assists) Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U AAA hockey team.
THE PICK IS IN!
We're thrilled to draft forward Kain Martinuik with our first pick of the 2025 @TheWHL Prospects Draft! pic.twitter.com/ZxK9PKSJnG
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) May 8, 2025
The next pick saw the Prince Albert Raiders select Athens Shingoose. With Rink H.A. Winnipeg U15 Prep, the forward had 60 points (31 goals, 29 assists) in 32 games.
Moose Jaw selected centre Kash Elke. Elke, who is from Lanigan, Sask., was the only other player from the province selected in the first round. Elke had 66 points (33 goals, 33 assists) with the Humboldt Broncos U15 AA team.
The Broncos selected forward Cohenn Rotar with the 22nd pick. With the Grande Prairie GPAC Storm U15 AAA club, Rotar had 67 points (34 goals, 33 assists) in 34 games.
The rest of the WHL Draft will take place on Thursday, following the U.S. Priority Draft.
