Draft day highlights
The 2026 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft opened with a surge of local pride as Eli Vickers, the Delta defenceman celebrated for his 62‑point season and CSSHL Top Defenceman award, came off the board third overall to the Vancouver Giants. Greg Batters, the Giants’ director of player personnel, highlighted Vickers’ blend of competitiveness and leadership, noting that his performance in the U15 Prep division set a high bar for the upcoming roster.
Teagan Dernisky, who topped the CSSHL scoring charts with 98 points for Yale’s U15 Prep squad, was snapped up 15th overall by the Saskatoon Blades, while Nathan Roberts, a 23rd‑overall pick of the Swift Current Broncos, brings 25 points from 30 games to the lineup. Both players are expected to add depth and offensive spark to their new teams.
Other Delta Academy alumni found homes across the league: Mazen Green slid to the Kamloops Blazers at 45th, Ronan Gow landed with the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 50th, and Carsten Patrick joined the Kamloops Blazers again at 80th. Cohen Wood, a goaltender who posted a .908 save percentage in 18 games for St. George’s School, was selected 83rd by the same Blazers, underscoring the region’s breadth of talent.
The later rounds continued the Delta theme, with Brady Cook drafted after a season that saw him net five goals and 25 assists in 30 games, and Brayden Allan, who logged a .896 save percentage in 15 appearances, also hearing his name. Jake Dunlop, a 168th‑overall selection by the Edmonton Oil Kings, contributed 22 points in 18 games, while Carson Brown, picked 198th by Saskatoon, averaged an assist per game over his 30‑game stint.
Jace Zemanek rounded out the local contingent when the Penticton Vees chose him 250th overall, a pick that reflects his .933 save percentage across 15 games. Across the draft, Delta Hockey Academy’s influence was evident, a fact underscored by Greg Batters’ praise of the academy’s role in developing competitive, leadership‑driven athletes.
The breadth of selections — from elite defencemen to net‑minders — signals a promising future for Delta‑born players in the WHL, and the region’s clubs and partners are poised to build on this momentum as the new season approaches.