The Victoria Royals learned they will be selecting fourth overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft and second overall in the US Priority Draft following the conclusion of the league’s draft lottery on Wednesday.
The WHL Prospects Draft Lottery involved the six non-playoff clubs from the 22-23 regular season. Each team was alloted a portion of the 21 lottery balls based on their standings position, with the last place team, Edmonton (pick traded to Prince Albert), having six balls, Spokane with five, Victoria with four, and so on. If selected in the lottery, a club may only move up a maximum of two positions in the draft order.
The Royals entered the lottery with the third best odds to secure the number-one overall pick, however, fell one spot to number four when Prince Albert moved up to earn the second overall selection. The Prince Albert Raiders also hold the first-overall selection, which they acquired the rights to from the Edmonton Oil Kings.
The draft order for the top-six picks in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft has been determined as follows:
- Prince Albert Raiders
- Prince Albert Raiders
- Spokane Chiefs
- Victoria Royals
- Brandon Wheat Kings
- Vancouver Giants
Meanwhile, the Royals would jump up one spot to number-two overall in the 2023 US Priority Draft, which will be held the day prior to the Prospects Draft.
The draft order for the top-six picks in the 2023 US Priority Draft has been determined as follows:
- Spokane Chiefs
- Victoria Royals
- Edmonton Oil Kings
- Swift Current Broncos
- Prince Albert Raiders
- Brandon Wheat Kings
The 2023 US Priority Draft will be held on Wednesday, May 10th, and will be followed a day later by the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 11th.
Both drafts will be streamed for free on WHL TV.
