The Red Deer Rebels bolstered their blue line on Thursday.
With the 15th overall selection in the first round of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, they picked defenceman Graeme Pickering from St. Adolphe, Manitoba.
Pickering said he's heard nothing but good things about the program and can't wait to get started.
"I used to watch my brother play against them and there were some really good battles. It seems like such a good organization," he said.
The 15-year-old was on his way to a Team Manitoba tryout when he found out he was drafted to Red Deer. His father Tom had set up the TV in the back seat so he could watch it.
Once he saw his name pop up on the screen he couldn't contain his excitement.
This season he scored 36 points in 27 games with RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U15, which was second most among defencemen in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL).
"There were some ups and downs but I thought it was a pretty good year. The RINK is just such a good spot and it's a great place to develop. There's just so many resources there," he said.
"I definitely take a lot of pride in working on my offensive skills. I find I'm an offensive defenceman."
The right-shooting blueliner is listed as standing five-feet nine-inches tall and 145 pounds. Next year he plans to play for the RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U18 squad where he'll take the next step in his young hockey career.
Before that, he'll report to his first Rebels training camp at the beginning of September where he'll compete against his future teammates at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
"I hope that I can help create some offence and I hope we can win a championship and have a lot of success," he said.
Hockey also appears to run in the family.
His brother Owen just wrapped up his third full season with the Swift Current Broncos where he serves as team Captain. Owen was drafted and later signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins 21st overall in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
His sister Avery played for the women's hockey team at Colgate University as a defenceman, where she was the youngest player in the NCAA in her rookie year. She helped her team make a run to the Frozen Four and won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the U18 World Championship.
He's also cousins with Moose Jaw Warriors captain and WHL Defenceman of the Year Denton Mateychuk. Mateychuk led the Warriors to their first WHL Championship series appearance since 2006 and was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets 12th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
"Since I can remember my parents put a hockey stick in my hand. I knew when I started, I fell in love with the game," he said. "Watching my siblings play it definitely helped with my love for the game."
Pickering's ultimate goal is to one day play in the National Hockey League but the youngster is taking it one step at a time.
"I hope I can show what I'm capable of, do my best, and not hold back."