What was typically a joyous time for the Western Hockey League has turned into another drop in the COVID-19 cancelled events bucket.
In an announcement Tuesday, the league said that the WHL Awards scheduled for May 6 in Red Deer had been cancelled. The WHL Bantam Draft, which typically goes the following day, also in Red Deer, will be held fully online on April 22.
The WHL will still proceed with two events on Wednesday, including the WHL Bantam Draft Lottery and the new WHL U.S. Prospects Draft.
In the draft lottery, the Red Deer Rebels have one out of 21 lottery balls. They are slated to pick sixth and can move up a maximum of two positions. This will take place at 11 a.m.
Following the lottery, the Rebels will have the first overall selection in the brand new WHL U.S. Prospects Draft.
The two-round draft is for 2005-born players who live in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Red Deer will also have the 44th selection in the draft.
American players not selected Wednesday will remain eligible to be selected in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, or listed by a WHL Club after that.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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