Royals to select 4th overall in 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, 2nd in US Priority Draft

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 team 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 in a trade for defenceman Kaiden Guhle last season.

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.

Odds for the draft picks were determined by the allocation of a certain number of 21 balls based on where team’s finished finished in the final league standings, with the last place team getting the most balls, and therefore the highest odds and vice-versa for the remaining teams.

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

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.