Blake Fiddler of Irving, Texas, will be the answer to the trivia question in years to come as to who was the first overall pick in the 2022 W-H-L U-S Priority Draft.

Edmonton picked the defenceman at about 10 a.m. Wednesday. The Prince Albert Raiders chose San Jose, California, forward Dylan Nolan 10th overall while the Saskatoon Blades made L-A forward Trace Frieden the 19th overall selection. The Bridge City Bunch then picked Shattuck St. Mary’s of Minnesota forward William Belle in the second round while P-A’s second round choice was Anchorage, Alaska, forward Gordon Jennings.

Following a 24-hour break, the W-H-L will move into the annual Prospects Draft on Thursday afternoon. Medicine Hat will have the first overall selection, the Raiders are 10th while the Blue and Gold are 13th. Blades’ President and G-M Colin Priestner gushed about the crop of Saskatchewan 2007-born players available…..

Saskatoon has two second round picks, then are idle until the sixth round. Following is Les Lazaruk’s full discussion with Priestner ahead of Thursday’s Prospects Draft…..