Saskatoon player hears his name called at NHL draft

It didn’t take long for Saskatchewan to make its mark on the NHL entry draft in Nashville.

Regina Pats superstar Connor Bedard was the first name called by the Chicago Blackhawks with the first overall pick.

Thirteen picks later, it was Brayden Yager’s turn.

The Pittsburgh Penguins claimed the Saskatoon-born Moose Jaw Warriors forward with the 14th pick in the draft.

Yager was immediately welcomed to the organization, receiving a phone call from Sidney Crosby, a player Yager has tried to emulate.

The most wholesome moment 😊 pic.twitter.com/CoGeb3G99D

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 29, 2023

Yager put up a career-best 78 points for the Warriors during the 2022-23 WHL regular season, and earned the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the league’s most sportsmanlike player.

Tanner Molendyk from McBride, B.C., became the latest Saskatoon Blades player to hitch his wagon to an NHL club.

The 2005-born defenceman was selected 24th overall by the Nashville Predators.  The 5-foot-11 blueliner collected 37 points in 67 games during the 2022-23 WHL season.

"I don't even have words to be honest."

📽️ Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk describes what he felt being drafted by the @PredsNHL at 24th overall 💛 pic.twitter.com/qAMySKsovj

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) June 29, 2023

Six WHL players were selected in the first round of the draft.