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9 players from Abbotsford’s Yale Hockey Academy chosen at 2026 WHL Draft

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Abbotsford’s Yale Hockey Academy had a banner day at the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, with nine players chosen over the two-day event on Wednesday (May 6) and Thursday (May 7).

The nine players selected is equal to the amount picked in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, but shy of the record of 15 taken in the 2021 draft. Three YHA talents were chosen the first round on Wednesday.

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This year also marked the highest a YHA product has been chosen since Jake Virtanen was picked first overall in 2011, as Surrey’s Parker McMillan went second overall to the Wentachee Wild.

The 6-3, 192 pound winger scored an impressive 91 points in 25 games during the Canadian Sport School Hockey League U15 Prep regular season and added 10 points in three playoff games. McMillan also played four games for the YHA U18 Prep team and notched two points in four regular season games and three points in two playoff games.

Wenatchee entered the draft with the third overall pick, but then flipped that pick (along with second round picks in 2027 and 2028 and a first round pick in 2030) to the Vancouver Giants for the second overall pick in order to choose McMillan.

“I am so grateful to be selected by this organization,” he told the Wild. “Couldn’t be more grateful and excited for the future.”

Wild director of scouting Leigh Mendelson stated that they are thrilled to add McMillan.

“Parker just has the blend of size and competitiveness and hockey sense and physical abilities that for us was a no-brainer,” he said. “He fits into our roster real well in the future as a right winger. The best position player available for us was Parker and we couldn’t be happier to have him.”

Delta’s Teagan Dernisky was the next YHA player to go, as he was picked 15th overall by the Saskatoon Blades.

The 5-7, 151 pound centre led the Yale U15 Prep team and the CSSHL in scoring during the 2025-26 regular season with 98 points in 30 games. He also recorded six points in three playoff games.

The Blades pulled a similar move to the Wild in order to acquire Dernisky, as they moved up from 18th pick to 15th pick in a trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

“I can’t wait to be a part of it,” he said of joining the Blades. “They can expect someone who’s going to bring it every night, who’s going to be a rat in the corners and score a few goals hopefully.”

The third YHA player to be picked in the first round was Maple Ridge’s Jacson Bradbeer, who went 22nd overall to the Swift Current Broncos.

The 5-9, 151 pound defender posted 61 points in 29 regular season games for the Yale U15 Prep team and added six points in three playoff games.

“It was an honour to be drafted to such a great city,” he told the Broncos. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about it, they get behind their team and I am just very excited for the future.”

Broncos head scout Chad Leslie stated he’s pleased with the addition of Bradbeer.

“He’s a highly offensive player, really intelligent, really evasive and really good puck skill,” he said. “He’s a guy that we think has some growth potential and a guy who’s going to run our special teams down the road.”

Other YHA players chosen included:

• Surrey’s Tyson Wolanski – round two, 31st overall to the Regina Pats

• Langley’s Gavin Craig – round three, 49th overall to the Moose Jaw Warriors

• Kamloops’ Evan Cuthbertson – round three, 58th overall to the Lethbridge Hurricanes

• Coquitlam’s Marcus Phillip – round three, 59th overall to the Kamloops Blazers

• Maple Ridge’s Connor Baines – round four, 71st overall to the Red Deer Rebels

• Idaho’s Ryker Stevens – round six, 137th overall to the Kamloops Blazers

The Kelowna Rockets took Red Deer product Madden Daneault first overall and Surrey’s Eli Vickers went third to the Vancouver Giants.

For complete results from the draft, visit chl.ca/whl/draft/whl/2026.