By Vinny Gillespie
Photos by Dylan Asmundson
The 2024 WHL Draft was nothing short of successful for the RINK Hockey Academy and its players. 7 RHA Kelowna student-athletes were selected by 6 different WHL teams across Western Canada and the American Pacific Northwest. The WHL Draft is something athletes across Western Canada look forward to since it's one step in the right direction to their ultimate end goal of being an NHL player. Although getting drafted can provide a sense of accomplishment and motivatation to young players, it doesn't always guarantee success at getting to the next level. Take for example in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, RHA U18 Prep Head Coach, Jarome Iginla got drafted in the 1st round, 11th overall by the Dallas Stars; in the WHL draft however, Jarome Iginla went undrafted, but took it as fuel to prove teams wrong for not drafting him. It's not about where you go in the draft, it's what you do after it which counts. To all RHA student-athletes who didn't hear their names called, their journey doesn't stop here. To all RHA players who did get drafted, no matter where you got drafted, the work starts now.
Mathis Paull
With the 48th overall pick in the 3rd round of the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, the Regina Pats selected forward, Mathis Paull. Paull joined the RHA U15 Prep team for the 2023-24 season and put up an impressive 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points in 27 games in the regular season, and had 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in 3 playoff games in the CSSHL.
Hudson Podollan
With the 89th overall pick in the 4th round of the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, the Kamloops Blazers selected forward, Hudson Podollan. Podollan joined the RHA U15 Prep team for the 2023-24 season and put up an impressive 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 27 games in the regular season, and had 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in 3 playoff games in the CSSHL.
Dominik Silbernagel
With the 95th overall pick in the 5th round of the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, the Calgary Hitmen selected forward, Dominik Silbernagel. Silbernagel joined the RHA U15 Prep team for the 2023-24 season and put up an impressive 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 27 games in the regular season, and had 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in 3 playoff games in the CSSHL.
Braxton Gibson
With the 116th overall pick in the 6th round of the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, the Kamloops Blazers selected goaltender, Braxton Gibson. Gibson joined the RHA U15 Prep team for the 2023-24 season and put up a .891 SV% and 3.62 GAA in 17 regular season games, and had a .879 SV% and 3.97 GAA in 1 playoff game in the CSSHL.
Ryan Sadovia
With the 165th overall pick in the 8th round of the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, the Edmonton Oil Kings selected forward, Ryan Sadovia. Sadovia joined the RHA U15 Varsity team for the 2022-23 season and put up an impressive 10 goals and 9 assists for 19 points in 20 games in the regular season, and had 4 goals and 2 assists for 6 points in 3 playoff games in the CSSHL. The following 2023-24 season with the RHA U15 Prep team, Sadovia managed to put up 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 27 games in the regular season, and had 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in 3 playoff games in the CSSHL.
Tate Serfas
With the 168th overall pick in the 8th round of the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, the Lethbridge Hurricanes selected right-shot defenceman, Tate Serfas. Serfas joined the RHA U15 Varsity team for the 2022-23 season and put up 10 assists in 24 games in the regular season, and had 2 assists in 3 playoff games in the CSSHL. The following 2023-24 season with the RHA U15 Prep team, Serfas managed to put up 1 goal and 6 assists for 7 points in 26 games in the regular season, and played in 3 CSSHL playoff games.
Logan Alexis
With the 258th overall pick in the 12th round of the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, the Red Deer Rebels selected big right-shot defenceman, Logan Alexis. Alexis joined the RHA U15 Prep team for the 2023-24 season and put up 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points in 25 games in the regular season, and played in 3 CSSHL playoff games.
