Pats 2023 Prospect Update Pt. 4
Regina, Sask. — Leading up to this week’s WHL Prospects Draft, the Regina Pats will be providing an update on the current state of its prospect pool, including both signed and unsigned prospects in a four-part series.
In today’s final part, we look at the listed players, plus unsigned selections from the 2022 Draft. Next week, we preview the upcoming U.S and WHL Prospects Draft which will take place on May 10 and 11.
*Note: The order of these prospects are done by position and alphabetically.
Click for Pt. 1 | Click for Pt. 2 | Click for Pt. 3
Unsigned Prospects From 2022 Draft & Listed Players (6)
Stevie Grumley: 2007-born Defenceman – Los Angeles Jr. Kings 15U AAA
Grumley, 15, tallied 47 points (11G-36A) in 69 games this past season with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings 15U AAA program. The Manhattan Beach, California native is a 5-foot-7, 150 lb. defenceman who was drafted by the Pats in the second round of the 2022 WHL U.S Priority Draft.
“I saw him down in Phoenix in December and he has all the attributes to play. You take his stature out of it, he’s just a hockey player. Is he big, no. Does he have to be bigger, maybe. Watch Spencer Shugrue in Saskatoon and he figured it out at 19. He’s stronger and quicker, and he’s a 5-foot-8 defenceman that has played pretty well. He has the compete, the heart and the vision on the ice. He’s always had that and he’s patient with the puck. He makes the right plays at the right time. He’s just a hockey player.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin.
Dylan Lebret: 2007-born Defenceman – Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U AAA
Lebret, 16, notched 38 points (3G-35A) in 57 games in 2022-23 with Shattuck St. Mary’s. The Mead, Washington product played for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings 14U AAA program in 2021-22, producing 27 points (9G-18A) in 57 games. The 6-foot, 168 lb. right-shot defenceman was drafted by the Pats in the first round, third overall, of the 2022 WHL U.S Priority Draft.
“He’s just a player we really liked at spring camp last year. He’s got a long frame, he’s light on his feet and shoots the puck well. I didn’t see him this winter personally, but Mark Kolesar and Russ Kutzak saw him play in Minnesota in February and really liked what they saw. Rhett Gordon our scout in Colorado saw him and we believe he’s the player we thought he would be when we drafted him. We hope to get him at spring camp and hopefully he’s at main camp in August and we’ve got him signed.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin.
Ty Mason: 2005-born Forward – Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL)
Mason, 17, was listed by the Pats in the winter of 2023 and produced 57 points (25G-32A) in 56 games with the Red Wings in 2022-23. The Weyburn, Sask. product led all U18 SJHL players in goals, assists and points while being the only U18 player to finish over a point per-game (1.02). Listed at 6-foot, 161 lb., Mason was previously drafted by the Kelowna Rockets in the ninth round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.
“Ty is a kid who I believe can be a top-9 forward and play on the power play. He’s a hard nose player who plays a gritty game and with a lot of energy, which allows him to play anywhere in the lineup. As a 17-year-old in the SJHL, he was one of the top players in the league. His skating is above average and his skillset allows him to make plays and play with top players.” – Regina Pats Assistant Coach Brad Herauf.
Owen Nelson: 2007-born Forward – Prince Albert Mintos U18 AAA
Nelson, 15, recorded 13 points (5G-8A) in 41 games in his first season with the Mintos. The Prince Albert, Sask. product scored 68 points (36G-32A) in 31 games in 2021-22 with the Prince Albert Pirates. The 6-foot-1, 160 lb. forward led his team in goals and points, while finishing 11th in league scoring before being drafted by the Pats in the eighth round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
“I think he had a bit of an up and down year in Prince Albert. His skating has to improve, but he’s an athletic kid. He’s a great golfer. Low handicap so he’s got good hands. He’s got the body type we like. He’s got a long frame, well built boy. He just has to put more time into his own game. It’s a tough league and people don’t realize for a 15-year-old in Saskatchewan, they skip that one year of AA and go straight to AAA. Hopefully with a real good summer of training and a good camp with us, he will have a good 16-year-old year.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin.
Kelsen Podworny: 2007-born Forward – RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U17
Podworny, 16, led his team in points (47), goals (17) and assists (30) in 31 games in 2022-23. Listed at 6-foot, 165 lb, the Onoway, Alta. product was drafted by the Pats in the ninth round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft after recording 41 points (22G-19A) in 28 games with the Okanagan Rockets U15 AAA club in 2021-22.
“I think with Kelsen, he has to get quicker, but he has real good offensive instincts and soft hands. If he could get his feet going a little better, he has a lot of attributes to like and one of those is his ability to make plays.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin.
Wade Wallace: 2006-born Defenceman – Calgary Flames U18 AAA
Wallace, 17, was recently listed by the Pats after recording 13 points (1G-12A) in 36 games in 2022-23 while also playing in two games with the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL. The Calgary, Alta. product is a 6-foot-2, 165 lb. left-shot defenceman that helped his team to a league championship in 2022-23, recording seven points (1G-6A) in 11 playoff games.
“Our scout in Calgary Brandon Millard went to bat for him back in the fall. He’s a lanky framed kid, he skates the way we wanna skate, he’s light on his feat and he’s agile. He seems to think his way around the ice. He’s not flashy but he does the right things at the right times. Strength is a bit of a factor with him as it is with all of them. He could have a real good summer of training and do things the right way and put on 10 pounds. He’s maturing well and he should be a pleasant surprise at training camp. He’s a really good player and skates well.” – Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin.
