Yukoners selected in WHL draft
The Western Hockey League held its 2021 Prospects Draft on Dec. 9, 2021, with teams selecting a total of 214 players born in 2006 over the course of the draft, including two Yukoners and another with ties to the territory.
Landon Cowper was selected second in the fourth round by the Prince Albert Raiders, Luke Cozens was selected seventh in the seventh round by the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and Tyson Matthews was selected 17th in the sixth round by the Prince George Cougars.
Landon Cowper, Prince Albert Raiders
A left-handed defenceman, Cowper is listed by the WHL at 5’9″ and 155 pounds and is currently playing for Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna’s U18 team where he has five assists through 13 games. Cowper was the sixth of 11 players selected by Prince Albert.
Luke Cozens, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Cozens, listed at 5’6″ and 125 pounds by the WHL, was the seventh of nine picks for the Hurricanes. The younger brother of former Hurricanes captain (and current Buffalo Sabre) Dylan Cozens, Luke has two goals and six assists in 14 games with Yale Hockey Academy’s U17 team this season.
Tyson Matthews, Prince George Cougars
Also selected in the draft was Tyson Matthews, taken 17th in the sixth round by the Prince George Cougars. Listed from Vernon, B.C., Matthews began his hockey career in Whitehorse before moving south. Matthews has four assists in 15 games for the Okanagan Rockers U17 AAA team so far this season.
