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Ottawa Citizen

10 Saskatoon minor hockey players chosen in 2025 WHL Draft

Article content Their hope is screen time will someday lead to playing time. Article content Indeed, a number of Saskatoon hockey players were glued to their phone or computer screens even more than usual Thursday. Article content In the end, 10 of them were selected in the 2025 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft. Article content You can count Dilin Coulter-Suttie among those monitoring the draft proceedings. Article content As it turns out, he was the very first player to be plucked out of Saskatoon. Article content Article content 'It's exciting — it was stressful going through them all (draft picks) but, once I heard my name, it was exciting,' said Coulter-Suttie, a 5-foot-9, 130-pound centre from the Saskatoon Bandits under-15 AA squad. Article content Article content Coulter-Suttie got picked by the Kamloops Blazers in the third round, 53rd overall in the Prospects Draft. Article content 'I actually just saw that, that I was the first one picked out of Saskatoon,' said Coulter-Suttie, admitting that it's a 'pretty good feeling.' Article content He wasn't sure which team would select him, but it was a relief once Kamloops did. 'We got a questionnaire (from the Blazers) but that was really it,' he said, adding that he stayed home from school Thursday. 'My school had a half-day so there was really (not much school to miss). Article content 'I was just hoping to be picked by anybody.' Article content Coulter-Suttie amassed 42 goals and 45 assists for 87 points in 29 games this past season with the Bandits. Article content He said the Blazers see him as a 'two-way centre — they expect me to keep working, keep training and keep getting better like I did this year.' Article content Article content Next up was lanky 6-foot-1, 165-pound forward Linden Abercrombie from the Saskatoon Stallions U15 AA team. Article content Abercrombie was selected in the fourth round, 90th overall, by the Moose Jaw Warriors. Article content 'It feels unreal — I feel like I'll fit there pretty good,' said Abercrombie, who had 25 goals and 20 assists for 45 points in 28 games this past season. Article content He was the second Saskatchewan-born player to be selected by the Warriors this year. Article content 'I had no idea. I just saw my name and got super-excited. I stayed home from school, just waited to see my name up there. It was (a big relief to see it).' Article content Abercrombie says he was surprised that other Saskatoon players hadn't been picked yet when he was.