AAA Stars forward, Treycen Wuttunee was selected by the Edmonton Oil Kings Thursday, in the 10th Round of the WHL Prospects Draft, #221 overall. (Submitted photo/Treycen Wuttenee)

By Martin Martinson

AAA Star shines

‘A dream come true’: Battlefords local Wuttunee drafted by WHL’s Oil Kings

Dec 10, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Dec. 9 is a date Battlefords local, Treycen Wuttunee, will have starred on the calendar for some time as one to remember fondly.

As a 15-year-old standout in the AAA ranks, with his hometown Battlefords U18 Stars, Wuttunee spent much of the day watching the Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft, with nervous anticipation to hear if/when his name would be called to be drafted to major juniors.

“I watched the draft all day and I definitely had the nerves all day until about 4 p.m. when I had practice with my team, so I had to shut it off,” Wuttunee recalled to battlefordsNOW.

However, before he could even tune back in, what Wuttunee would discover on his way back into the locker room was what his teammates already knew — that he had in fact, been drafted to the Edmonton Oil Kings, in the 10th round, 221st overall.

“Walking off the ice all the boys were already in the room, so they all sure let me know what had happened when I walked in,” he said with a laugh. “They were going crazy, and they were just ecstatic for me, so that was really just awesome.”

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Having talked to the Oil Kings for a bit ahead of the draft, Wuttunee said he couldn’t be more excited to be selected to the Edmonton-based franchise.

“They’re a really good team and they’ve been doing really well and having a lot of success, so I really couldn’t be happier,” he said.

Currently in his first season of U18 AAA, Wutunee sits third on the AAA Stars with 14 points in 24 games this year.

Asked about his success transitioning from U15 AA to U18 AAA this season, Wuttunee was quick to attribute his strong start to the season to his teammates and those around him in the Stars’ organization.

“I think just having really good coaches and good teammates — all the vets of the league — they’ve really helped me along,” Wuttunee said. “They’ve really been there to support me and it’s helped me to get comfortable in the league, along with getting put with great players to play with which has also helped a lot.”

As for who he called first with his draft day news, Wuttunee said there was no question who the first call he had to make went out to.

“It was grandpa who was my first call,” Wuttunee said with an audible smile. “He’s always been one of my biggest supporters growing up. And he knew what day it was too, so he was texting me all day nervous as well. I’m pretty sure he already knew by the time I found out and called him. But I called him right away and we were able to share that moment together.”

Wuttunee was one of two AAA Stars players to be drafted to the WHL this week. Forward Dawson Gerwing was also selected by the Swift Current Broncos, in the third round, 48th overall. To read about Gerwing’s selection, click here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1