The Penticton Vees have a start on a W-H-L roster, one that includes veteran Saskatoon Blades’ defenceman Morgan Tastad (pictured).
Penticton has 22 players following Wednesday’s Expansion Draft, making 13 selections of players not protected by teams – including 18-year-old forward Liam Bursaw from the Prince Albert Raiders – and acquiring nine more players through seven trades. One of those was with the Bridge City Bunch as Loreburn product Tastad, fellow 19-year-old blue-liner Ethan Weber from California and the 31st overall choice in this year’s Prospects Draft went to the Vees for the 24th overall selection – the first one on Thursday. The first round of the Prospects Draft is being held Wednesday evening with the rest to be done Thursday, after the two-round U-S Priority Draft is held in the morning.
In addition, the C-H-L announced that the Import Draft will be held July 2nd with Moose Jaw having the first selection. The C-H-L, also, officially revealed that all teams will be allowed to have three imports on their roster next season and that this year’s Import Draft will run three rounds. The Blue and Gold will have the 40th, 101st and 162nd choices while P-A will have the 46th, 107th and 168th picks. Following are news releases from the Blades, the W-H-L and the C-H-L…..
Blades acquire first pick of the second round in deal with Vees
Edmonton, AB – The Saskatoon Blades and Penticton Vees have completed the first ever trade between the two franchises.
In lieu of offering a protected player list for the Vees Expansion Draft, Saskatoon’s acquired the Vees’ 2025 second round (24th overall) pick in exchange for 2006-born defencemen Morgan Tastad and Ethan Weber and a 2025 second round pick (31st overall). The agreement means the Vees will omit from choosing a Blade in Wednesday’s expansion draft.
“This was an opportunity to find a good home for an older player to perhaps get a bigger role than we had available here, and also to improve our draft capital and positioning,” said Blades general manager and president, Colin Priestner, “We felt it was a win-win situation.”
Drafted by the Blades in the ninth round (194th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Tastad played two full season between 2023-2025. The Loreburn, SK native scored three goals and ten assists in 103 career games with the Blades, adding two more assists in 19 playoff games. Tastad helped the Blades reach Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in 2024. Weber was a listed defenceman on the Blades roster.
The Blades now hold the following picks ahead of Round 1 of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft:
| ROUND | PICK | ORIGINAL TEAM |
| 1 | 22 | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| 2 | 24 | Penticton Vees |
| 2 | 35 | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| 4 | 72 | Regina Pats |
| 6 | 118 | Regina Pats |
| 6 | 129 | Saskatoon Blades |
| 8 | 170 | Tri-City Americans |
| 9 | 198 | Saskatoon Blades |
| 10 | 221 | Saskatoon Blades |
Round 1 of the WHL Prospects Draft gets underway at 5:00pm CT on Wednesday, May 7.
The U.S. Priority Draft begins Thursday, May 8 at 8:00am CT, followed by the remaining rounds of the WHL Prospects Draft.
PENTICTON VEES ACQUIRE 22 PLAYERS IN 2025 WHL EXPANSION DRAFT PROCEEDINGS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025
The Vees selected one player from each of 13 WHL Clubs, while agreed upon trades involving seven WHL Clubs were accepted in place of expansion draft selections. The Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs have been granted an accommodation based on advancing to the 2025 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien.
2025 WHL Expansion Draft – Penticton Vees Selections, Listed by Former Club
Brandon Wheat Kings – Davies, Isaac (Forward, 2008)
Calgary Hitmen – see Approved Trade #1
Edmonton Oil Kings – Smith, Kaenan (Goaltender, 2008)
Everett Silvertips – see Approved Trade #2
Kamloops Blazers – Anderlini, Kalan (Defence, 2006)
Kelowna Rockets – see Approved Trade #3
Lethbridge Hurricanes – Norrie, Cameron (Forward, 2007)
Medicine Hat Tigers – granted WHL Championship extension*
Moose Jaw Warriors – Hughes, Ethan (Forward, 2006)
Portland Winterhawks – Schlenker, Marek (Goaltender, 2006)
Prince Albert Raiders – Bursaw, Liam (Forward, 2007)
Prince George Cougars – Danis, Matteo (Forward, 2005)
Red Deer Rebels – Pederson, Doogan (Defence, 2006)
Regina Pats – Almen, Corban (Forward, 2007)
Saskatoon Blades – see Approved Trade #4
Seattle Thunderbirds – see Approved Trade #5
Spokane Chiefs – granted WHL Championship extension*
Swift Current Broncos – see Approved Trade #6
Tri-City Americans – Burick, Sean (Defence, 2008)
Vancouver Giants – see Approved Trade #7
Victoria Royals – Danyleyko, Wyatt (Forward, 2007)
Wenatchee Wild – Reyelts, Andrew (Goaltender, 2006)
* = the winner of the 2025 WHL Championship has received an expansion draft extension through the conclusion of the 2025 Memorial Cup; the losing team in the 2025 WHL Championship will be required to submit its protected list on the second day after elimination
Approved Trades
- Penticton Vees acquire 2006-born forward Chase Valliant (Surrey, B.C.) and 2008-born defenceman Easton LaPlante (Calgary, Alta.) from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
- Penticton Vees acquire 2006-born goaltender Jesse Sanche (Kamloops, B.C.) from the Everett Silvertips in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick.
- Penticton Vees acquire a 2025 fifth-round pick in lieu of selecting a player from the Kelowna Rockets.
- Penticton Vees acquire 2006-born defenceman Morgan Tastad (Loreburn, Sask.), 2006-born defenceman Ethan Weber (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), and a 2025 second-round pick (31st overall) from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick (24th overall).
- Penticton Vees acquire 2006-born forward Diego Johnson (Fort St. James, B.C.) from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick.
- Penticton Vees acquire 2005-born forward Brady Birnie (Regina, Sask.), 2005-born defenceman Nolan Stevenson (Shaunavon, Sask.), and 2009-born forward Brooks DeMars (Hugo, Minn.) from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick, 2027 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick, 2028 first-round pick (conditional).
- Penticton Vees acquire acquire a 2026 fifth-round pick in lieu of selecting a player from the Vancouver Giants
GOALTENDERS (4)
Reyelts, Andrew (2006, Wenatchee Wild)
Sanche, Jesse (2006, Everett Silvertips)
Schlenker, Marek (2006, Portland Winterhawks)
Smith, Kaenan (2008, Edmonton Oil Kings)
DEFENCE (7)
Anderlini, Kalan (2006, Kamloops Blazers)
Burick, Sean (2008, Tri-City Americans)
LaPlante, Easton (2008, Calgary Hitmen)
Pederson, Doogan (2006, Red Deer Rebels)
Stevenson, Nolan (2005, Swift Current Broncos)
Tastad, Morgan (2006, Saskatoon Blades)
Weber, Ethan (2006, Saskatoon Blades)
FORWARD (11)
Almen, Corban (2007, Regina Pats)
Birnie, Brady (2005, Swift Current Broncos)
Bursaw, Liam (2007, Prince Albert Raiders)
Danyleyko, Wyatt (2007, Victoria Royals)
Davies, Isaac (2008, Brandon Wheat Kings)
DeMars, Brooks (2009, Swift Current Broncos)
Danis, Matteo (2005, Prince George Cougars)
Hughes, Ethan (2006, Moose Jaw Warriors)
Johnson, Diego (2006, Seattle Thunderbirds)
Norrie, Cameron (2007, Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Valliant, Chase (2006, Calgary Hitmen)
The Vees were given 24 hours to review the submitted protected lists and make their selections from the available players or negotiate trades with other WHL Clubs.
Penticton will be permitted to dress four (4) 20-year-old players in all pre-season, regular season, and playoff games during the 2025-26 WHL season only. Should Penticton win the WHL Championship, they will only be permitted to dress three (3) 20-year-old players in the 2026 Memorial Cup.
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