Pats Draft Darcy Hordichuk’s Son
Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats made a pair of selections in the 2024 U.S. Priority Draft on Wednesday, selecting Braden Hordichuk with the first overall selection and Camden Zaporzan with the 25th overall pick.
Hordichuk, 15, tallied 32 points (20G-12A) in 37 games in 2023-24 with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 14U AAA team, finishing second on his club in points and goals. The Scottsdale, Arizona product has routes to Saskatchewan as his father Darcy hails from Kamsack, Sask. and played in the Western Hockey League with the Calgary Htimen and Saskatoon Blades from 1996-2000 before embarking on a 13-year professional hockey career where he played in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers, Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers. The 5-foot-10, 152 lb. right-shot forward played for Notre Dame Prep 2 in 2022-23, recording 37 points (27G-10A) in 15 games.
“We’re very excited to select Braden with the first overall pick of the U.S. Priority Selection,” Regina Pats VP, Hockey Operations and GM Alan Millar said. “We really like Braden as both a player and a young man. He plays the game the right way and understands the competitiveness, how hard you need to play to be successful and play at this level. He projects to be a power forward in our league with skill, and we’re excited about his future with the Pats.”
Zaporzan, 15, played for Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U AAA team in 2023-24, compiling 50 points (18G-32A) in 57 games. The Anchorage, Alaska product is a 5-foot-5, 138 lb. right-shot forward who tallied 28 points (18G-10A) in 14 games in 2022-23 with the Alaska Oilers 14U AA club.
“This is a guy who can really skate,” said Millar. “I think he brings a lot of good things to our club; skating, skill and hockey sense. He has the potential to be a dynamic player. For both young men, this is the start of a process and we look forward to going through that with them.”
Up next is the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft which will take place on Thursday, May 8 at 10:00 a.m., Sask. time. The Pats first pick will be in the second round and 25th overall.
(Regina Pats Communications/Dante DeCaria)
