Abbotsford's Yale Hockey Academy had another successful showing at the annual Western Hockey League Draft, with five locally-trained talents being selected by WHL teams.
Langley product Christopher Kokkoris was the earliest selected and he was picked in round one, eighth overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings.
The 6-6 defenceman recorded 37 points in 34 games for the YHA U15 Prep team this past season and added two points in four playoff games. Kokkoris was also named a CSSHL B.C. Division second team all-star this season. Oil Kings general manager Kirt Hill said that he's thrilled to acquire the rearguard.
Keeping it rolling! 🛞
— Edmonton Oil Kings (@EdmOilKings) May 8, 2025
With the 8th overall pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft the Edmonton Oil Kings are proud to select defenceman Christopher Kokkoris!
Welcome to Edmonton, Christopher!👑 pic.twitter.com/V8JG4RieKN
"His size, his ability to move the puck, he’s extremely clean on his breakouts, that first pass is really good,” Hill said. “The range is phenomenal and the amount of space he can take up on the ice, so just thought he elevated his game, especially going into the sports school championships where he had an exceptional tournament and he really sold us there."
Surrey's Tanner Massey went next, as the YHA forward was taken by the Swift Current Broncos in round four, 70th overall. Massey scored 35 points in 36 games for YHA U15 Prep this season.
With the 70th pick in the WHL Prospects Draft, the Swift Current Broncos are proud to select from the Yale Academy U15 Prep Program, F Tanner Massey!
— Swift Current Broncos (@SCBroncos) May 8, 2025
Welcome to Swift Current Tanner!#WHLDraft pic.twitter.com/BEJ1j24dWu
The Vancouver Giants selected Port Coquitlam's Tony Cableka in round five, 101st overall. The forward had 39 points in 35 games for YHA U15 Prep this season. He served as the team's captain this season.
Langley's Michael Kuzik went to the Medicine Hat Tigers in round five, 109th overall. He scored 44 points in 27 games for YHA U15 Prep this season.
The final YHA player chosen was Langley's Nicolas Voinea, who was selected by the Saskatoon Blades in round eight, 181st overall. He recorded 33 points in 36 games for YHA U15 Prep this season.
With the 101st overall selection in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, the Vancouver Giants are excited to select Tony Cabelka from Yale Hockey Academy U15 Prep.
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) May 8, 2025
Welcome to the Giants, Tony!#WHLDraft pic.twitter.com/BDyyOjVkDt
The first overall pick was forward Maddox Schultz, who helped lead the Regina Pats Canadians to the Telus Cup in Chilliwack last month. He was chosen by his hometown Regina Pats.
YHA has consistently had players drafted from the program since it launched in 2004. A record 15 players were taken from YHA in 2021. The YHA has been an important development path to a number of professional hockey talents including: Devon Toews, Dylan Cozens, Bowen Byram, Noah Juulsen, Shea Theodore and Jake Virtanen.
The program was previously run by the Abbotsford School District, but it was announced in Feb. 2023 that a group led by current YHA operations co-ordinator Brad Bowen was taking over.
For more information, visit ysadevelopment.com.
