WINNIPEG, MB – Seven (7) Manitoba-born players had their names called at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles, California.

The NHL Draft is held annually after the completion of the NHL Playoffs and brings together the thirty-two (32) teams to select the rights of the best amateur hockey players who meet the draft eligibility requirements.

West St. Paul’s Carter Bear (left wing) was the first Manitoban to be selected at the 2025 NHL Draft, going to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round (13th overall). Bear had 82 points (40 goals, 42 assists) with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips during the 2024 – 2025 season. Bear represented Team Manitoba at the 2021 WHL Cup in Red Deer, Alberta.

Winnipeg’s Peyton Kettles (defenceman) was the second Manitoban to be selected, going in the second round (39th overall) to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kettles registered five goals and nine assists in 53 games for the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos during the 2024 – 2025 season. Kettles represented Team Manitoba at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

Winnipeg’s Matthew Gard (centre) was the third Manitoban to be selected, going to the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round (57th overall). Gard registered 19 goals and 17 assists in 66 games for the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels during the 2024 – 2025 season. Gard represented Team Manitoba at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

Winnipeg’s Hayden Paupanekis was the fourth Manitoban to be selected, going to the Montreal Canadiens in the 3rd round (69th overall). Paupanekis had 11 goals and 8 assists in 32 games for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets and 11 goals and 13 assists in 39 games for the Spokane Chiefs. Paupanekis represented Team Manitoba at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

Oakbank’s Owen Martin was the fifth Manitoban to be selected, going to the Winnipeg Jets in the third round (92nd overall). Martin had 13 goals and 21 assists in 39 games for the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs during the 2024 – 2025 season. Martin represented Team Manitoba at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

Brandon’s Burke Hood was the sixth Manitoban to be selected, going to the New York Islanders in the sixth round (170th overall). Hood posted a record of 19-13-6 with a .910 save percentage for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants during the 2024 – 2025 season. Hood represented Team Manitoba at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

McCreary’s Brady Turko was the seventh Manitoban to be selected, going to the Anaheim Ducks in the seventh round (200th overall). Turko posted seven goals, 19 assists in 68 games for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings during the 2024 – 2025 season.

Manitobans drafted at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft:

Rnd	Overall	Pos.	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	NHL Team/Amateur Team
1	13	LW	Carter	Bear	West St. Paul	Detroit Red Wings / Everett Silvertips (WHL)
2	39	D	Peyton	Kettles	Winnipeg	Pittsburgh Penguins / Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
2	57	C	Matthew	Gard	Winnipeg	Philadelphia Flyers / Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
3	69	C	Hayden	Paupanekis	Winnipeg	Montreal Canadiens/Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
3	92	C	Owen	Martin	Oakbank	Winnipeg Jets / Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
6	170	G	Burke	Hood	Brandon	New York Islanders / Vancouver Giants (WHL)
7	200	RW/LW	Brady	Turko	McCreary	Anaheim Ducks / Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

 

Previous NHL Draft results for Manitoba:

2024 – 1 selection

2023 – 3 selections

2022– 8 selections

2021– 4 selections

2020– 4 selections

2019 – 1 selection

2018 – 8 selections

2017 – 8 selections