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Fletcher MacDonald joined rare company in the most recent WHL draft.
The Edmonton goalie was selected ninth overall in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, the highest pick for a goaltender ever by the Regina Pats. MacDonald is the highest-drafted goaltender selected in the WHL Prospects Draft since Taylor Gauthier was chosen 10th overall by the Prince George Cougars in 2016.
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He admitted he was surprised to hear his name called so early in the draft.
“It happened so fast. It was like five minutes before they picked me. I wasn’t even thinking I was going to go for another 15 or 20 picks,” MacDonald said.
“I was really in shock, and then they called me five minutes later and I was so happy and excited. We were just sitting in the living room and looking for a couple guys who played on my Alberta Cup team. At the ninth overall pick, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, this is my buddy,’ and I said his name right before they took the pick, and it was actually my name.”
The 14-year-old MacDonald spent the 2025-26 season with the Canadian Athletic Club U15 AA program in the Alberta Elite Hockey League, where he posted a 2.87 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and one shutout across 28 games. He faced 1,005 shots in the league, 290 more than the next-closest goaltender in the AEHL.
“It’s an amazing feeling to just be drafted at all,” MacDonald said. “You’re super happy, and there’s a lot of worrying up to that point, but I am really excited and really happy.”
Pats general manager Dale Derkatch noted MacDonald put up good numbers with a team that struggled.
“He had a .925 save percentage throughout the year, and they only won eight games, which is pretty amazing. He had over 1,000 shots, which was 300 more than the next goalie in the league had,” Derkatch said after the first round of the draft.
“Cap that off in the playoffs. They lost out in a best-of-three in two games, and he only let in three goals.”
Derkatch has a history of selecting goaltenders early, picking Ian Scott ninth overall in 2014 when he was the director of hockey personnel for the Prince Albert Raiders.
“I don’t think it’s a risk. I think you try to take the best player available. For me, there’s no difference between a forward, defenceman or goalie in terms of risk,” Derkatch explained.
“If I have a player who will play 60 minutes and is one of the best in his age group, that’s a pretty good start for your team.”
MacDonald will look to backstop a team that could have both Liam Pue and Maddox Schultz in the lineup, making a push to compete for the Memorial Cup.
“It’s going be a great team in the future, with Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue leading the way,” MacDonald said. “My cousins live in Regina, and they are massive Pats fans and season-ticket holders… He’s so happy and stoked for me to go there.”
The Pats will host their 2026 Spring Development Camp from Thursday through Saturday.
