WHL Bantam Draft The WHL Bantam Draft is an annual outing , in which the teams of the Western Hockey League select players who have graduated from bantam . The draft ' s order of selection depends on where the team finishes in the league standings . The teams that miss the playoffs are placed into a lottery for the 1st round only . After the 1st round , the teams select in order from fewest to most regular season points . History . Years ago , WHL teams were allowed to list first - year bantam players as of a set date in September . However , first - year bantams had been playing at the peewee level the previous year , and to list first - year bantams , WHL teams needed to scout the peewee ranks . This had many drawbacks including the need for extensive scouting systems along with the related expense , as well the added pressure on peewee - aged players ( 12 – 13 year - olds ) . To get away from scouting peewees , the WHL instituted a bantam draft . WHL teams send scouts to watch second - year bantams from the start of the minor hockey season . After the season , the WHL holds a draft specifically to allow teams to add bantam players in an orderly manner to their protected lists . While this draft is the first opportunity for teams to select bantam players , it is not the last chance for a player to be listed . After the draft is completed , all the remaining bantams become eligible to be listed by teams , and many will be added as spots become available on team ' s PPLs , or as a player ' s talents improve or are more noticeable at a later date or at a higher level of hockey . During the bantam draft ( typically held in early May ) , players from the four Western Provinces and the states of Alaska , Arizona , California , Colorado , Hawaii , Idaho , Kansas , Minnesota , Montana , Nebraska , Nevada , New Mexico , North Dakota , Oklahoma , Oregon , South Dakota , Texas , Utah , Washington and Wyoming are eligible to be selected . Players from non - North American countries are allowed to be added in the CHL Import Draft which is held in June . Protected player list . A team is allowed to add up to 50 players between the ages of 14 and 20 onto its PPL . 14 - year - olds may not be added to the list until the Bantam Draft has been completed following their final year at the bantam level . The 50 Player Protected List is used by the Western Hockey League to ensure there is a method of organization and control in the League for the rights to players . Without this type of built - in control , the system would be problematic . The 50 Player Protected List works in a very simple manner . Each WHL team is permitted to place a maximum of 50 players between the ages of 14 and 20 on their List . A player may not be added to a WHL List until he has been eligible for the WHL Bantam Draft , which occurs following his final season of bantam hockey . All players on a WHL team ' s roster are required to be on the 50 Player Protected List , so if a WHL team is carrying 23 players , this leaves only 27 spots available for future prospects . Needless to say , only the elite players will be represented on a team ’ s List . If a player on the List no longer meets the expectations of the team , he will be replaced by another prospect . As a result , the List is constantly changing as teams evaluate their players and make adjustments . Teams are permitted to make changes to their 50 Player List throughout the entire year . It is imperative for a team to build their List with quality players if they wish to be competitive in the future . By limiting each team ’ s List to 50 players , this ensures that the talent level will be consistent throughout the WHL , while still rewarding the teams who do the best job in scouting talent . With only 50 available spots , this means that decisions must be made carefully so as to ensure the team ' s future viability . Depending on circumstances , a player may be added or removed from a team ’ s List at any time . Although many players are added to WHL team Lists during the Bantam Draft , there are also numerous situations where players develop later and are listed at that time . The following WHL stars were not selected in the WHL Bantam Draft but were added to a WHL team ’ s list at a later date : Jarome Iginla , Darcy Tucker , Jeff Friesen , Dan Hamhuis , Scottie Upshall , Joffrey Lupul , Jeff Woywitka , and Shane Doan . A player who is on a WHL team ' s List may not play for another WHL team , or attend another WHL team ' s training camp or rookie camp . However , being a member of a WHL team ’ s 50 Player Protected List does not restrict a player from playing for , or attending a camp of a non - WHL team . The 50 Player Protected List is used strictly to determine which WHL team holds the player ’ s rights . The WHL , along with the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League comprise the Canadian Hockey League . Rules are in place to ensure that a player may be selected by only one league Recent first overall picks . Famous number one selections in the WHL Bantam Draft include :