Big news came in this week for a hockey player from the small west-central community of Flaxcombe.

West Central Wheat Kings forward Triston Mitchell-McElhone was one of 44 Saskatchewan born players selected in Thursday's 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. The Flaxcombe native was picked by the Saskatoon Blades with the 239th overall selection in the 11th round.

The first Saskatchewan player taken was from Humboldt. Then the list was dominated by the usual suspects of Saskatoon, Regina, and other hockey hotbeds.

Then the community of Flaxcombe hit the list, as Mitchell-McElhone was the final Saskatchewan product taken in this year's draft.

We talked with Wheat Kings coach Larry Wintoneak about Mitchell-McElhone's game at different points this past season. 

The longtime coach has been impressed since the beginning with the motor the young man brings to the table. Pairing that with another season of growth to become a key piece of the U15 Wheat Kings lineup this past season, it's no question why Mitchell-McElhone's caught scouts eyes.

In a year that included his AAA debut, and a run at the highly competitive SaskFirst camps; Mitchell-McElhone being selected in the WHL draft was the perfect way to cap off what must have been a whirlwind of a season for the local player.