During the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, the Regina Pats made a deal with the Kelowna Rockets and traded back into the top three so the team could select Liam Pue with the third overall pick.
"It was a long waiting game trying to find out where I was going to go," Pue explained on the SportsCage. "When I got the call from my agent and Regina telling me they wanted to trade up and take me, it was a big sigh of relief. I was very excited to get things going."
Besides Pue, the Pats selected hometown star Maddox Schultz with the first overall pick.
"I've been friends with Maddox for a year and we've built a pretty good relationship," Pue said. "I've talked to him, not necessarily about the draft, talking as friends. It's good that I've gotten to know him, and then when Regina picked me, he was the first person I reached out to."
Last year, Pue played 29 games for the Langley Hockey Academy, where he led the Junior Prospect Hockey League in scoring with 30 goals and 20 assists for 50 points. He reflected on the setbacks his team had to deal with last year and how it was a big accomplishment.
"With our season this year, we went through a lot of adversity with injuries. We had six or seven guys injured for the rest of the season, almost before the halfway point. Our team came together very well, we battled through all that adversity and made it to the championship, where we ended up losing in overtime in both games," Pue detailed.
"For our team, it was how we got to that point, battled through all that adversity and we knew that in the end, we did all we could, we worked our butts off. We were all very happy with ourselves."
Pue was not hesitant to share who he admires in the NHL.
"I try to model my game after Auston Matthews," Pue said. "He plays the game very well, both aspects of the game. He's a leader and always finds ways to get shots through if there's a defender in front."
Pue, alongside Schultz, will be able to play 34 games in the upcoming WHL season, they can split time with their under-18 team and the Pats. Both of them decided not pursue the WHL exceptional status route.
"There are lots of options for sure, but I think that's still up for discussion," Pue said. "Regina will have a say in whether they want me to go somewhere. That's still up in the air. I am going to be attending Regina Pats spring camp, I am very excited to come out there."
