LOS ANGELES -- Swift Current Broncos defenceman Peyton Kettles didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called during the second day of the 2025 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
The Winnipeg product was the seventh pick during round two on Saturday morning, going 39th overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kettles’ selection was actually a substantial jump up the pre-draft rankings, as the majority of prognosticators had the Winnipeg product going anywhere from the mid-50s to late-70s.
“It’s obviously really special to hear my name called by Pittsburgh, to know their history and their success when I was growing up is very special,” Kettles said during the post-Draft media availability. “I’m really looking forward to playing with them.”
Of course, you can’t teach size, and that was undoubtedly a major factor in the Penguins picking the 6-foot-6, 194-pound rearguard.
Kettles had five goals and 14 points for the Broncos this past season and also had 65 penalty minutes while playing the kind of rugged style one would expect from a player his size.
He’s also shown some offensive flash in the past, putting up nine goals and 35 points with Rink Hockey Academy U15 teams during the 2021-22 campaign.
Saskatoon Blades forward David Lewandowski was the only other player with Saskatchewan connections picked on the second day of the Draft, as the Edmonton Oilers made him their fourth round selection, 117th overall.
A 6-foot-1, 176-pound product of Dusseldorf, Germany, Lewandowski was the final pick by the Blades in the 2024 CHL Import Draft but more than lived up to his selection during the Western Hockey League season.
Lewandowski ended up with 15 goals and 39 points in 52 games while also showing responsibility in his own end, putting up a Blades-best plus-21 plus/minus.
Lewandowski had 15 goals and 48 points playing U20 with Dusseldorf EG in his season prior to joining the Blades and was named the league’s rookie of the year.
The Dusseldorf native also suited up for Germany at the both the Hlinka Gretzky U18 championship and World Junior Hockey Championship last season.
Three players with connections to the Land of Living Skies were selected in the first round, with Saskatoon native and Brandon Wheat Kings forward Roger McQueen going 10th overall to Anaheim. Macklin product and Victoria Royals forward Cole Reschny was the 18th overall pick by the Calgary Flames, while Moose Jaw Warriors forward Lynden Lakovic went 24th overall to the Washington Capitals.
