Cole Landreville’s dream of playing in the Western Hockey League took a major step forward when the 15-year-old forward was selected by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL Prospects Draft.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” Landreville said in an interview. “It’s an exciting day. It’s kind of always been a dream to get drafted and play in that league. Hopefully I can play there in a couple of years — that’s the goal.”
Landreville, who hails from Saint Claude, found out he had been drafted while refreshing the WHL’s live draft tracker online.
“I wasn’t really expecting much, and then I saw my name pop up. It was pretty exciting. It kind of came from left field.”
Shortly after, the Oil Kings’ general manager called to congratulate him. Landreville said the team wanted him to experience the surprise of seeing his name appear live.
The young forward developed his game in the minor hockey systems of Saint Claude and Treherne, often playing with older age groups. He has spent the past two seasons at Pilot Mound Hockey Academy, a program known for its intensive training and development.
“When I was younger, we went to watch some of their games and I thought that’s where I could get better,” he said. “That summer before my first year, I was bugging my parents every day. They finally said yes.”
Landreville credits the academy’s coaching staff and training environment for helping him grow both on and off the ice.
“You’re on the ice every day, working out every day. I put on a lot of weight and muscle. You mature a lot, and I thought that helped.”
He also attended school in Pilot Mound while living with a billet family in his first year and in dorms during his second. He said the small-school environment reminded him of home.
With the draft behind him, Landreville is now preparing for rookie camp with the Oil Kings.
“I’m leaving Thursday,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get in good shape and get ready. Hopefully, I do well. The goal is to make it as a 16-year-old, but we’ll see what happens.”
While many young players attend multiple camps, Landreville said his focus is solely on Edmonton.
“The Oil Kings for sure,” he said. “That’s an awesome organization. I can’t wait to get started with them.”
Landreville’s selection marks a significant milestone in his hockey journey, and he hopes it’s just the beginning of a long career in the WHL.