For a follow-up to my last article covering up-and-coming players that will be drafted high in the next few years that are not yet household names, I decided it was appropriate to have the next one after Gavin McKenna be another WHL product. Like McKenna, this player for the Spokane Chiefs was a #1 overall pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, and also has history-making to his name regarding where he comes from. Let us dive into what this Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native has done so far and what direction he appears to be headed in going into his draft eligible year. He likewise has had some curious elements factoring into his development and story, and is a young talent that I have had my eye on for quite some time now.

The son of Chris Catton, who was an over a point-a-game player in the senior Sask Valley Hockey League, Berkly Catton is a product of the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association, and, subsequently, Saskatchewan’s AA and AAA systems. He was drafted first overall in the WHL Bantam Draft in 2021 by the Spokane Chiefs, making him the first player from Saskatoon’s MHA to be picked first overall in the WHL draft, though fellow Saskatoon native/former Saskatoon Contact Jared Cowen (who would eventually be selected ninth overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2009 and came from the Allan MHA) was also picked #1 by the Chiefs in 2006. These two account for three of the first overall selections that Spokane has had in their history, along with 2015 draft class #1 Ty Smith from Lloydminster, AB (eventual New Jersey Devils #17th selection in 2018, currently with the Pittsburgh Penguins). In this respect, Catton can be considered comparable to McKenna putting Yukon hockey on the map (such as the latter helping the territory obtain its best ever results in the Canada Games with his extremely potent offensive output), if not to the same extreme.

It is time, now, to talk about Catton’s accomplishments. His statistical profile in his development includes stunning numbers in his second U15 AA season (2019-20), scoring 108 points in 30 games with the Saskatoon Bandits, as well as 23 points in 15 games at elite boarding school Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, MN after his WHL draft selection and posting 41 points in 21 appearances for the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA team. He would play 9 games for Spokane that year, tallying 1 goal and 3 assists. In his first full year this past season, Catton, who turned 17 in January, posted 55 points in 63 games. This was good for second on the team behind only Chase Bertholet (who is entering his final season of CHL eligibility, as he turns 21 in March) and his 69 points in 67 games. It was a season to forget for Spokane, as they posted a record of 15-43-4-6 W-L-OTL-SL and finished bottom in the WHL’s Western Conference and were beaten only by the Edmonton Oil Kings for worst record in the league. However, Catton’s extreme promise, which he looks to build upon in this upcoming season, was a bright spot, and he should continue to flourish in his remaining time in the CHL.

As it stands, though there is some variation in where you might find Catton in a mock 2024 NHL Entry Draft, he is considered a top prospect eligible for next year. He currently stands 6th, 5th, and 6th in Consolidated Ranking, Daily Faceoff, and TSN/Bob McKenzie’s 2024 Draft Class rankings, respectively (EliteProspects), and is almost assuredly a lock for a top 10 spot (to expand upon that volatility about his projections, I have seen him as low as 18th and as high as 2nd in mock drafts – The former being far too low, the latter perhaps being something that would be inspiring to see but is unlikely due to Macklin Celebrini and Cole Eiserman’s statuses as virtually guaranteed locks for the top two spots). Given his impressive numbers on a poor team at a young age (having been 16 for most of the season), there are reasons to place the ceiling very high for Catton. His draft eligible season and future trajectory as a pro should both be worth keeping an eye on.