Kelowna Rockets will be spectators for the first two rounds of the 2021 WHL bantam draft

Photo: Contributed

The Kelowna Rockets were nothing more than interested bystanders during the Western Hockey League draft lottery.

The lottery, held Wednesday morning, determined the order of selection for the first round of the 2021 WHL bantam draft.

Without a first round selection from a December 2019 deal that brought defenceman Connor McDonald over from Edmonton, the Rockets could only watch as what turned out to be the 13th overall pick went to the Oil Kings.

The Spokane Chiefs, who finished with the sixth worst record during the COVID-shortened season won the lottery and will pick first when the draft is held Dec. 9.

The Rockets are slated to pick 16th in each subsequent round due to their 2020-2021 record, however, due to previous trades, many in an effort to load up for the 2020 Memorial Cup, they are without picks in the second, fifth, ninth and 10th rounds as well.

In fact, the Rockets have dealt away first and second round picks in 2022, and first, third and fourth round selections in 2023.

The Kamloops Blazers, who won the BC Division title during the shortened season, will pick 21st.

The Victoria Royals, who won just three times, surrendered the third overall pick to Brandon from a previous deal.

The order for the two-round U.S. prospects draft will take place Thursday.