Defenceman Benett Kelly has signed with the Prince Albert Raiders. (submitted photo/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Rob Mahon

Raiders Sign Kelly

Raiders sign second rounder Kelly

Jun 13, 2023 | 3:00 PM

The WHL prospects draft was an extremely busy day for the Prince Albert Raiders as they selected four times in the top-27 picks. The days since have been busy as well, as they work to bring those highly touted prospects officially into the fold.

This afternoon, the Raiders announced the final player of those four picks has signed on with the team. 27^th overall pick Benett Kelly has signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team.

“It feels amazing,” Kelly said about being drafted, and now signed by the team. “Especially getting drafted by PA, because I have a lot of family out there, and my dad used to play there. It’s a good thing to be able to play there too.”

Benett’s dad is Steve Kelly, a four-year Raider who eventually played 149 NHL games. Benett will look to carve out his own Raiders career and seems on a good track to do so. The 6-foot-1 defenceman posted 34 points in 33 games with the Airdrie Xtreme this past season, then added seven points in nine playoff games.

Kelly spent that season playing with Riley Boychuk, who the Raiders also selected with the second overall pick.

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“It’s always nice knowing you have a buddy there,” Kelly said. “(Riley) is one of my best friends. He’s kind to everyone and he makes everyone around him better.”

The feeling is mutual; after being drafted, Boychuk had high praise for Kelly.

“He’s an awesome player, and even a better person, which speaks a lot to his character,” Boychuk said. “I told everyone I would want to play with him my whole career.”

In an odd twist, all four of the Raiders first four picks in the draft are from Alberta, and so was their fifth pick, goaltender Steele Bass. In other words, whether as teammates or opponents, Kelly will be well familiar with a lot of his fellow prospects.

“Just getting the chance to play with a lot of these guys is exciting,” said Kelly. “Being able to play with Riley, and I know Daxon (Rudolph, first overall pick) and Ty (Meunier, seventh overall). I feel like all of us put together can create a strong team in the upcoming years.”

Kelly will be in Prince Albert to attend the Raiders’ training camp this summer, though as a 2008-born player he will need to play somewhere at the AAA level for another season before joining the team full-time.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP

by Rob Mahon

Raiders sign second rounder Kelly

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