Image Credit: Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars

By Victor Kaisar

NHL Draft

Cougars forward Foster, Prince George native Schmidt drafted into NHL Saturday

Jun 29, 2025 | 9:11 AM

LOS ANGELES — There were two players with Prince George connections who were taken on day two of the 2025 NHL Draft Saturday (June 28) in Los Angeles.

Aiden Foster was the second Prince George Cougar drafted as he was taken in the fourth round, 127th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 18-year-old native of Lloydminster, Alta. native had 11 goals and 20 points along with 136 penalty minutes in 68 games last season. He was ranked 89th among North American skaters going into the draft, and will be at Lightning development camp this week.

Elsewhere, forward Cameron Schmidt of the Vancouver Giants, who is from Prince George, went in the third round, 94th overall to the Dallas Stars. He wrapped up his second WHL season with 40 goals and 78 points in 61 games, and added four goals and nine points in five playoffs games.

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Schmidt was ranked 43rd among North American skaters going into the draft, and he’ll be off to Dallas Stars development camp, which will run this week at Comerica Center.

The big news of the weekend was goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen, who was drafted 30th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the draft on Friday (June 27) night.

Fellow Cougars forward Jett Lajoie, who was ranked 166th among North American skaters, was not drafted this weekend.

He remains eligible for the 2026 draft alongside 17-year-old defenceman, Carson Carels, who is projected by some draft prognosticators to be a top prospect next year.