Eliteprospects
Canada Derek Thurston
#8 Saskatoon Blades / WHL - 25/26
1-time CSSHL U16 Top Defenseman 1
1-time CSSHL U17 Champion 1
Date of Birth
May 04, 2006
Position
D
Age
19
Height
6'1" / 185 cm
Place of Birth
Delta, BC, CAN
Weight
194 lbs / 88 kg
Nation
Canada
Shoots
L
Youth Team
-
Contract
-

A violent shutdown defenceman, Thurston makes sure opponents know when he steps on the ice. He throws bone-crushing open-ice hits, lands reverse hits, and never stops battling down low. With perfect timing, he detaches from the net to deny space and win possession along the walls. -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

© Photo: Dan Hickling

Use/Embed statistics

Derek Thurston Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2019-20 Delta Hockey Acad. U15 Varsity CSSHL U15 AAA 30* 3* 6* 9* 28* -* | Playoffs 4 0 3 3 2 -
2020-21 Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep Bl CSSHL U15 3* 0* 1* 1* 16* -* |
2021-22 Delta Hockey Academy U16 Prep CSSHL U16 33* 12* 24* 36* 48* -* | Playoffs 3 0 0 0 0 -
Delta Hockey Academy U17 Prep CSSHL U17 5* 0* 3* 3* 6* -* | Playoffs 2 0 0 0 2 -
2022-23 Delta Hockey Academy U18 Prep CSSHL U18 33* 4* 16* 20* 38* -* | Playoffs 4 2 0 2 12 -
2023-24 Red Deer Rebels WHL 41* 0* 1* 1* 29* 4* | Playoffs 9 0 1 1 8 -3
2024-25 Red Deer Rebels WHL 67* 9* 13* 22* 96* 9* |
2025-26 Red Deer Rebels “A” WHL 11* 0* 1* 1* 23* -3* |
Saskatoon Blades WHL 12* 1* 1* 2* 14* 1* |
Projected WHL 57* 2* 5* 7* 92* -5* |

Derek Thurston Career Totals

League Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/- | Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/-
CSSHL U15 1 3* 0* 1* 1* 0.33* 16* -* | 0 * * * * * *
CSSHL U15 AAA 1 30* 3* 6* 9* 0.30* 28* -* | 1 4 0 * 3 * 3 * 0.75 * 2 * - *
CSSHL U16 1 33* 12* 24* 36* 1.09* 48* -* | 1 3 0 * 0 * 0 * 0.00 * 0 * - *
CSSHL U17 1 5* 0* 3* 3* 0.60* 6* -* | 1 2 0 * 0 * 0 * 0.00 * 2 * - *
CSSHL U18 1 33* 4* 16* 20* 0.61* 38* -* | 1 4 2 * 0 * 2 * 0.50 * 12 * - *
WHL 3 131* 10* 16* 26* 0.20* 162* 11* | 1 9 0 * 1 * 1 * 0.11 * 8 * -3 *

Derek Thurston Career Highlights

Season
Awards by season
Transactions
DATE STATUS FROM TO SOURCE
10/24/2025
10/24/2025 Confirmed Red Deer Rebels Saskatoon Blades
11/08/2022
11/08/2022 Confirmed Delta Hockey Academy U18 Prep Red Deer Rebels
Player Biography and Trivia

Drafted 2021, 6 #112 overall by Red Deer Rebels in the WHL Prospects Draft

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #163 by NHL Central Scouting