Liam Pue has spent the past few years turning minor hockey scoreboards into a personal highlight reel, and by 2025, the hockey world had officially taken notice. From dominant JPHL seasons to being drafted third overall in the WHL Prospects Draft, Liam Pue’s rise offers a clear look at what it takes to become one of the most talked-about young players in Western Canadian hockey. This article breaks down his background, his path through exceptional status, and where his WHL career is headed next.
Who Is Liam Pue?
Liam Pue was born on February 16, 2010, in Langley, British Columbia, and came up through the Langley Eagles minor hockey system before making his name in the Junior Prospects Hockey League (JPHL). Standing at 6-foot-2 and playing with a power-forward’s edge combined with a sniper’s shot, he’s built the kind of profile that WHL scouts actively look for in a franchise centre.
Early Dominance in the JPHL
Pue’s numbers as a young teenager are hard to overstate. In the 2022–23 season, at just 12 years old, he put up 48 goals and 85 points in 35 games while playing up against older competition in the 14U and 15U divisions. The following season, at 13, he split time between the 15U and 17U divisions and posted 72 goals and 118 points in 37 games, numbers that made the “phenom” label feel earned rather than premature.
Across his three-year JPHL career, Pue scored 160 goals in just 107 games, almost always facing opponents two to three years older. That level of production against older competition is part of why his name started circulating early in WHL scouting circles.
Liam Pue Exceptional Status: What It Actually Means
The term “exceptional status” comes up constantly around Liam Pue, but it actually refers to two different things, and mixing them up is one of the more common mistakes in coverage of his career.
JPHL Exceptional Player Status
In 2024, the JPHL granted Pue exceptional player status, allowing him to compete at the 18U level with Langley Hockey Association while still in his WHL draft year. This marked the first time a player entering his WHL draft year had received exceptional player status from the JPHL. Playing at that level, he posted 104 points in 31 games against older U17 competition, along with an additional 22 points in 14 games in other appearances.
That season also included international showcases. Pue put up 7 goals and 5 assists in 6 games for Team BC U15 at the World Selects Invitational in Philadelphia, then followed it up with 7 goals and 4 assists in 6 games for Team Canada West at the Cwench World Invite, earning Tournament First All-Star honours in the process.
Why He Didn’t Pursue Full WHL Exceptional Status
This is where things differ from players like Connor Bedard or Landon DuPont, who received formal CHL Exceptional Player Status to enter the WHL draft a full year early. Pue was already draft-eligible at his normal age, so that specific designation didn’t apply to his situation the same way.
Notably, Pue and fellow first-round pick Maddox Schultz both chose not to pursue additional exceptional status pathways heading into their first WHL season. Instead, the pair will be eligible to split time between their WHL club and their U18 team, playing up to 34 games in the WHL as they transition into major junior hockey.
Liam Pue WHL Draft: The Regina Pats’ Blockbuster Move
The 2025 WHL Prospects Draft turned into one of the more dramatic storylines of the year, largely because of how badly the Regina Pats wanted Pue on their roster.
Here’s how the draft unfolded:
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1st overall | Maddox Schultz | Regina Pats |
| 3rd overall | Liam Pue | Regina Pats (via trade) |
To get that third overall pick, Regina sent its 26th overall selection in 2025, along with first-round picks in both 2026 and 2027, to the Kelowna Rockets. That’s a steep price for a single player, and it signals exactly how highly WHL front offices valued Pue’s ceiling.
Pue later described the process as a waiting game, saying the sense of relief was real once his agent confirmed Regina had traded up to select him. He and Schultz had already built a friendship over the previous year, and Pue reached out to Schultz right after the pick was made official.
What Makes Liam Pue Stand Out
A few qualities separate Pue from the usual crop of highly touted prospects:
- Size and skill combination: At 6-foot-2, he plays a power game without sacrificing the skill and hockey IQ typically associated with smaller, shiftier forwards.
- Production against older competition: His scoring rates have consistently come against players one to three years older, a strong indicator of how his game should translate against grown men in the WHL.
- International resume: Multiple Team BC and Team Canada West appearances have already tested him on a bigger stage before he’s even played a full WHL season.
- Family connection: His brother, Landon Pue, has played alongside him, adding a personal dimension to his development that teammates and scouts have noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What position does Liam Pue play? He’s a natural centreman known for combining size, speed, and playmaking ability.
What is Liam Pue’s WHL draft position? He was selected third overall in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft by the Regina Pats, who traded up to acquire the pick.
Did Liam Pue receive exceptional status in the WHL? He earned JPHL exceptional player status in 2024, but he and Maddox Schultz both opted not to pursue additional exceptional status routes ahead of their first WHL season.
When is Liam Pue eligible for the NHL Draft? Based on his birth year, he’s on track for the 2028 NHL Entry Draft.
How many games can Liam Pue play in the WHL as an underage player? He’s expected to be eligible for up to 34 games in the WHL, splitting time with his U18 team.
Final Thoughts
Liam Pue’s path from dominant JPHL seasons to a blockbuster WHL trade shows exactly why teams are willing to give up multiple first-round picks for the right prospect. Between his production against older competition, his international showings, and now a landing spot with the Regina Pats, his development is one of the more interesting storylines to follow in junior hockey over the next few seasons.
Keep an eye on Liam Pue’s rookie WHL season, since how he handles the jump from junior showcases to a full 68-game major junior schedule will say a lot about his NHL Draft stock heading into 2028.
