It’s been a big year for 18-year-old Braeden Cootes.

A 63-point draft season as the Captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds led the right-shot centreman to be drafted in the first round (15th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. An impressive training camp earned the Sherwood Park, Alberta native his first taste of NHL action in October. And to top it all off, Cootes was chosen to represent his country at the 2025-26 U20 World Junior Championship, one of eight 18-year-olds to be on the team.

It may not have been the storybook ending to the year he was hoping for, as the Canadians bowed out in the semi-finals to Czechia. However, Cootes still walked away from the tournament with some hardware, as his goal in the first five minutes of the game helped Canada secure a bronze medal.

“It was a really cool experience,” Cootes shared. “Obviously, to play as an 18-year-old is a huge honour, just to get [an opportunity] to come play next year too. Just [to] know how it all works, being away from home at Christmas and stuff like that. But it was awesome. I mean, we had such a good group. But obviously, like you said, not what we wanted, but, I mean, it’s better than nothing. It’s a step in the right direction from the year before. We had a really, really good group, and all the guys are awesome, and it was a really fun three weeks.”

Cootes credits his big second half of the year to the time he spent with the Canucks. The confidence he gained from spending time in the NHL and learning from the Sedins propelled him to a strong World Juniors, finishing with two goals despite playing in a bottom-six role.

“Yeah, I mean, just seeing what they do every day, like how they’re pros and how they approach [the game]. Just little things that you pick up in practice. Getting to work with the Sedins every day was a treat. They’re so good and so smart. Also, just confidence. I mean, even going to the World Juniors and stuff, like, I was taking draws against [Connor] McDavid three months ago. Like, I got this. Just kind of that, you know, self-confidence piece from it, too, like, gives you a little bit more swagger. Like, I’m a good player, you know. Like, have a higher standard for myself.”

While Cootes was still at the World Juniors, reports began circulating that, for the first time in his career, he was likely to be traded. That couldn’t happen quite yet with the World Junior roster freeze, but it came true shortly after, and Cootes was on the move to the Prince Albert Raiders.

Cootes spoke about how it felt to be traded for the first time, and what conversation’s he’s had with the Raiders about what they’re expecting of him and what role he’ll play with his new team:

“Yeah, it’s for sure been pretty crazy. I never really thought I would get traded. I’ve never been traded before. So it’s new, but I’m super excited. They have a really good team there in PA. I know a few guys on the team. And I mean, they’re running through the league pretty well this year, so I couldn’t be happier to have a chance to win this year.

“I’ve had a talk with the GM, the coach, their Captain, Justice Christensen. I know him a bit, too; we used to play together at Yale Hockey Academy. But no, they haven’t really talked about where they’re using me – I’ll hopefully have a big role. But no, it’s just more just to get to know me and how excited they are to have me, and just kind of the logistics on when I’m going to get down there, and just to start things.”

Cootes shared that he had been given the next few days off, since the World Junior players did not really get a Christmas break. He said that he will head to Prince Albert on Friday morning and make his Raiders debut that evening against the Swift Current Broncos.

Being traded for the first time, especially off a team you were the Captain of, is a big transition for anyone, let alone an 18-year-old. But going from a Thunderbirds team who are second-last in their division (15-17-2-2) with just 34 points, to a Raiders team that sits atop the East Division and third in WHL standings (27-5-4-0) with 58 points, will make it an easier pill to swallow for a chance at not only winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup (WHL playoff trophy), but the Memorial Cup in Kelowna in May.

That new goal is all Cootes is focused on to end the season:

“My goals for the second half are obviously really high. I mean, nobody puts more pressure on myself than me. Obviously, going to PA, I want to win. I want to win the whole thing. I want to win the Memorial Cup. It’s obviously my goal, and I’m going to do everything I can to help that team do that.”