Recruit Report: Daneault makes WHL debut with Lethbridge

Merrimack recruit Easton Daneault (‘08) made his WHL debut with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Daneault signed with Lethbridge after beginning the season with the Drumheller Dragons (AJHL). In November, the NCAA changed its rules regarding eligibility for Major Junior players (WHL, OHL, QMJHL), opening the door for recruits like Daneault to play in Major Junior leagues.

Daneaut was filling in for an injured player in December. He’ll likely return to the Dragons, a spot he chose because his brother, Ty Daneault, played for the Dragons from 2021-23. According to Red Deer News Now, the Daneault family developed a relationship with Drumheller coach Kevin Hasselberg during Ty’s time with the team.

Daneault will follow his brother to Merrimack as well, with his earliest arrival coming in 2026-27, just in time to share one season with Ty on the Warriors.

“Ultimately, I think it’s the coaching staff [at Merrimack],” Daneault said. “Both assistant coaches made a trip down to Drumheller to meet me and they even flew me down to see the facility and what they’re all about.

“Just the dedication from them I think is what really led me there.”

Daneault will likely have a chance to play for Lethbridge next season full-time as a 17-year-old.

“It was awesome,” Daneault said of his stint with Lethbridge. “I’ve always wanted to play at that level and playing at that level was a whole another experience with the facility you get to play in and the calibre of guys you’re playing against. It was a lot of fun.”

Here’s this week’s recruit report, with a full statistical update on all players:

Note: Projected enrollment dates are in the left column. However, these are my projections. Projected 2025 enrollments are in the top tab. The only guaranteed enrollments are Parker LaLonde and Ethan Beyer, because they age out of juniors next season.