Butcher played with Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League teams in his hometown of Regina prior to moving up to the Western Hockey League, late in the 1979–80 season. Regina was co-hosting the 1980 Memorial Cup, and Butcher joined the WHL\'s Regina Pats for 13 regular-season games, 9 playoff games (winning the President\'s Cup and for the round-robin games at the Memorial Cup tournament. At 16 years of age, he was the Pats\' youngest player.\n', '

During his next two seasons of junior, he accumulated 178 points and over 500 minutes in penalties, and was selected to the WHL\'s All-Star team in 1980–81. "His blend of talent and grit made him one of the top prospects" for the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. The Hockey News draft preview issue ranked Butcher as the No. 3 overall prospect and No. 1 WHL prospect in a draft that included future Hall of Famers Dale Hawerchuk, Grant Fuhr and Al MacInnis (who was drafted five spots after Butcher). On draft day, the Vancouver Canucks selected him 10th overall.\n', '

The next season, Butcher led all WHL defencemen with 92 points. Butcher was also a member of the first Canadian junior team to win a gold medal at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.\n', '

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