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 Brandon Wheat Kings

Brandon Pick To Join Elite Company

April 29, 2014 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Calgary, AB. - When the Brandon Wheat Kings step up and make the first overall selection in Thursday's Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, the player that they choose will be joining some pretty select company.

The Wheat Kings, who have never selected first overall since the league introduced the bantam draft in 1990, will be selecting from 1999-born players who reside in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska as well as the western United States.

Among those players chosen first overall are Matthew Barzal of Seattle, Jake Virtanen of the Calgary Hitmen and Derrick Pouliot of the Portland Winterhawks as well as current National Hockey Leaguers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer) of the Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators' defenceman Jared Cowen (Spokane), Braydon Coburn (Portland) of Philadelphia, Jay Bouwmeester (Medicine Hat) of the St. Louis Blues as well as Winnipeg's Jonathan Toews of the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, who was drafted by the Tri-City Americans but elected to attend the University of North Dakota.

The Wheat Kings earned the first overall pick thanks to a trade with Saskatoon in 2012 that saw overage right-winger Brenden Walker go to the Blades. Saskatoon won the draft lottery in March and as a result Brandon was able to swap first round picks and move up.

The Draft order of selection is determined by where a WHL Club finishes in the WHL Regular Season standings. The Clubs that miss the playoffs are placed into a lottery to determine the selection order for the first round only. After the first round, the Clubs select in order from the fewest to most regular season points.

Lethbridge will have the second selection, Kamloops will select third, Moose Jaw will have the fourth selection and the Prince George Cougars will round out the top five.

Prior to this year, the Wheat Kings best draft position had been second overall - in 1991, '92 and '93 - when Brandon chose Colin Cloutier, Wade Redden and Darren Van Oene respectively.

After a draft day deal that saw Brandon send netminder Corbin Boes to Lethbridge last season, the Wheat Kings used the fourth, sixth and 25th overall picks to select Nolan Patrick, Kale Clague and Tanner Kaspick.

Thursday's bantam draft is scheduled to begin at 9:30am Manitoba time and the entire first round, including Brandon's selection can be seen live via webcast on www.whl.ca

Meanwhile the 2014 WHL Awards Luncheon is set for Wednesday as the league salutes the best of the 2013-14 regular season.


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