Blazers Select 11 Players in WHL Bantam Draft
May 5, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release
Kamloops, BC - The Kamloops Blazers selected 11 players in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft in Calgary on Thursday.
In the first round, 15th overall the Blazers selected forward Massimo Rizzo from Burnaby. The 5'11" forward had 137 points in 61 games this season.
In the second round, the Blazers went to Saskatchewan to choose Connor Zary from Saskatoon. The 5'10" forward had 81 points in 30 games this season.
The Blazers selected one player in the third and fourth rounds and two players in the fifth round. After not having picks in the sixth or seventh round, the hockey club chose one player each in rounds eight, nine, 10, 11 and 12.
Among the 11 selections, the Blazers chose six forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender. Five players are from Saskatchewan, four players from B.C. and two players are from Alberta.
Here is a brief synopsis and quote from Director of Player Personnel, Matt Recchi, on each player chosen:
Player Stats - GP G A PTS PIM
1st round, 15th overall
Left Center - Massimo Rizzo
510" 165lbs
DOB - June 13, 2001
Hometown - Burnaby, BC
Team - Burnaby Winter Club 61 - 60 - 77 - 137 (11 points in 5 games at Western Canada Bantam AAA Championships)
"Massimo is a competitive and skilled player. He plays a high tempo game and is exciting to watch."
2nd round, 37th overall
Left Center - Connor Zary
6'2" 165lbs
DOB - September 25, 2001
Hometown - Saskatoon, SK
Team - Saskatoon Outlaws Bantam AA 30 - 44 - 37 - 81 - 78
"Connor is an elusive player with a lot of skill."
3rd round, 59th overall
Left Defense - Quinn Schmiemann
5'11" 165lbs
DOB - July 27, 2001
Hometown - Wilcox, SK
Team - Notre Dame Bantam AAA 38 - 8 - 14 - 22 - 16
"Quinn plays a steady two-way game."
*Brother Dominic Schmiemann (Swift Current, 1st round 2014)
4th round, 84th overall (From Seattle)
Right Defense - Jimmy Darby
6'1" 200lbs
DOB - April 12, 2001
Hometown - North Vancouver, BC
Team - North Shore Winter Club - Stats Unavailable
"Jimmy is a big and mobile defenseman that brings a physical element to the game."
5th round, 103rd overall
Left Wing - Kyrell Sopotyk
5'8" 140lbs
DOB - November 10, 2001
Hometown - Aberdeen, SK
Team - Sask Valley Vipers Bantam AA 30 - 28 - 25 - 53 - 60
"Kyrell is a hard working player that has some skill and vision."
5th round, 110th overall (From Victoria)
Left Wing - Jerzy Orchard
5'7" 130lbs
DOB - February 5, 2001
Hometown - Delisle, SK
Team - Sask Valley Vipers Bantam AA 30 - 23 - 21 - 44 - 14
"Jerzy is a small competitive forward with tremendous speed."
8th round, 169th overall
Goalie - Blake Wood
6'1" 182lbs
DOB - June 15, 2001
Hometown - Nanaimo, BC
Team - Yale Hockey Academy Bantam Prep Record - 9-3, GAA - 2.70, SV% -.900
"Blake is a goaltender that we saw improve all season and is in control of his game."
9th round, 191st overall
Left Defence - Matthew Ubriaco
5'11" 147lbs
DOB - January 27, 2001
Hometown - Campbell River, BC
Team - Campbell River Bantam AA - Stats Unavailable
"Matthew is a smart defenseman and moves the puck well."
10th round, 213th overall
Left Wing - Brody Green
6'1" 165lbs
DOB - February 28, 2001
Hometown - Edmonton, AB
Team - Edmonton KC Bantam AAA - 31 - 19 - 13 - 32 - 46
"Brody is a big, physical presence that has some touch around the net."
11th round, 235th overall
Right shot Center - Jagger Prosofsky
5'8" 140lbs
DOB - May 6, 2001
Hometown - Saskatoon, SK
Team - Saskatoon Outlaws Bantam AA - 29 - 21 - 14 - 35 - 79
"Jagger plays the game hard and is a good skater."
*Son of former WHLer Tyler Prosofsky (Tacoma/Kelowna 1992-1996)
12th round, 257th overall
Right Defence - Nicksha Eric
6'1" 165lbs
DOB - September 23, 2001
Hometown - Fort McMurray, AB
Team - Fort Saskatchewan Rangers Bantam AAA - 36 - 2 - 11 - 13 - 70
"Nicksha is a big defenseman that moves well and showed improvement all year."
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from May 5, 2016
- Giants Draft 11 Players at 2016 Bantam Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Royals Select 11 Players at 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Victoria Royals
- 2016 Bantam Draft Recap - Prince George Cougars
- Silvertips Select Forward Ethan Browne with 14th Overall Selection in 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Everett Silvertips
- Raiders Take 11 in 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
- Portland Winterhawks Complete Bantam Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Add 11 in 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- Hitmen Select 11 Players in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- T-Birds Select Defenseman Jake Lee in First Round - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Toporowski Headlines Spokane's 2016 Class - Spokane Chiefs
- 2016 WHL Bantam Draft Final Results - WHL
- Blazers Select 11 Players in WHL Bantam Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Wheat Kings Choose 11 in Bantam Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- 36 Manitobans Chosen in WHL Bantam Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Cougars Grab Six More Players from Round 5 Onward - Prince George Cougars
- Pats Make Five Selections in Rounds 5-11 - Regina Pats
- Ice Select Ten Players in WHL Bantam Draft - Kootenay Ice
- Red Deer Rebels Make 13 Picks In WHL Bantam Draft - Red Deer Rebels
- Hurricanes Select 12 Players in Bantam Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Recapping Warriors 2016 Bantam Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Royals Acquire Blake Bargar - Victoria Royals
- 2016 WHL Bantam Draft First Round Results - WHL
- Pats Add Two Forwards in Fourth Round - Regina Pats
- Cougars Select Defenceman Jack Michell in Round 3 - Prince George Cougars
- Cougars Select Defenceman Cole Beamin in Round 2 - Prince George Cougars
- Hitmen Select Jackson Van De Leest 16th Overall in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- Pats Select Muir in Second Round - Regina Pats
- Spokane Acquires Sittler from Lethbridge - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Make Deal with Americans - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hurricanes Trade Sittler to Spokane - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Giants Take Blaisdell and Svejkovsky - Vancouver Giants
- Rockets Select Yorkton D with 1st Round WHL Bantam Pick - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors Select Brayden Tracey - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blazers Select Massimo Rizzo 15th Overall - Kamloops Blazers
- Chiefs Keep It in the Family, Take Toporowski in Bantam Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Cougars Select Goaltender Taylor Gauthier 9th Overall - Prince George Cougars
- Giants Acquire 20th Pick; Draft Trent Miner - Vancouver Giants
- Raiders Select Rhett Rhinehart 13th Overall in 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
- Wheat Kings Opt for Schneider - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Giants Draft Bowen Byram at Third Overall - Vancouver Giants
- Ice Select Krebs with First Overall Pick - Kootenay Ice
- Giants Make Trade with Saskatoon - Vancouver Giants
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Kamloops Blazers Stories
- Blazers to Host RE/MAX Presents: Nickelodeon Night for Children's Network on Friday, March 1
- Defenseman Harrison Brunicke on NHL Central Scouting Rankings
- Blazers Acquire Three Draft Picks for Connor Levis
- Blazers Acquire Wadsworth and Draft Picks for Van Olm
- Blazers Trade Sydor to Lethbridge for Swetlikoff and Two Draft Picks