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WHL Swift Current Broncos

2021 WHL Prospects Draft Preview, 2020 Draft Review

December 8, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Swift Current Broncos News Release


The 2021 WHL Prospects Draft is set for Thursday, December 8, and it promises to be an exciting day for the Swift Current Broncos franchise. For the first time since 2017, the Broncos have their own first-round selection which comes in at sixth overall. The WHL conducted a three-tiered lottery to determine the overall order of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, and the Broncos had mixed results.

Their own first-round pick dropped from 3rd overall, where the Broncos finished in the 2020-21 standings, to sixth, the furthest it could drop in the lottery. On the other hand, Portland's first-round pick, acquired by the Broncos in the Joel Hofer trade in January of 2019, jumped all the way from 14th overall to seventh, the highest it could rise in the lottery.

With that, for the first time in the history of the franchise, the Broncos will select twice inside the top 10 of the WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday. A full list of the selections the Broncos hold in the 2021 Draft are as follows:

Round Overall

1 6, 7

2 25, 45*

3 48

4 70

5 94**

9 180

10 202

11 224

12 246

13 268

14 290

*Compensation pick for 2019 first-round pick Tyson Jugnauth not signing.

**Acquired from Moose Jaw on January 11, 2019 in exchange for Alec Zawatsky.

The following draft picks were traded by the Broncos in previous deals.

Fifth Round

92nd overall. This pick was traded to the Regina Pats in exchange for defenceman Daylan Weigel (Feb 18, 2021).

Sixth Round

114th overall. This pick was traded to the Brandon Wheat Kings in exchange for forward Bode Hagan (Jan 10, 2020).

Seventh Round

136th overall. This pick was traded to the Portland Winterhawks in exchange for goaltender Isaiah DiLaura (Jan 9, 2020).

Eighth Round

158th overall. This pick was traded to the Everett Silvertips along with Artyom Minulin for defenceman Alex Moar (Oct 31, 2018).

2020 Draft Review

The 2020 WHL Prospects Draft was conducted on April 23, 2020 and the Broncos selected 11 2005-born skaters. Below is a list of players and their stats to date during the 2021-22 season.

21st Overall - Brady Birnie

The Broncos acquired a first-round pick in the 2020 Prospects Draft at the trade deadline in January, sending Ethan Regnier and Kasper Puutio to the Everett Silvertips in exchange for this pick, a 2022 second-round pick, defenceman Parker Hendren and forward Martin-Fasko Rudas. Birnie was drafted out of the Regina Monarchs U15 team where he posted a staggering 128 points in 31 games. Birnie's 72 assists were first in the SAAHL U15 league while his 56 goals were fourth, and 128 points second.

Season Team GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Swift Current Broncos 24 4 4 8 4

42nd Overall - Rylan Gould

This pick was acquired by the Broncos in August of 2018 in the trade that saw the Broncos move Jacson Alexander to the Edmonton Oil Kings. Swift Current also received forward Matthew Culling, defenceman Chase Lacombe and a 2019 fourth-round pick (Ty Hurley) in the deal. Gould was the captain of the Winnipeg Monarchs U15 team during the 2019-20 season, and scored 32 goals with 86 points to help his team reach the City Finals. Gould's production continued into the playoffs where he scored 20 points in 10 games.

Season Team GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Swift Current Broncos 24 3 3 6 17

44th Overall - Grayson Burzynski

This pick was acquired by the Broncos in the Joel Hofer trade that saw the Broncos also acquire a 2019 1st (Mathew Ward), a 2019 3rd (Sam Court), a 2020 4th (Van Eger), a 2020 5th (Joey Rocha) and a 2021 1st (7th overall). Burzynski was teammates with Gould with the Winnipeg Monarchs U15 team, and lead the WAAA U15 in scoring by a defenceman with 19 goals and 39 assists. He scored his first WHL goal in the Broncos most recent game in Prince Albert on Tuesday.

Season Team GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Swift Current Broncos 16 1 0 1 8

60th Overall - Liam Saxberg

This pick was acquired by the Broncos in the trade that saw Ben King moved to the Red Deer Rebels. Saxberg finished fourth in WAAA U15 scoring amongst defenceman in 2019-20 with 19 goals and 28 assists. This season Saxberg is suiting up for the Winnipeg Bruins U18 team. He has signed his WHL Standard Player Agreement.

Season Team GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Winnipeg Bruins (MU18HL) 18 2 6 8 62

67th Overall - Nolan Stevenson

With their own fourth-round pick, the Broncos looked just down the highway to Shaunavon as they drafted defenceman Nolan Stevenson 67th overall. Stevenson spent his draft year with the Notre Dame Hounds U15 team, scoring six goals and 21 points in 30 games. Stevenson is now playing for the Regina Pat Canadians in the SMAAAHL. His father, Travis, played for the Broncos during the 1994-95 season.

Season Team GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Regina Pat Canadians (SMAAAHL) 18 1 9 10 4

68th Overall - Tyson Yaremko

With the very next pick, the Broncos selected forward Tyson Yaremko 68th overall. Swift Current had previously acquired this pick on January 10, 2019 from Moose Jaw in exchange for Alec Zawatsky. Yaremko had a strong draft year with 39 goals and 37 assists in 31 games with the Saskatoon Stallions U15 team. Yaremko is now playing for the Saskatoon Blazers U18 team, and is leading the team in goals with 16, to go along with six assists in 20 games. His 16 goals is fourth in the SMAAAHL.

Season Team GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Saskatoon Blazers (SMAAAHL) 20 16 6 22 42

88th Overall - Van Eger

This pick was acquired by Swift Current in the Joel Hofer trade. Eger was teammates with Nolan Stevenson in the 2019-20 season, and Eger served as the Notre Dame Hounds U15 team's captain. He scored 18 goals and 18 assists in 30 games that year, and also scored once in four games at the U18 level. Eger is now a full-time member of the Hounds U18 team, and made his WHL debut November 6 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Season Team GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Notre Dame Hounds (SMAAAHL) 23 6 9 15 16

109th Overall - Joey Rocha

This pick was also acquired by the Broncos in the Joel Hofer trade. Swift Current looked to British Columbia for just one pick in the 2020 draft, selecting goaltender Joey Rocha 109th overall. The Nanaimo native played for the North Island Silvertips U15 team in 2019-20, posting an 8-7-0 record with a 3.35 goals-against average. He is now teammates with Van Eger at Notre Dame and has signed his WHL Standard Player Agreement.

Season Team GP Rec. Save % GAA SO

2021-22 Notre Dame Hounds (SMAAAHL) 14 9-4-0 .882 2.41 2

133rd Overall - Joey Lies

Swift Current went North with their seventh-round selection, taking Flin Flon, Manitoba native Joey Lies with the 133rd overall pick. Lies played for the Norman Wolves U15 AAA team who struggled to a 3-32-1 record in 2019-20. As a team the Wolves scored just 78 goals and Lies had 25 goals and 42 points, making him responsible for 53.8 per cent of their offence. He now plays for the Rink Hockey Academy U18 team, while his older brother Justin plays for the Vancouver Giants.

Season Team GP G A P PIM

2021-22 Rink Hockey Academy (CSSHL U18) 21 6 11 17 12

199th Overall - Brandon Funk

With their last pick in the draft, the Broncos selected forward Brandon Funk from the Winnipeg Sharks U15. In 2019-20, Funk scored 18 goals with 20 assists in 36 games. He is currently playing for the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Season Team GP G A P PIM

2021-22 Portage Terriers (MJHL) 20 5 2 7 12

Check out the Swift Current Broncos Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2021


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