36 Manitobans Chosen At Bantam Draft

May 1, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release

Calgary, Alberta - A total of thirty-six Manitobans including twelve from western Manitoba heard their names called Thursday during the Western Hockey League's annual Bantam Draft in Calgary.

As expected, former Winnipeg Bantam Monarch scoring star Michael St. Croix was the top Manitoban chosen, going fourth overall to the Edmonton Oil Kings. The son of former Philadelphia Flyer goalkeeper Rick St. Croix was the only Manitoba player to go in the opening round and one of only two to be chosen through the first two rounds.

In the second round, the Kelowna Rockets opted for Winnipeg center Zachery Franko with the 32nd overall selection.

The Brandon Wheat Kings took a total of five players from Manitoba - four from western Manitoba. After choosing Jens Meilleur of Elie in the seventh round (145th overall), the Wheat Kings took Brandon defenceman Josh Elmes in the eighth (167th), center Austin Lewis in the ninth (189th), Souris blueliner Tanner Butler in the tenth round (211th) and Brandon's Derek Sobkow in the eleventh (233rd overall).

Rounding out the list of Manitobans chosen Thursday - Winnipeg's Ryan Dech and Sean Collins went to Edmonton and Medicine Hat in the third round - 56th and 60th respectively.

In round four, Lac du Bonnet's Brent Wold was drafted by Chilliwack (73rd) and Graham McBain of Winnipeg was taken by Saskatoon (77th overall).

Four Manitobans were chosen in the fifth round - Winnipeg's Matthew Franczyk went to Moose Jaw (89th), Colin Mospanchuk of Winnipeg was chosen by the Medicine Hat Tigers (93rd), Saskatoon opted for Sanford goalkeeper Tyler Oswald (96th) and Winnipeg's Shane Gingera was chosen by the Calgary Hitmen (107th overall).

Manitobas dominated the sixth round with eight players called including Virden right-winger Kole Harvey. The former bantam Oil King went to the Everett Silvertips with the 112th overall selection, becoming the top western Manitoba product to be chosen. Three others from westman were taken in round six - Russell's Derek Falloon went to Chilliwack (117th), Brandon's Joel Edmundson was drafted by Moose Jaw (121st) while Chad Robinson of Minnedosa went to Red Deer (131st).

Four Winnipeggers were also taken in round six - Channing Bresciani (Red Deer, 118th), Kaleb Ross (Moose Jaw, 119th), Jory Jastrzebski (Portland, 123rd) and Cory Nygaard (Regina, 127th).

The seventh round saw Everett take Swan River's Evan Morden (141st), Spokane select Brenden Edie of Springfield (142nd) and Winnipeg's Matthew Lorange (153rd).

In the eighth round, Kamloops took Virden's Mitch Vanteeling (160th), Swift Current drafted Winnipeg's Michael Lazo (166th), Tri-City opted for Winnipeg's Brett Pile (172nd) and Brendyn Illchuk (176th) while Chilliwack took Curtis Houlden of Winnipeg (173rd).

Red Deer drafted Colton Robak, the younger brother to Brandon's Colby with the second pick of the ninth round (178th) while the Silvertips selected Winnipeg's Matthew Lumsden (185th).

In the final three rounds, Saskatoon took Winnipeg's Adam Iwan (206th) in the tenth, Everett drafted Virden bantam Oil Kings' defenceman Keifer Johnston with the 229th overall selection and Winnipeg's Kevin Shek was chosen by Calgary in round twelve (261st).

The Red Deer Rebels, who won last month's draft lottery, used the first selection overall to choose Burnaby center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Portland was next and opted for Airdrie, Alberta right-winger Ty Rattie.

The Saskatoon Blades had two picks in the top six and used them to select Edmonton defenceman Duncan Siemens third overall and Weyburn center Brent Benson with the sixth overall selection.

Rounding out the top five, the Prince Albert Raiders selected Edmonton right-winger Mark McNeill.

For a complete list of players chosen in this year's 12-round draft, visit www.whl.ca

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