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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

5 Rounds Complete

May 5, 2011 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Calgary, Alberta - The first five rounds of the 2011 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft are in the books and the Brandon Wheat Kings have selected a total of eight players, including two in the opening round for the first time in seventeen years.

The Wheat Kings used their two first round selections to grab blueliner Kord Pankewicz and highly touted netminder Jordan Papirny with the eleventh and 22nd overall picks.

A 5'10" 169 lb Drayton Valley product, Pankewicz scored 22 goals and 69 points in 33 games with the Leduc Bantams this past season.

"He's a real good player...tremendous poise...has a big shot who controls the game from the defence position," says Brandon Wheat Kings' general manager and head coach Kelly McCrimmon.

Pankewicz, who happens to be a cousin of former Regina Pat and Manitoba Moose forward Greg Pankewicz, has played some forward but McCrimmon sees him as a defenceman.

Meanwhile Papirny was thought to be the best goaltender available in Thursday's draft. A 5'10" 140 lb Edmonton product, McCrimmon says the Wheat Kings didn't hesitate in making him the first ever netminder to be chosen in round one in franchise history.

"We really stepped up to take a goalkeeper but we felt strongly about this player. Because we had the luxury of having two first round picks and since we believe that he was the best goalkeeper available we're happy to add him."

Papirny compiled an impressive 14-2-2 record, a goals against average of 1.81 and a .918 save percentage with the Edmonton SSAC Bantam Lions this past year.

In round two, Brandon chose Roblin's Jayce Hawryluk. A member of the Russell Bantam Rams in 2010-11, Hawryluk scored 138 goals and 264 points in 54 games this past winter.

Round three saw the Wheat Kings return to Edmonton and the Lions, choosing 6' 190 lb left-winger John Quenneville. In 33 games this season, he scored 35 goals and 75 points.

With their only pick of the fourth round, the Wheat Kings looked to the Winnipeg Hawks and 6' 160 lb center Dallas Starodub.

The Wheat Kings had a total of three picks in the fifth round and used them to select local product Brett Kitt (94th), center Ryley Lindgren from East St. Paul Manitoba (96th) and defenceman Riley Van Horne of Calgary (99th).

Brandon's second first round pick this season was one of the key pieces that the Wheat Kings acquired from the Blades in January's deal that saw former captain Brayden Schenn go to Saskatoon.

The Calgary Hitmen used the first overall selection to take right-winger Jake Virtanen of Abbotsford B.C., a 5'11" 165 lb product of Abbotsford, B.C. The Swift Current Broncos had the second pick and opted for defenceman Brycen Martin of Calgary. With their first of two first round picks, Lethbridge selected Warman, Saskatchewan blueliner Ryan Pilon.

The top Manitoban chosen was Wawanesa's Jordan Thomson, who went fourth overall to the Kamloops Blazers. Thomson is a 5'11" 165 lb blueliner who spent this past season with the Southwest AAA Midget Cougars.

The WHL Bantam Draft continues throughout the day in Calgary. For up to date selections, click on WHL News at www.wheatkings.com.

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