WHL Tri-City Americans

Ams Select Broda With First Pick

Published on April 29, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


Kennewick, WA – The Tri-City Americans today have selected 6'0", 180 pound center Joel Broda of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan ninth overall in the 14th annual WHL Bantam Draft in Calgary, Alberta featuring players with 1989 birth dates.

Broda, who turns 15 on November 24th was captain of the AAA Midget Prince Albert Mintos where he tallied 55 goals, 161 points in 55 games this season.

"He is an extremely exciting player that is very skilled," said Americans director of player personnel Darrell May. "He's a great skater with good hands and excellent leadership capabilities."

Broda will be invited to attend training camp along with all draftees from August 26-29th to be held in the Tri-Cities Coliseum in Kennewick, Washington.

The Americans used their second pick (22nd overall) to select 15-year-old left wing Colton Grant of Standard, Alberta. The 5'10", 165 pounder played for the Airdrie Xtreme and had 49 goals, 96 points in 37 games. "Probably one of the most exciting players in the draft with great speed and hands and was a leader," said May.

The Americans had dealt their third and fourth round draft picks in trades in 2002 with the Seattle Thunderbirds and Brandon Wheat Kings and wouldn't select again until the fifth round when they took Jarrett Toll (83rd overall) with a selection obtained from Saskatoon. Toll is a 6'1", 150 pound defenseman from Maple Ridge, B.C.. Played for the Ridge Meadows Bantam AAA team. "He's a really good athlete who competes hard and is very physical," said May. The club would select 89th overall would take goaltender Chet Pickard of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Pickard, who turns 15 on November 29th is 6'1", 170 pounds played for the Winnipeg Monarchs Bantam AAA club. "He's a big goaltender who challenges shooters. In my mind he was one of the top three goaltenders in the draft," said May.

Tri-City had three selections on the sixth round, taking defenseman 6'1", 165 pound Chris Jungwirth of Cudworth, Saskatchewan. Jungwirth played for the Naicam Vikings with the 109th selection. He had 15 assists in 20 league games. "Big, strong defenseman who moves the puck well and is a presence on the ice. He was a leader on his team which won the bantam championship," said May. Three picks later, the club would then take right winger Nathan Arnott of North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Arnott is 6'1", 170. In 20 league games, he had 13 goals, 47 points for North Battleford Bantam AAA. "We were very surprised he was still available. He's a strong skater, a power forward with a good shot," said May. The team made its final sixth round choice, selecting 5'11", 165 pound center Lucas Bloodoff of Castlegar, B.C. "he's a hard nose player, strong skater with a good scoring touch," said May.

The club did not make a seventh round pick having earlier dealt the choice in 2003 to the Prince George Cougars in exchange for Dan Ehrman.

In the eighth round, the Americans used the 149th pick overall to select center Jeff Houghton of Sherwood Park, Alberta. The 6'1", 170 pounder played in 39 games and had 13 goals, 33 points, and played defense as well due to injuries on his Sherwood Park bantam AAA team. "He's a big, strong forward with good hands and deceptive speed and has the ability to make other players on the ice better," said May.

Tri-City would then take right wing Cam Hopkins of Edmonton, Alberta on the ninth round (169th overall). Hopkins is 6'1', 170 and played for the Edmonton Knights of Columbus. In 37 games he had three goals, 16 points. "He's a big, strong forward who likes to bang and crash and work the corner well. He's a physical presence on the ice," said May.

The Americans would close out the draft by selecting defenseman Damon Kipp of Salmon Arm, B.C. in the 10th round (189th overall). Kipp is 16 and is eligible to play immediately and is attending the B.C. under-17 tryouts. "He's a very skilled defenseman who is a very good skater and has the ability to quarterback the power play," said May.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2004


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