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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Keep It in the Family, Take Toporowski in Bantam Draft

May 5, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs selected forward Luke Toporowski with the eighth overall pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft on Thursday morning in Calgary. Toporowski, the first American-born player taken in the 2016 draft, is the younger brother of current Chief Jake Toporowski and son of former Chief Kerry Toporowski.

A 5-foot-10, 163-pound left wing from Bettendorf, Iowa, Toporowski played the 2015-16 regular season with the Chicago Mission Bantam Major AAA of the High Performance Bantam Hockey League. He scored 22 goals and 11 assists in 20 games, earning Top Scorer honors. He was also the top scorer at the 2015-16 Pat Quinn Classic Bantam Elite Tournament.

"We were very excited to pick Luke with the eighth pick of the draft," said Chris Moulton, Spokane Chiefs' Director of Player Personnel. "He is a very skilled forward who we expect to be an impact player in the Western Hockey League."

In his WHL Prospect Profile interview earlier this week, Toporowski said that he tried to emulate NHL great and future Hall of Fame forward Alex Ovechkin. "He's a great skilled power forward," Toporowski noted. "I try to model my game after his."

"Luke is a player who generates scoring chances for his team with his speed," continued Moulton. "He impressed our staff with how he wants the puck and puts himself in a good position to receive it.

"He has a good hockey sense to find open ice and uses that to set up his teammates. We're very excited to have Luke join our group."

Results of the Chiefs' 2016 WHL Bantam Draft will continue to be updated at www.spokanechiefs.com. Fans can follow live results of the entire draft at www.whl.ca.

CHIEFS' 2016 WHL BANTAM DRAFT SELECTIONS*

- 1st Round (8th Overall) - Luke Toporowski, F - Bettendorf, IA

- 2nd (29th)

- 2nd (38th) [acquired via trade from Red Deer]

- 3rd (51st)

- 5th (95th)

- 6th (126th) [acquired via trade from Red Deer]

- 7th (139th)

- 8th (159th) [acquired via trade from Medicine Hat]

- 8th (161st)

- 10th (205th)

- 11th (227th)

- 11th (240th) [acquired via trade from Brandon]

- 12th (249th)

*The WHL Bantam Draft continues indefinitely until all 22 member clubs choose to "pass" on their available selection.

Players eligible for the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft include 2001-born players who reside in the following provinces or states: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Players not selected in the Bantam Draft are then eligible to be listed by WHL clubs, with many being added to WHL Club Protected Player Lists as spots become available.

Ticket packages for the 2016-17 regular season are already on sale! With packages starting as low as $110, there's a plan for any budget. Visit the Chiefs' Ticket Office in person at the southeast corner of Spokane Arena or call 509-535-PUCK for more information.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from May 5, 2016


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.

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