WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Select 10 Players in WHL Bantam Draft

Published on May 4, 2006 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


The Spokane Chiefs selected 10 players in the first eight rounds of today's WHL Bantam Draft, including the first overall selection, 6'5" defenseman Jared Cowen. The Saskatoon, SK native was the Chiefs first ever number one selection and the first defenseman taken by Spokane in the first round in the 17 year history of the Bantam Draft.

"For our scouting staff Jared separated himself from the rest of the players as the definite first overall pick in this draft," Chiefs General Manager Tim Speltz said.

"Overall, we're excited the way things went today," Chiefs Director of Player Personnel Chris Moulton said. "We identified these players early and are happy with everyone we drafted. We addressed some areas, including adding players with size up front, and selected some players with character and grit."

After Cowen's selection, Spokane nabbed forward Burke Gallimore, the co-MVP of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League, with their second round selection. The Edmonton, Alberta native finished second in the league in scoring with 57 goals and 108 points in 34 games.

"Gallimore is a gifted offensive player," Moulton said. "He was definitely one of the best playmakers in the draft. At the end of the day, Gallimore will be a player that will put points on the board."

The Chiefs took two more forwards, Justin Bertow (44th overall) and David Conrad (57th overall), with a pair of third round picks. Bertow finished the regular season with the Bantam AA Saskatoon Frostbite with 20 goals, 48 points and 187 penalty minutes with 50 games.

"Bertow is the guy that every team hates to play against, but loves having on their team," Moulton said. "He is a player that works hard, will finish his checks, but has a good amount of skill. He will be a player that the fans and opposition know is on the ice."

Conrad, whose pick was acquired from the Saskatoon Blades as a part of a six player, two pick trade deadline deal, had 26 goals and 46 points in 30 games with the Bantam AAA Winnipeg Sharks.

Moulton said, "Our first three forwards are players that can compliment each other. Conrad has the knack of being in the right place at the right time and is able to score, Gallimore will make plays and Bertow will do the dirty work to get the puck."

The Chiefs had four of the top 57 picks in the draft, and five selections in the first 65 after taking Cory Baldwin, a 6'1" defenseman, in the fourth round. Like Conrad, Baldwin is from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Another defenseman, one of five taken on the day, Garrett Leedhahl, a 5'10" Saskatoon product, was taken with the first of two sixth round picks. St. Albert, Alberta's Stephen Wall, a 6'0" center was selected with the 119th overall choice.

Graeme Strukoff, a defenseman from Chilliwack, BC, and Brandon Krupa, a 5'11" center from Victoria, BC, were taken in the seventh round. The Chiefs rounded out the draft with the selection of Colin McKay, a 6'0" defenseman from Calgary, Alberta in the eighth round.

RD PICK NAME POS HT WT DOB HOMETOWN TEAM

1 1 Jared Cowen D 6'5" 190 1/25/91 Saskatoon, SK Saskatoon Contacts (Midget AAA)

2 23 Burke Gallimore RW 5'11" 170 1/8/91 Edmonton, AB Edmonton Canadian Athletic Club

3 44 Justin Bertow RW 6'1" 160 4/18/91 Saskatoon, SK Saskatoon Frostbite

3 57 David Conrad LW 6'0" 165 1/7/91 Winnipeg, MB Winnipeg Sharks

4 65 Cory Baldwin D 6'1" 175 2/5/91 Winnipeg, MB Winnipeg Hawks

6 107 Garrett Leedahl D 5'10" 150 6/15/91 Saskatoon, SK Saskatoon Stallions

6 119 Stephen Wall C 6'0" 160 5/31/91 St. Albert, AB St. Albert Bantam

7 128 Graeme Strukoff D 5'9" 160 3/30/91 Chilliwack, BC Chilliwack Bantam AAA

7 142 Brandon Krupa C 5'11" 150 5/28/91 Victoria, BC Juan De Fuca Bantam AAA

8 149 Colin McKay D 6'0" 165 4/18/91 Calgary, AB Calgary Royal Bantam AAA

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from May 4, 2006


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