Edmonton Oil Kings Add Some Young Talent To The Roster

May 1, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release

Calgary, AB - The 2008 WHL Bantam Draft is currently underway in Calgary. The newest member of the Edmonton Oil Kings is Michael St. Croix from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Oil Kings Assistant General Manager Randy Hansch made the announcement this morning with the 4th overall selection in the draft.

St. Croix is a 5'10" , 150 pound centreman who played Bantam AAA for the Winnipeg Monarchs where he racked up 51 goals and 45 assists for 96 points in just 25 regular season games and excelled in tournament play and playoffs with another 30 goals and 19 assists in just 16 games.

"Michael is a gifted offensive player with really good hockey sense." according to Oil Kings General Manager Bob Green. "He's not just a goal scorer, he's a playmaker too and brings some grit to his game. We're really excited to make him a part of our team."

The Red Deer Rebels had the first overall selection and chose Ryan Nugent-Hopkins from the Burnaby Winter Club.

The first Albertan to go in the draft was Ty Rattie from Airdrie. The Portland Winter Hawks nabbed him with the second pick of the morning.

Sherwood Park's Duncan Siemens is now a Saskatoon Blade. The Blades had the third overall pick thanks to an earlier trade with the Prince George Cougars.

Other Edmonton area kids to go in the top 10 inlcude Mark McNeill from the Southside Athletic Club (Prince Albert 5th), Colin Smith of the Canadien Athletic Club (Kamloops - 8th) and Klark Wilson of the K of C Pats (Everett - 10th).

"It was definitely a strong area this year and that says a lot about the hockey programs in and around our city." said Oil Kings Assistant General Manager Randy Hansch. "It kind of goes in cycles and you get a strong concentration of kids in certain areas from year to year. The Edmonton area stole the show today in the first round."

Another Sherwood Park player with a bit of an Oil Kings connection also went in the first round. Reece Scarlett, son of Oil Kings billet coordinator Cheryl Scarlett, was the 12th overall selection by the Swift Current Broncos.

The Sherwood Park Kings were well represented in the first round. Dylan Busenius was chosen by the Medicine Hat Tigers with the 16th pick and Mitch Holmberg was chosen by the Spokane Chiefs 21st overall.

Brendan Hurley of the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers was picked 15th overall by the Kootenay Ice to bring the total of Edmonton area kids to an outstanding 8 out of the top 22 picks!

Check out www.oilkings.ca for all the latest coverage of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft.

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Western Hockey League Stories from May 1, 2008

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• Juha Metsola named ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week - WHL
• Pats Select Baskerville With First 8th Round Pick - Regina Pats
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• Broncos Select Scarlett in 1st Round - Swift Current Broncos
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• Giants Select Lower Mainland Defenceman - Vancouver Giants
• Edmonton Oil Kings Add Some Young Talent To The Roster - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Bruins Select Topping in WHL Bantam Draft - Chilliwack Bruins
• Ice Select Forward in First Round - Kootenay Ice
• Blazers Select Colin Smith 7th Overall - Kamloops Blazers
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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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