WHL Vancouver Giants

Giants Select D-Man Mazden Leslie 10th Overall in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft

Published on April 22, 2020 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Vancouver, B.C. - With the 10th overall pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, the Vancouver Giants are thrilled to select 2005-born defenceman Mazden Leslie (Lloydminster, AB).

Leslie, a right-handed shot, checks in at 6'0" and 160 pounds. In 2019-20 he played Midget AAA as an under-ager with the AMHL's Lloydminster Bobcats. In 32 games he supplied five goals along with seven assists for 12 points along with 70 penalty minutes. He added three assists in five playoff games.

A year prior, as a first-year bantam player, Leslie scored 23 goals and added 27 assists for 50 points in 33 games with the Bobcats Bantam AAA program. In four playoff games he scored four goals and added five assists for nine points along with 16 penalty minutes. He led the AMBHL in points by a defenceman, captured AMHL Rookie of the Year honours and was voted the league's top defenceman. His older brother Jantzen Leslie is a WHL alumnus who played with Everett, Saskatoon and Edmonton.

"Mazden Leslie is a big, smooth skating defenceman. He can skate the puck well, he's got a hard shot, a quick release and strong vision. He's the most physical defenceman off the board so far," said Zach Hodder, the WHL's Manager, Player Development moments after the Giants had selected him 10th overall.

Leslie is the sixth ever defenceman selected by the Giants in Round 1 of the WHL Bantam Draft, and the first defenceman picked in Round 1 since Bowen Byram went third overall to the Giants in 2016.

The Vancouver Giants next scheduled selection is the 32nd overall pick in Round #2.

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