Hitmen Select 11 Players in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft
May 5, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
Calgary, AB - The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club selected 11 players including five forwards, five defencemen and one goaltender in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft held today at Hotel Arts in Calgary.
The Hitmen drafted defenceman Jackson Van de Leest with their first pick, 16th overall. The Kelowna, BC product was the recipient of the 2016 Canadian Sport School Hockey League Bantam Prep Top Defenceman Award while skating with Yale Hockey Academy. The 6-5, 190-pound rearguard tallied 10 points (2g, 8a) in 23 games.
"We are very excited with our 2016 draft class and would like to welcome them to the organization," said Hitmen Director of Player Personnel Dan Bonar. "They are all very good players with several strong traits that we believe will make our team stronger as we move forward. We look forward to seeing them at training camp this fall."
2016 CALGARY HITMEN DRAFT BOARD
RND PICK NOTES
1 16 Jackson Van de Leest, D, Yale Hockey Academy (10pts in 23 games)
2 38 Bryce Bader, RW, Sherwood Park Flyers Bantam AAA (69pts in 36 games)
2 44 Cael Zimmerman, LW/C, Humboldt Broncos Bantam AA (78pts in 27 games)
3 60 Hunter Campbell, RW/C, Los Angeles Jr. Kings (19pts in 21 games)
5 90 Jackson Niedermayer, LW, Anaheim Jr. Ducks (23pts in 21games)
6 123 Jackson Rider, D, Red Deer Rebels Bantam AAA (6pts in 34 games)
7 144 Juliano Santalucia, D, Burnaby Winter Club AAA (Stats NA)
7 148 Keiran Schioler, D, Winnipeg Hawks Bantam AAA (18pts in 34 games)
9 192 Alex Rolfe, G, Yale Hockey Academy Bantam Prep (2.71 GAA .896 SV%)
10 199 Luke Robinson, D, San Jose Jr. Sharks (8pts in 32 games)
10 214 Connor Brock, LW, Calgary Flames Bantam AAA (27pts in 36 games)
More than 85 former Hitmen bantam picks have gone on to play for the franchise including the following: Mark Kastelic (2014), Beck Malenstyn (2013), Jordy Stallard (2012), Jake Virtanen (2011), Colby Harmsworth (2010), Kenton Helgesen (2009), Cody Sylvester (2007), Matt Mackenzie (2006), Martin Jones (2005), Brett Sonne (2004), Karl Alzner (2003) and Ryan Getzlaf (2000).
Western Hockey League Stories from May 5, 2016
- Giants Draft 11 Players at 2016 Bantam Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Royals Select 11 Players at 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Victoria Royals
- 2016 Bantam Draft Recap - Prince George Cougars
- Silvertips Select Forward Ethan Browne with 14th Overall Selection in 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Everett Silvertips
- Raiders Take 11 in 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
- Portland Winterhawks Complete Bantam Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Add 11 in 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- Hitmen Select 11 Players in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- T-Birds Select Defenseman Jake Lee in First Round - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Toporowski Headlines Spokane's 2016 Class - Spokane Chiefs
- 2016 WHL Bantam Draft Final Results - WHL
- Blazers Select 11 Players in WHL Bantam Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Wheat Kings Choose 11 in Bantam Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- 36 Manitobans Chosen in WHL Bantam Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Cougars Grab Six More Players from Round 5 Onward - Prince George Cougars
- Pats Make Five Selections in Rounds 5-11 - Regina Pats
- Ice Select Ten Players in WHL Bantam Draft - Kootenay Ice
- Red Deer Rebels Make 13 Picks In WHL Bantam Draft - Red Deer Rebels
- Hurricanes Select 12 Players in Bantam Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Recapping Warriors 2016 Bantam Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Royals Acquire Blake Bargar - Victoria Royals
- 2016 WHL Bantam Draft First Round Results - WHL
- Pats Add Two Forwards in Fourth Round - Regina Pats
- Cougars Select Defenceman Jack Michell in Round 3 - Prince George Cougars
- Cougars Select Defenceman Cole Beamin in Round 2 - Prince George Cougars
- Hitmen Select Jackson Van De Leest 16th Overall in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- Pats Select Muir in Second Round - Regina Pats
- Spokane Acquires Sittler from Lethbridge - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Make Deal with Americans - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hurricanes Trade Sittler to Spokane - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Giants Take Blaisdell and Svejkovsky - Vancouver Giants
- Rockets Select Yorkton D with 1st Round WHL Bantam Pick - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors Select Brayden Tracey - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blazers Select Massimo Rizzo 15th Overall - Kamloops Blazers
- Chiefs Keep It in the Family, Take Toporowski in Bantam Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Cougars Select Goaltender Taylor Gauthier 9th Overall - Prince George Cougars
- Giants Acquire 20th Pick; Draft Trent Miner - Vancouver Giants
- Raiders Select Rhett Rhinehart 13th Overall in 2016 WHL Bantam Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
- Wheat Kings Opt for Schneider - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Giants Draft Bowen Byram at Third Overall - Vancouver Giants
- Ice Select Krebs with First Overall Pick - Kootenay Ice
- Giants Make Trade with Saskatoon - Vancouver Giants
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.
