WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Add 10 Players in 2015 WHL Bantam Draft

Published on May 7, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


EDMONTON, ALTA. - The Edmonton Oil Kings found some big ones in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft.?

The Oil Kings added 10 players to the future on Thursday -- including six forwards, three defenceman and one goaltender - who averaged six feet tall and 168 pounds. Five of the players selected were from Northern Alberta.

"It just happened that way. Size is something like the old cliché that you can't teach it, and it just happened this year that we managed to get some players with size and we're real happy about that," said Oil Kings director of scouting Jamie Novakoski. "They're not only big, but they bring something to the table besides that."

The Oil Kings started the afternoon big, selecting 6-foot-2 defencemen with their first two picks of the draft.

Edmonton took blueliner Ethan Cap with the 11th overall selection. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound product of North Vancouver, B.C. posted 53 points in 73 games with the Northshore Winter Club this season, and projects as a versatile, two-way defenceman.

"Really, there's not a lot to not like. We think he plays a two-way game, plays hard and is going to play against teams' top lines," said Oil Kings director of scouting Jamie Novakoski. "One thing that came into play for us was where he was at the start of the season to where he finished up. He's going to be a top-four defenceman that's going to be hard to play against for many years, so we're very happy to have him."

The Oil Kings followed that up by taking St. Albert native Jayden Platz in the second round with the 32nd overall pick. Platz clocks in at 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds, and had 15 points in 23 games with the Bantam AAA Sabres last season.

"He's another good sized D-man. We did our homework on him: he's supposed to be a great kid and a great leader," Novakoski said. "He's another defenceman who can chip in offensively but his game is going to be more suited to playing hard and physical and trying to shut down the other team's top guys."

In the third round, the Oil Kings added Ft. Saskatchewan sniper Jude Butler. Butler (5-foot-11, 191 pounds) had 52 goals and 80 points in 33 games for the Rangers this season.

"He's a decent sized kid who brings some scoring to the table as well. He's one of those kids who doesn't need a lot of time and space to get the shot off and it's usually in the back of the net," Novakoski said.

"I think it was a good mix of guys who play hard and take care of their own end, but also some guys with some offensive upside."

With the 75th overall pick in the fourth round, Edmonton selected goaltender Lance Alm from Rockhaven, Sask. The 6-foot, 185-pound netminder posted a 6-9-0 record over 16 games with the Battlefords, putting up a 3.77 goals-against average.

In the fifth round, the Oil Kings selected Vancouver centre Scott Atkinson. The Vancouver T-Birds product measures in at 5-foot-11 and 150 pounds.

The Oil Kings originally didn't have a sixth round selection after dealing it to Everett for Reid Petryk last season, but swung a deal to send their 2017 sixth rounder to Tri-City for the 114th overall selection, taking centre Nick Bowman from Sherwood Park. Bowman put up 33 points in 31 games for the Bantam AAA Flyers.

"We were really happy to get Bowman. We thought he was a good value at that spot," said Novakoski, explaining that the Oil Kings acquired the sixth round pick because Bowman was still on the board.

In the seventh round, the Oil Kings took another defenceman, selecting 6-foot-1, 145-pound Wyatt McLeod from Dawson Creek, B.C.

The Oil Kings drafted another local boy in the eight round, selecting Edmonton native and Canadian Athletic Club product David Kope, a right wing. Kope (6-foot-1, 139 pounds) had 38 points in 33 games for CAC this season.

In the ninth round, the Oil Kings selected right wing Logan Moon from Beaverlodge, Alta. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Moon put up 28 points in 33 games with the Grande Prairie Storm Bantam AAA team this season.

The Oil Kings closed out their draft by taking Winnipeg forward Benjamin Coppinger, who posted 31 goals and 53 points in 32 games this season for the Winnipeg Warriors, with the 208th pick in the 10th round.

1st Round 11th Overall   Ethan Cap D North Vancouver, B.C. 6-2 195

2nd Round 32nd Overall Jayden Platz   D St. Albert, Alta. 6-2 183

3rd Round 54th Overall Jude Butler F Ft. Saskatchewan, Alta. 5-11 191

4th Round 75th Overall Lance Alm G Rockhaven, Sask. 6-0 185

5th Round 98th Overall Scott Atkinson C Vancouver, B.C. 5-11 150

6th Round 114th Overall Nick Bowman C Sherwood Park, Alta. 5-9 168

7th Round 142nd Overall Wyatt McLeod D Dawson Creek, B.C. 6-1 145

8th Round 164th Overall David Kope RW Edmonton, Alta. 6-0 139

9th Round 186th Overall Logan Moon RW Beaverlodge, Alta. 6-3 175

10th Round 208th Overall Benjamin Coppinger F Winnipeg, MB 5-7 148

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