WHL Portland Winterhawks

Portland Winterhawks Complete Bantam Draft

Published on May 5, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Western Hockey League held its annual Bantam Draft today, and the Winterhawks made 10 selections in the Draft.

"We're very happy with our results in today's Bantam Draft," said Portland Winterhawks Assistant General Manager Matt Bardsley. "Our scouts do a tremendous job of not only evaluating the player but also researching their character. Based off of our reports we are excited with the group of players we have selected and look forward to seeing them at training camp in August."

The team's first pick of the Bantam Draft was in the third round, where they selected center Reece Newkirk. He spent last season with the Notre Dame Hounds Bantam AAA team in the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League, registering 18 goals and 35 assists for 53 points in 37 games.

Portland had two picks in the fourth round, the first of whom was defenseman Jason Chu from British Columbia. He was followed by defenseman Kade Nolan, who was a teammate of Newkirk on the Notre Dame Hounds. Nolan had two goals and 24 assists for 26 points in 38 games with the Hounds.

In the fifth round the Winterhawks selected Evan Fradette from the St. Albert Sabres Bantam AAA team in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League. Fradette was 12-2-4 in net with five shutouts, a goals against average of 1.81 and .925 save percentage.

Portland didn't have a pick in the sixth round, and opened the seventh round by selecting forward Connor Bowie from British Columbia. The team's second pick of the seventh round was goalie Callan Sandquist, who posted a goals against average of 1.40 and a .931 save percentage for the Colorado Thunderbirds Bantam AAA team in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.

In the eighth round the Hawks drafted center Jaydon Dureau, who played on the same Notre Dame Hounds team as Newkirk and Nolan. Last season Dureau had 12 goals and 25 assists for 37 points in 38 games. He was followed in the ninth round by forward Kishaun Gervais, who posted 26 goals and 27 assists for 53 points in 30 games with the Yorkton Terriers Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League.

The Hawks went on to select forward Judd Caulfield in the 10th round. He registered 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points in 27 games last season with Grand Forks Central High School in North Dakota. Portland then selected forward Holden Kodak in the 11th round. Kodak had nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 25 games with the Yale Hockey Academy Bantam Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.

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