Raiders Draft 11, Add A 2009 Draft Pick And Veteran Goaltender At 2008 WHL Bantam Draft
May 1, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Calgary, Alberta - The Prince Albert Raiders have selected 11 players in the 2008 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, then added a goaltender with WHL experience. The Raiders concluded the day by adding 19 year-old netminder Garret Zemlak after he was dropped by the Saskatoon Blades.
With the Raiders first round pick, they opted for centre Mark McNeill of Edmonton who impressed this past weekend at the Alberta Cup where he scored 9 goals and 3 assists in 5 games.
"We think it was a very successful day!" commented General Manager and Head Coach Bruno Campese, who completed his first WHL draft at the Round Up Centre in Calgary. "We are very pleased with our picks as we accomplished our goal of getting a balance of skill, size and character. As well we picked up an additional third round pick next year (from Everett in a deal to swap second round picks this year) and a goaltender (Zemlak) who has WHL experience."
Campese also is very pleased with the selection of McNeill in the first round: "We are excited to get Mark McNeill. He is a very smart, deceptive hockey player. He has the ability to make plays and score goals."
Raiders Head Scout Dave O'Brien comments on other picks today:
On Harrison Ruopp: "He is a big defenseman who skates well. He has poise and confidence and handles the puck with ease. We believe he was the most improved bantam player in Saskatchewan this year."
On Beau Stewart: "He can fly! His speed is tremendous, he has good hands and we look forward to him becoming bigger and stronger."
On Brandon Formosa: "Brandon is a well rounded player with great hands. He scored a bunch of goals with Mission this year and is gifted offensively."
On Brock Balson: "This left winger skates very well, plays hard and is tough!"
On Eric Williams: "He is a very sound technical goaltender. There were three goaltenders we were looking to take in the top of the draft and we're delighted he was available."
On Austin Frank: "Austin is a big kid that skates well. When he is on the ice he demands respect from his opponents."
On Matt Waseylenko: "He will compliment Austin Frank as a good solid stay at home defenceman that skates well and is rugged."
On Brody Robinson: "Brody is a difficult player to play against, loves to bang the body and has a good shot."
On Brendan Persley: "He is a solid two way player. He reminds the scouting staff of a younger Bryce Lamb."
On Thomas Sowa: "He is a big, strong player who shoots very hard and keeps the other team on their toes!"
Western Hockey League Stories from May 1, 2008
- Blazers Make 11 Selections In 2008 Bantam Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Blades Complete Draft Day - Saskatoon Blades
- 36 Manitobans Chosen At Bantam Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Edmonton Oil Kings Pick Up Some Prospects At The Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Chiefs Select Twelve Players in Bantam Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- WHL Championship Finals on Comcast - Spokane Chiefs
- Chiefs Take 12 Players in Bantam Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Character, Speed, and Vision Highlight Bruins Draft Selections - Chilliwack Bruins
- Americans Go Big in 2008 WHL Bantam Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Calgary Bison Peter Kosterman taken in the first round - Calgary Hitmen
- Giants Select Nine Players In Bantam Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Americans Go Big In 2008 WHL Bantam Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Wheat Kings Choose 11 At WHL Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- 2008 WHL Bantam Draft Recap - Regina Pats
- Broncos Complete Draft Day - Swift Current Broncos
- Ice Select 11 Players In The WHL Bantam Draft - Kootenay Ice
- Raiders Draft 11, Add A 2009 Draft Pick And Veteran Goaltender At 2008 WHL Bantam Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
- Red Deer Rebels Make Nine Picks In WHL Bantam Draft - Red Deer Rebels
- Juha Metsola Of The Lethbridge Hurricanes Named ADT CHL Goaltender Of The Week - WHL
- Pats Select Reinboldt In 10th Round - Regina Pats
- Blades Choose Robinson In Eleventh Round - Saskatoon Blades
- T-Birds Take Center With First Pick In Bantam Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Blades Choose Iwan In Tenth Round - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Select Pavkovich In 9th Round - Regina Pats
- Rockets' Bantam Draft Selections - Kelowna Rockets
- Pats Select Crowther In 9th Round - Regina Pats
- Blades Choose Trask In Ninth Round - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Select Sagen With Second 8th Round Pick - Regina Pats
- WHL Bantam Draft continues - WHL
- Juha Metsola named ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week - WHL
- Pats Select Baskerville With First 8th Round Pick - Regina Pats
- Blades Choose Laurent In The Eighth Round - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Select Hildebrandt With 7th Round Pick - Regina Pats
- Blades Choose Kingston In Seventh Round - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Select Goaltender With 6th Round Pick - Regina Pats
- Pats Select Stevenson In 5th Round - Regina Pats
- Blades Choose Oswalt In Fifth Round - Saskatoon Blades
- Blades Choose McBain In Fourth Round - Saskatoon Blades
- Chilliwack Bruins Recognized As Scholastic Team Of The Year - Chilliwack Bruins
- WHL Bantam Draft Continues For Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Raiders Swap Picks With Everett, Pick Two Saskatchewan Products In 2nd Round - Prince Albert Raiders
- Blades Select Thrower And Sutter In Second Round - Saskatoon Blades
- Red Deer Rebels Take Ryan Nugent-Hopkins In First Round - Red Deer Rebels
- Borstmayer Pats 2nd Round Selection - Regina Pats
- Tri-City Takes Defenseman with Top Pick in 2008 Bantam Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Calgary Hitmen Select Peter Kosterman 19th Overall in 2008 WHL Bantam Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- Kelowna Rockets Draft Shayne McColgan - Kelowna Rockets
- Tri-City Takes Defenseman with Top Pick in 2008 Bantam Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Broncos Select Scarlett in 1st Round - Swift Current Broncos
- Myles Bell Pats 1st Selection in 2008 WHL Bantam Draft - Regina Pats
- 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
- Wheat Kings Move Up, Take Albertan - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Centre Mark McNeill is Raiders First Round Pick - Prince Albert Raiders
- Blades Draft Siemens - Saskatoon Blades
- WHL Bantam Draft is May Day - Brandon Wheat Kings
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