WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Schneider, Greig Hope to Join Franchise Greats

October 1, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. - Two members of the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings may be among the players to hear their names called during the opening round of Tuesday's National Hockey League Draft.

Defenceman Braden Schneider and center Ridly Greig are among the top draft eligible players and should they be selected in round one, it would mark the first time in eleven years that the Wheat Kings have had two players chosen on the opening night of the annual draft.

In 2009, forwards Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie were drafted fifth and eighth overall by the Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars respectively. That marked only the second time in franchise history that Brandon has had multiple first round selections.

During the club's record breaking season in 1979, four members of the Wheat Kings were taken in round one. Laurie Boschman went to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia grabbed Brian Propp, Brad McCrimmon was chosen by the Boston Bruins and the Hartford Whalers opted for Ray Allison.

A native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Schneider is coming off an outstanding season that saw him selected to the First All Star Team in the WHL's Eastern Conference.

The 6'2" 202 lb defenceman scored seven goals and 42 points in 60 games this past season and has 88 points, including sixteen goals in 185 career WHL games.

Greig averaged more than a point per game this past season, scoring 26 goals and 60 points in 56 games. During his two years in Brandon, the 5'11" 170 lb. Lethbridge product has 40 goals and 96 points in 123 games.

Both are former first round bantam draft picks in the WHL, with Schneider going 12th overall in 2016 and Greig being chosen eighth overall by the Wheat Kings the following year.

Ridly's father Mark meanwhile is a former first round pick, having been selected by the Hartford Whalers fifteenth overall in 1990.

Should either or both Wheat Kings go in round one, they will be joining some pretty select company.

Schenn and Glennie were two of 21 Wheat Kings to be chosen in the first round of the NHL Draft, since it was established back in 1967.

Following is a complete list of Wheat Kings chosen in the first round of the NHL Draft:

Year Name of Player NHL Club Overall Selection

2017 Nolan Patrick Philadelphia 2nd

2015 Ivan Provorov Philadelphia 7th

2014 John Quenneville New Jersey 32nd

2013 Ryan Pulock NY Islanders 15th

2009 Brayden Schenn Los Angeles 5th

2009 Scott Glennie Dallas 8th

2003 Eric Fehr Washington 18th

1997 Stefan Cherneski NY Rangers 19th

1995 Wade Redden NY Islanders 2nd

1994 Chris Dingman Calgary 19th

1990 Trevor Kidd Calgary 11th

1988 Kevin Cheveldayoff NY Islanders 16th

1980 Steve Patrick Buffalo 20th

1979 Laurie Boschman Toronto 9th

1979 Brian Propp Philadelphia 14th

1979 Brad McCrimmon Boston 15th

1979 Ray Allison Hartford 18th

1978 Bill Derlago Vancouver 4th

1975 Rick Blight Vancouver 10th

1974 Ron Chipperfield California 17th +

1967 Ken Hicks California 3rd

+ Chipperfield elected to sign with Vancouver Blazers of the WHA

This year's draft will be held virtually with round one on Tuesday and the following six to be done on Wednesday.

The New York Rangers won Phase 2 of the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery in August, meaning they will select first overall on Tuesday and they are expected to take Alexis Lafreniere of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Rimouski Oceanic.

Here is the 1st round NHL Draft order:

Round 1

New York Rangers

2. Los Angeles Kings

3. Ottawa Senators (from SJS)

4. Detroit Red Wings

5. Ottawa Senators

6. Anaheim Ducks

7. New Jersey Devils

8. Buffalo Sabres

9. Minnesota Wild

10. Winnipeg Jets

11. Nashville Predators

12. Florida Panthers

13. Carolina Hurricanes (from TOR)

14. Edmonton Oilers

15. Toronto Maple Leafs (from PIT)

16. Montreal Canadiens

17. Chicago Blackhawks

18. New Jersey Devils (from ARZ)

19. Calgary Flames

20. New Jersey Devils (from VAN via TB)

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. New York Rangers (from CAR)

23. Philadelphia Flyers

24. Washington Capitals

25. Colorado Avalanche

26. St. Louis Blues

27. Anaheim Ducks (from BOS)

28. Ottawa Senators (from NYI)

29. Vegas Golden Knights

30. Dallas Stars

31. San Jose Sharks (from TB)

This year's draft was originally scheduled for this past June but due to COVID-19 and the delay to the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs, it was postponed and rescheduled.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from October 1, 2020


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