WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds Win 2012 Bantam Draft Lottery

Published on March 21, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


The Seattle Thunderbirds will pick first in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft after winning the Bantam Draft Lottery held Wednesday morning at the WHL offices in Calgary, Alberta.

"It is exciting for our team to win the lottery and have a chance to add a potential superstar to our team," said T-Birds general manager Russ Farwell. "When you look back over the last few years at former number one picks like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Quinton Howden, Jared Cowen and Colton Teubert all developing into NHL first round picks and with Derrick Pouliott being rated to go in the first round this year, it is an exciting day for our team and our fans to have the possibility to add this kind of player. We look forward to working through the next month of bantam camps and ranking the players in this year's draft. We have three picks in the top 25 this year so draft day is going to be a very exciting day for our organization."

The draft lottery involved the six non-playoff teams from the 2011-12 season. A total of 21 balls were allotted to the six teams as listed below, based on final regular season standings, to determine who would have the first overall pick. Only one ball was drawn in the Lottery and a team could only move up a maximum of two positions in the Bantam Draft. The Lottery selection process was performed by Dmitri Danilevitch from KPMG.

Prince Albert Raiders - Six balls

Prince George Cougars - Five balls

Seattle Thunderbirds - Four balls

Lethbridge Hurricanes - Three balls

Swift Current Broncos - Two balls

Red Deer Rebels - One ball

One of the four T-Birds balls was drawn which gave the T-Birds the first overall pick.

The order of first six picks in the 2012 Bantam Draft:

1) Seattle

2) Prince Albert

3) Prince George

4) Lethbridge

5) Swift Current

6) Red Deer

The Lottery only applies to the first round of the WHL Bantam Draft. For each round following the first round, WHL teams will draft in the inverse order of final regular season standings.

The 2012 WHL Bantam Draft will be held Thursday, May 3, in Calgary.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2012


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