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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings 2023 NHL Draft Recap

June 29, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Nashville, TN - Another NHL Entry Draft has come and gone with the Brandon Wheat Kings as the only Western Hockey League team to have three players drafted in Nashville this week.

On day one, Captain Nate Danielson heard Detroit Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman call his name with the 9th overall pick in the 1st round on Wednesday NIght. The Red Deer, Alberta product was one of six WHLers to be selected in the first round.

The 6'1 two-way centerman did it all for the Wheat Kings during the 2022-23 WHL season, leading the team is goals, assists and points. The versatile forward played in all 68 games this season, scoring 33 goals, 45 assists for 78 points. He was later named Co-MVP of the team, sharing the honours with goaltender Carson Bjarnason, who would hear his name called on day two of the draft.

2023 First Round WHL Draft Picks:

Overall - Player (Pos.) - NHL Team; WHL Team; Hometown

#1 Connor Bedard (F) - Chicago Blackhawks; Regina Pats; North Vancouver, B.C.

#9 Nate Danielson (F) - Detroit Red Wings; Brandon Wheat Kings; Red Deer, Alta.

#13 Zach Benson (F) - Buffalo Sabres; Winnipeg ICE; Chilliwack, B.C.

#14 Brayden Yager (F) - Pittsburgh Penguins; Moose Jaw Warriors; Saskatoon, Sask.

#16 Samuel Honzek (F) - Calgary Flames; Vancouver Giants; Trencin, Slovakia

#24 Tanner Molendyk (D) - Nashville Predators; Saskatoon Blades; McBride, B.C.

Like Danielson, Bjarnason didn't have to wait long to hear his name on day two of the draft, being selected by the Philadelphia Flyers 51st overall in the 2nd round. The 6'3 goaltender hailing from Carberry, became the first Manitoban born player to be selected in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Bjarnason's trail to the NHL Draft is a unique one after being passed over in the WHL Prospects Draft. The signed Wheat King burst on the scene as an undrafted 16-year-old rookie in the WHL last year. He would later go on to win a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He followed that up with excellent numbers in his sophomore season, sporting a GAA of 3.08 and a .900 SAV% in a 21 win campaign, with 3 shutouts.

Veteran power forward Brett Hyland from Edmonton, Alberta was selected with the 200th overall pick in the 7th round by the Washington Capitals, after being passed over in the two previous drafts he was eligible for. Hyland had a breakout campaign last season in an injury shortened season. In 42 games played Hyland scored 26 goals and recorded 21 assists for 47 points. A 200 foot player, Hyland led Wheat Kings forward in plus/minus with a +11 rating.

In total 33 WHL players were draft by NHL clubs.

2023 WHL Picks in Rounds 2 - 7:

Round Two (7)

#33 - Nico Myatovic (F) - Anaheim Ducks; Seattle Thunderbirds; Prince George, B.C.

#40 - Andrew Cristall (F) - Washington Capitals; Kelowna Rockets; Burnaby, B.C.

#46 - Kalan Lind (F) - Nashville Predators; Red Deer Rebels; Shaunavon, Sask.

#51 - Carson Bjarnason (G) - Philadelphia Flyers; Brandon Wheat Kings; Carberry, Man.

#57 - Lukas Dragicevic (D) - Seattle Kraken; Tri-City Americans; Richmond, B.C.

#63 - Gracyn Sawchyn (F) - Florida Panthers; Seattle Thunderbirds; Grande Prairie, Alta.

#64 - Riley Heidt (F) - Minnesota Wild; Prince George Cougars; Saskatoon, Sask.

Round Three (4)

#78 - Koehn Ziemmer (F) - Los Angeles Kings; Prince George Cougars; Mayerthorpe, Alta.

#84 - Caden Price (D) - Seattle Kraken; Kelowna Rockets; Saskatoon, Sask.

#85 - Egor Sidorov (F) - Anaheim Ducks; Saskatoon Blades; Vitebsk, Belarus

#89 - Sawyer Mynio (D) - Vancouver Canucks; Seattle Thunderbirds; Kamloops, B.C.

Round Four (3)

#102 - Terrell Goldsmith (D) - Arizona Coyotes; Prince Albert Raiders; Fort St. James, B.C.

#112 - Jaden Lipinski (F) - Calgary Flames; Vancouver Giants; Scottsdale, Ariz.

#123 - Luca Cagnoni (D) - San Jose Sharks; Portland Winterhawks; Burnaby, B.C.

Round Five (5)

#135 - Carter Sotheran (D) - Philadelphia Flyers; Portland Winterhawks; Sanford, Man.

#141 - Scott Ratzlaff (G) - Buffalo Sabres; Seattle Thunderbirds; Irma, Alta.

#148 - Kaden Hammell (D) - Seattle Kraken; Everett Silvertips; Langley, B.C.

#151 - Thomas Milic (G) - Winnipeg Jets; Seattle Thunderbirds; Coquitlam, B.C.

#160 - Justin Kipkie (D) - Arizona Coyotes; Victoria Royals; Calgary, Alta.

Round Six (5)

#161 - Vojtech Port (D) - Anaheim Ducks; Edmonton Oil Kings; Jihlava, Czechia

#175 - Austin Roest (F) - Nashville Predators; Everett Silvertips; Coldstream, B.C.

#181 - Kalem Parker (D) - Minnesota Wild; Victoria Royals; Clavet, Sask.

#185 - Noah Chadwick (D) - Toronto Maple Leafs; Lethbridge Hurricanes; Saskatoon, Sask.

#187 - Jeremy Hanzel (D) - Colorado Avalanche; Seattle Thunderbirds; Coquitlam, B.C.

Round Seven (3)

#200 - Brett Hyland (F) - Washington Capitals; Brandon Wheat Kings; Edmonton, Alta.

#201 - Emmitt Finnie (F) - Detroit Red Wings; Kamloops Blazers; Lethbridge, Alta.

#210 - Connor Levis (F) - Winnipeg Jets; Kamloops Blazers; Vancouver, B.C.

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