WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Choose Two In Round 1 Of Bantam Draft

May 5, 2011 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Calgary, Alberta - For the first time since 1994, the Brandon Wheat Kings had two first round selections in Thursday's Western Hockey League Bantam Draft in Calgary and used the picks to choose defenceman Kord Pankewicz and goalkeeper Jordan Papirny eleventh and twenty-second overall.

A 5'10" 169 lb Drayton Valley product, Pankewicz scored 22 goals and 69 points in 33 games with the Leduc Bantams this past season.

"He's a real good player...tremendous poise...has a big shot who controls the game from the defence position," says Brandon Wheat Kings' general manager and head coach Kelly McCrimmon.

Pankewicz, who happens to be a cousin of former Regina Pat and Manitoba Moose forward Greg Pankewicz, has played some forward but McCrimmon sees him as a blueliner.

Meanwhile Papirny was thought to be the best goaltender available in Thursday's draft. A 5'10" 140 lb Edmonton product, McCrimmon says the Wheat Kings couldn't afford to pass on a player of this calibre.

"We really stepped up to take a goalkeeper but we felt strongly about this player. Because we had the luxury of having two first round picks and since we believe that he was the best goalkeeper available we're happy to add him."

As a member of the Edmonton SSAC Lions in 2010-11, Papirny posted a 14-2-2 record, a goals against average of 1.81 and a .918 save percentage.

Seventeen years ago, the Wheat Kings chose David Darguzas and Josh Woitas eleventh and thirteenth overall in the draft that produced a total of ten WHL players for Brandon.

Brandon's second first round pick this season was one of the key pieces that the Wheat Kings acquired from the Blades in January's deal that saw former captain Brayden Schenn go to Saskatoon.

The Calgary Hitmen used the first overall selection to take right-winger Jake Virtanen of Abbotsford B.C., a 5'11" 165 lb product of Abbotsford, B.C. The Swift Current Broncos had the second pick and opted for defenceman Brycen Martin of Calgary. With their first of two first round picks, Lethbridge selected Warman, Saskatchewan blueliner Ryan Pilon.

The top Manitoban chosen was Wawanesa's Jordan Thomson, who went fourth overall to the Kamloops Blazers. Thomson is a 5'11" 165 lb blueliner who spent this past season with the Southwest AAA Midget Cougars.

The WHL Bantam Draft continues throughout the day in Calgary. For up to date selections, click on WHL News at www.wheatkings.com.

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Western Hockey League Stories from May 5, 2011


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