WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings to Select 6th Overall in Bantam Draft

Published on March 20, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Calgary, AB. - The Western Hockey League Bantam Draft Lottery was held in Calgary this afternoon and the Winnipeg Ice came up winners and as a result will have the first overall selection in the 2019 draft in Red Deer, Alberta.

The Brandon Wheat Kings - one of six non-playoff teams - participating in the draft, had the least chance of any club to win the draft lottery and will select sixth overall on Thursday, May 2nd in Red Deer, Alberta.

That pick will be one of four by the Wheat Kings in the first 23 selections. In addition to picking sixth, Brandon will choose tenth, 16th and 23rd overall.

Since the draft was introduced in 1990, the Wheat Kings have chosen sixth overall on two occasions and both turned out to be outstanding selections.

In 1992 the Wheat Kings opted for Winnipeg defenceman Justin Kurtz and six years ago, the WHL club selected blueliner Kale Clague of Lloydminster.

Current Brandon forward Luka Burzan meanwhile was Moose Jaw's first round pick (6th overall) in the 2015 draft in Calgary.

By choosing number six, the Wheat Kings will have their highest selection since they opted for center Stelio Mattheos with the first overall pick in 2014.

Since then, Brandon has chosen four forwards and one defenceman in the opening round of the draft.

Jake Chiasson of Abbotsford, B.C. was Brandon's first pick (15th overall) in 2018, Ridly Greig of Lethbridge was taken eighth overall in 2017, Prince Albert defenceman Braden Schneider was chosen in 2016 (12th overall) and Winnipeg's Caiden Daley was the final pick (22nd overall) in 2015.

Joining the Wheat Kings as lottery pick players Wednesday were Swift Current, Winnipeg, Regina, Prince George and Kelowna, who lost to Kamloops in Tuesday's sudden death tiebreaker.

Following is the first round order of this year's bantam draft:

WHL Bantam Draft Lottery Order

1st - Winnipeg Ice

2nd - Prince George Cougars

3rd - Saskatoon Blades ** (via Regina)

4th - Prince George Cougars * (via Swift Current)

5th - Kelowna Rockets

6th - Brandon Wheat Kings

The order of the second round and all other rounds of the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft will be determined by the inverse order of final 2018-19 WHL Regular Season standings.

Players eligible for the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft will be 2004-born players who reside in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics

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