Wheaties and Rebels swing draft day deal
April 29, 2004 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Calgary, Alberta - The 2004 Western Hockey League Bantam draft is underway this morning in Calgary and despite the fact the Prince George Cougars owned the first overall selection, it was the Brandon Wheat Kings that made the early noise.
In a deal announced moments ago, Wheat Kings' general manager Kelly McCrimmon traded their first round selection (sixth overall) to the Rebels in exchange for Red Deer's first round pick (16th), the rights to highly tuted Tyler Dittmer as well as the Rebels' second (36th), sixth and seventh round selections. In addition to the sixth overall pick, the Rebels received Brandon's fifth and seventh round selections.
Brandon then swapped first round picks with Kamloops and used the 11th overall selection to take 6'4" 185 lb. defenceman Keith Aulie from the Weyburn bantam Red Wings. In order to get the 11th pick, the Wheat Kings also sent two later draft picks to the Blazers.
A third round pick (53rd overall) of the Rebels in 2002, the 17-year old Dittmer is coming off an outstanding season with the Brandon AAA Midget Wheat Kings.
In addition to leading Brandon to it's first ever National Midget Championship, the speedy 5'10" 170 lb. Dittmer led the Manitoba AAA Midget League in scoring with 37 goals and 83 points in only 38 games and finished fourth in scoring at last week's Tournament in Kenora with six goals and 11 points in seven games while being named the Top Forward.
Dittmer is one of four members of the midget Wheaties to be protected by Brandon, joining goalkeeper Tyler Plante and fellow forwards Brandon Lockerby and Andrew Clark.
"We are very excited to acquire Tyler from Red Deer," says McCrimmon. "He is a tremendous talent that we think will be an exciting player in our organization."
The Prince George Cougars had the first selection in this morning's draft and used it to select Ryan Kerr of Vancouver. The Saskatoon Blades then took White Rock, B.C. native Colton Gillies with the second selection. Rounding out the top three was Seattle, who opted for Thomas Hickey of Calgary.
The top Manitoban expected to go is Brandon's Alex Plante, who served as captain of the Kal Tire Wheat Kings in the Winnipeg Bantam AAA Hockey League this past season. The talented defenceman finished tied for second in team scoring this year with six goals and 30 points in thirty games while leading the club in penalty minutes with 161. In addition to being the younger brother of goalkeeper Tyler, Alex is the son of former Wheat Kings' all star defenceman Cam Plante.
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Western Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2004
- Winter Hawks Look to Solidify Goaltending and Scoring in WHL Bantam Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs make three local selections, Festa traded - Spokane Chiefs
- Hitmen Draft 10 Players - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheaties choose 11 in WHL draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Ams Select Broda With First Pick - Tri-City Americans
- 27 Manitobans chosen in Bantam Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blazers wrap up draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Red Deer Rebels Trade For Goaltender - Red Deer Rebels
- Cougars Final Round Selections - Prince George Cougars
- Chiefs trade Festa - Spokane Chiefs
- Ice Select Ten Players in WHL Bantam Draft - Kootenay Ice
- Winter Hawks Coburn Named WHL Humanitarian of the Year; Hawks Win WHL Overall Team Scholastic Awa - Portland Winterhawks
- Blazers make sixth selection - Kamloops Blazers
- Round 5 and 6 Action - Prince George Cougars
- Blazers make fifth selection - Kamloops Blazers
- Chiefs make first five picks in WHL Bantam Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Blazers make third and fourth selections - Kamloops Blazers
- Cougars Busy in Round Three - Prince George Cougars
- Kerr Becomes #1 Cat - Prince George Cougars
- Hitmen Select Brett Sonnie 13th Overall in 2004 WHL Bantam Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- Cougars Continue Draft Day Deals - Prince George Cougars
- Wheaties busy draft day morning - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Broncos make Postma their first choice - Swift Current Broncos
- Wheaties and Rebels swing draft day deal - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Red Deer Rebels Make Deal At The WHL Bantam Draft - Red Deer Rebels
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