WHL Bantam Draft continues
May 1, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alberta - Seven rounds are complete at the 2008 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft in Calgary and the Brandon Wheat Kings have selected a total of six players including one from Manitoba.
In the opening round, the Wheat Kings swapped first round picks with Kelowna in order to take highly touted right-winger Klarc Wilson with the tenth overall selection. The Rockets also received Brandon's fourth round pick in the deal.
In 31 games with the Edmonton Knights of Columbus Squires last season, the 6' 185 lb. Wilson scored 34 goals and 79 points while accumulating 52 minutes in penalties.
According to one WHL scout, Wilson is a "game breaker with great instincts from the blueline in...he has an accurate shot...great hockey sense and huge offensive upside."
While Wilson finished third in the North Division scoring race of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League, Brandon's second round pick (35th overall) - center Jason Swyripa - finished second overall with 37 goals and 107 points in 33 games for the Airdrie Xtreme. The 5'8" 155 lb forward also accumulated 95 penalty minutes.
In the third round, the Wheat Kings opted for a 6' 160 lb goalkeeper from the St. Albert bantam Sabres with the 57th pick overall. In 21 games with the Sabres in 2007-08, Liam Liston compiled a 3.40 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.
Brandon had two picks in the fifth round and used them to select 5'11" 160 lb defenceman Jordan Fransoo from the Notre Dame Bantams (99th overall) and 5'11" 155 lb center Jeff Olson from the West Central Bantams in Kindersley. While Fransoo, a native of North Battleford, Saskatchewan had six goals, 28 points and 44 penalty minutes in 26 games this past season, Olson averaged well over two points per game with 21 goals and 45 points. He also racked up 77 penalty minutes in 21 games.
With their seventh round pick, Brandon chose right-winger Jens Meilleur from the Winnipeg Bantam Hawks. A 6' 165 lb native of Elie, Meilleur scored 20 goals and 35 points this past season.
The Red Deer Rebels, who won last month's draft lottery, used the first selection overall to choose Burnaby center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Portland was next and opted for Airdrie, Alberta right-winger Ty Rattie.
The Saskatoon Blades had two picks in the top six and used them to select Edmonton defenceman Duncan Siemens third overall and Weyburn center Brent Benson with the sixth overall selection.
As expected, Michael St. Croix of Winnipeg was the top Manitoban to be chosen - going 4th overall to the Edmonton Oil Kings. St. Croix starred this past season with the Winnipeg bantam Monarchs. Only two Manitobans were chosen through the first two rounds of Thursday's draft. Center Zachery Franco of Winnipeg went to Kelowna in the second.
Western Manitoba's top pick was forward Kole Harvey of the Virden bantam Oil Kings. He was chosen in round six by the Red Deer Rebels. Three others from westman were selected in round six - Brandon's Joel Edmundson went to Moose Jaw, Derek Falloon of Russell was picked by Chilliwack while Minnedosa's Chad Robinson was drafted by the Rebels.
The annual bantam draft is the first step in the identification of the top rated 1993 born prospects as WHL clubs select players from this age group to add to their WHL Player Protected List. Players eligible for the draft must reside in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, NWT, the Yukon or western United States.
Fans wanting to keep up with the draft can do so by going online at www.whl.ca
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Western Hockey League Stories from May 1, 2008
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- Blades Choose Trask In Ninth Round - Saskatoon Blades
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- Edmonton Oil Kings Add Some Young Talent To The Roster - Edmonton Oil Kings
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- Ice Select Forward in First Round - Kootenay Ice
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