WHL unveils All-Stars, Bantam Lottery
Published on March 22, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The WHL Bantam Draft lottery was held Thursday at the WHL Office in Calgary to determine the order of the first six selections in the first round of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. The WHL Bantam Draft Lottery involved the five non-playoff teams (Portland, Kelowna, Lethbridge, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon) from the 2006-07 season, along with the expansion franchise Edmonton Oil Kings.
The Lottery selection process was performed by a representative from KPMG, WHL Auditors in conjunction with the WHL Office staff. The WHL Bantam Draft will be held in Calgary on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at the Round Up Centre. The Portland Winter Hawks ball in the lottery was drawn first, giving the Winter Hawks the first overall selection in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. The Kelowna Rockets, based on their position in the overall 2006-07 WHL Regular Season standings, will receive the second pick in the first round. The expansion Edmonton Oil Kings, who will begin play next season, were awarded the third overall selection in the first round but will have the first pick in the second and each subsequent round of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. The Saskatoon Blades will have the fourth pick overall while the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Lethbridge Hurricanes will draft in the fifth and sixth positions respectively.
The order of the second round and all other rounds will be Edmonton, Portland, Kelowna, Chilliwack etc. inverse order of final 2006-07 regular season standings. Brandon will have the 17th overall selection after finishing with a 41-20-3-8 record this past season. Players eligible for the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft will be 1992-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.
The WHL also announced today that the Spokane Chiefs have been awarded a fourth round compensatory selection in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. Spokane will receive the 23rd pick of the fourth round as compensation for the loss last summer of WHL protected player Trevor Lewis to Owen Sound of the OHL.
In other news, the WHL announced its First and Second Conference All Star teams on Thursday and believe it or not, the Eastern Division pennant winning Brandon Wheat Kings were shutout - for the second consecutive season. The First Team in the Eastern Conference includes goalkeeper Matt Keetley (Medicine Hat), defencemen Kris Russell of the Tigers and Mike Busto (Kootenay). Up front, there's Brandon product Ryan White of the Calgary Hitmen, Kootenay's Steve DaSilva and Riley Holzapfel of Moose Jaw. The Second Team includes goalie Taylor Dakers (Kootenay), blueliners David Schlemko (Medicine Hat) and Karl Alzner (Calgary) as well as forwards Zach Boychuk (Lethbridge), Darren Helm (Medicine Hat) and Ma rtin Hanzal (Red Deer).
Making up the First Team in the West - netminder Carey Price (Tri-City), defencemen Cody Franson (Vancouver) and Ray Macias (Kamloops) and forwards Aaron Gagnon (Seattle) and Everett's dynamic duo of Peter Mueller and Zach Hamill. The Second Team includes Everett's Leland Irving in goal, Ty Wishart, Thomas Hickey (Seattle) and Jason Fransoo (Everett) on defence while up front theres Reid Jorgensen of Kamloops, Colton Yellow Horn of Tri_City and Russell product Brock Nixon of Kamloops.
While Brandon's Codey Burki finished fifth in the WHL in scoring this season with career highs in goals (36) and points (85), Wheat King Captain Mark Derlago led the 21-team circuit with 46 goals including 24 on the powerplay. Burki, Derlago and the Wheat Kings will kick off their best of seven opening round playoff series Friday night at the Keystone Centre against the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2007
- Rockets To Pick Second In Bantam Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- Brandon Wheat Kings Game Notes - Brandon Wheat Kings
- WHL unveils All-Stars, Bantam Lottery - WHL
- Four Silvertips Named to Western Conference All-Star Squads - Everett Silvertips
- Gagnon selected Western Conference First Team All-Star - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Portland to select first overall in WHL Bantam Draft - WHL
- WHL Announces 2006-07 All Star Teams - Vancouver Giants
- Winter Hawks to Select First in 2007 WHL Bantam Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Sea of White - Prince George Cougars
- Slow ticket sales concerning - Brandon Wheat Kings
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