Hurricanes WHL Bantam Draft Picks
2009 WHL Bantam Draft PicksLethbridge, AB – The best is yet to come for the future Lethbridge Hurricanes, but the groundwork for success was laid in Edmonton this year as the WHL held the 20th annual WHL Bantam draft on April 30th, 2009. Canes Assistant GM Brad Robson alongside General Manager Roy Stasiuk and the rest of the Lethbridge scouting staff made their selections and ignited the careers of ten new WHL prospects.
“I am really happy with how our draft played out” said Robson “We feel we got a lot of speed and quickness which is the way the game is going now so for the future success of the organization, we got some really good skaters and obviously some players with a lot of skill and the ability to put the puck in the net. The picks we made today will ensure we are going to be a very fast and very skilled hockey club now and in the future.
The Canes kicked off the day by selecting forward Ryley Bennefield from the Leduc Allen’s Transport Oil Kings with their first selection – 33rd overall in the second round of the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft. Bennefield is a 5’10” 160 pound forward who tallied 32 goals and 25 assists for 57 points and 59 Pims in 30 games for the Leduc Allen’s Transport Oil Kings of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League (AMBHL) in 08-09. Bennefield wrapped up his season with an excellent showing at the Alberta Cup this past weekend in Calgary where he competed with a broken collarbone.
“Ryley is a skilled all around forward with an excellent work ethic and obviously the ability to put the puck in the net” said Canes GM Roy Stasiuk “As always in the draft, we chose to address skill first and were surprised to see Ryley’s name still on the board at our draft position. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to draft him with the 33rd pick”
Lethbridge then chose another forward, Sam McKechnie of the Airdrie Xtreme with their second selection – 47th overall of the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft. This first of two third round picks was acquired by the Hurricanes as part of a trade with the Chilliwack Bruins. McKechnie had a strong season in the Alberta Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League, posting 52 points (20G, 32A) in 33 games to rank himself fifth in the AMBHL South Division scoring race. He was a key contributor in the Xtreme taking home a Western Canadian Bantam Championship banner with 7 points (2G, 5A) in the tournament.
“Our scouts thought Sam had a very good showing at the Western Canadian Bantam Championships and he is player who brings with him a lot of speed.” said Stasiuk “He should compliment our first selection Ryley Bennefeld very well”
Ironically, McKechnie hails from the Airdrie Xtreme, the same AMBHL club that produced Hurricanes superstar and NHL 1st round draft pick Zach Boychuk.
The Hurricanes then took defenseman Adam Henry of the Bantam AAA Winnipeg Hawks with their third selection – 55th overall in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft. Henry ended the 08-09 campaign with 17 points (4G, 13A) and 52 Pims in 30 games. Henry was the first defenseman chosen by the Hurricanes in the 2009 draft and follows in the footsteps of Hurricanes d-men Brennan Yadlowski (2006) and Ben Wright (2003) as the Canes first defenseman chosen in their draft year.
“Adam [Henry] is a smooth skating defenseman with a good first pass” says Stasiuk “He is not and overly physical defenseman but he is steady and very positionally sound.”
In the fourth round, Lethbridge selected forward Jaimen Yakubowski of the Warman Wildcats with their fourth selection – 77th overall in the 2009 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. The 5’9”, 165 pound native of Dalmany, SK finished the regular season with an impressive sixty points (30G, 30A) and 64 Pims in 20 games this season. He then followed that up with a solid showing at the 2009 Western Canadian Bantam Championship where he was voted a Tournament All star; as well as the Tournament’s Most Sportsmanlike Player with five points (4G, 1A) in five games.
In the fifth round, the Canes selected forward Mitchell Guiel [GEEL] of the Langley Bantam AAA Eagles with their fifth selection – 103rd overall of the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft. The Hurricanes acquired this pick from Everett as a result of the trade with the Everett Silvertips involving defenseman Mike Alexander. Guiel posted 84 points (41G, 43A) in 40 games (including tournament play) with the Eagles this season and contributed to the host team Eagles’ silver medal finish in the B.C. Bantam 'AAA' provincials.
The sixth round saw the Hurricanes with a pair of picks as they selected defenseman Braxton Bilous [BILL–ess] of the Langley Bantam AAA Eagles with their sixth selection – 111th overall and local product Russell Maxwell of the Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks with their seventh selection – 121st overall in the sixth round of the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft. Bilous, a teammate of Hurricanes fourth round pick Mitchell Guiel [GEEL] notched 6 points and was a plus-12 in 23 games with the Eagles this season. Maxwell was named the team MVP of the Val Matteotti Golden Hawks of the in 08-09, totaling 47 points (30G, 17A) and 52 Pims in 33 AMBHL games.
“Obviously in Russell’s case he is a highly skilled forward who notched 30 goals in the AMBHL. His hockey sense is second to none and he possesses a good work ethic.” said Stasiuk “The only reason we hesitated until this round was knowing the difficulty that some players can have in adjusting to play in their hometowns. However, we felt that to get a player of his caliber at this point in the draft is an opportunity we could not afford to pass up”
In the eight round, the Canes selected forward Mason Blacklock of the Semiahmoo Ravens of the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association with their eighth selection – 165th overall in the eighth round of the 2009 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Blacklock is a good skater with good skill who played 38 games this season notching 29 goals and 42 assists for 71 points with the Ravens.
Finally, the Canes selected defenseman Harrison Harper from the North West Calgary Bronks of the AMBHL with their ninth selection – 253rd overall in the 12th round and defenseman Valik Chichkin [Chich-ken] from the Burnaby Winter Club Tier 1A1 275th overall in the 13th round to wrap up the 2009 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Harper is a 6’0”, 172 pound d-man had 3 points (3A) and 37 Pims with the Bronks (sp.) last season. Chichkin is a solid 6’0” 160 pound defenseman of Russian descent who played Bantam tier two hockey last season with the Burnaby Winter Club.
The 2009 WHL Bantam Draft kicked off this morning (April 30th, 2009) at 8:30 AM MT from the Sutton Place Hotel in Edmonton. The Portland Winter Hawks made Derrick Pouliot of Weyburn, SK the first pick of the 2009 Draft. The WHL Bantam Draft is the first step in the identification of the top rated 1994-born prospects as WHL Clubs select players from this age group to add to their WHL Player Protected List. The entire draft can be followed in real time online at www.whl.ca. All of the Hurricanes draft day information can be followed at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com.
Here is a recap of the Hurricanes 2009 picks:
1st round (11th overall) – Traded to Everett
2nd round (33rd overall) – F - Ryley Bennefield 5’10”, 160 lbs. - Wetaskiwin, AB
Bantam Club: Allen’s Transport Oil Kings (Leduc) – AMBHL B/D: Mar. 30/94
3rd round (47th overall - from Chilliwack) – F - Sam McKechnie 5’7”, 140 lbs. Airdrie, AB
Bantam Club: Airdrie Xtreme – AMBHL B/D: Jul. 8/94
3rd round (55th overall) – D - Adam Henry 5’11” 160 lbs. – Winnipeg, MB
Bantam Club: Winnipeg Hawks Bantam AAA – Winnipeg AAA B/D: Nov.24/94
4th round (77th overall) – F - Jaimen Yakubowski 5’9”, 165 lbs. – Dalmany, SK
Bantam Club: Warman Wildcats – Central Four Hockey League B/D: May 28/94
5th round (99th overall) – Traded to Moose Jaw
5th round (103rd overall – from Everett) – F - Mitchell Guiel 5’7”, 130 lbs. – Langley, BC
Bantam Club: Langley Eagles AAA (PCAHA) B/D: Aug.6/94
6th round (111th overall – from M.J.) – D - Braxton Bilous 6’0”, 160 lbs. - Langley, BC
Bantam Club: Langley Eagles AAA (PCAHA) B/D: May 2/94
6th round (121st overall) – F - Russell Maxwell 5’5”, 135 lbs. – Magrath, AB
Bantam Club: Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks (AMBHL) B/D: Feb.17/94
7th round (143rd overall) – Traded to Chilliwack
8th round (165th overall) – F - Mason Blacklock 6’0, 150 lbs. – White Rock, BC
Bantam Club: Semiahmoo Ravens (PCAHA) B/D: Feb.23/94
9th round (187th overall) – Traded to Medicine Hat
10th round (209th overall) – Traded to Kamloops
11th round (231st overall) – Traded to Portland
12th round (253rd overall) – D - Harrison Harper 6’0”, 172 lbs. – Calgary, AB
Bantam Club: North West Calgary Bronks (AMBHL) B/D: Jul.17/94
13th round (275th overall) – D - Valik Chichkin 6’0” 160 lbs. – Burnaby, BC
Bantam Club: Burnaby Winter Club Tier 1A1 B/D: Feb.3/94
Breakdown by position:
Forwards – 6
Defenseman – 4
In the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft, the Canes selected forward Philip Tot (Taw-T) with their first selection – 18th overall. The Canes ended 08-09 with 12 players in their lineup who were originally selected by Lethbridge in the WHL Bantam draft. This included Hurricanes Captain Ben Wright (2003 – 2nd Round), Los Angeles Kings draft pick Dwight King (2004 – 1st Round), two time WHL all star selection Zach Boychuk (2004 – 5th Round) and highly ranked NHL prospect Carter Ashton (2006 – 1st round).
The 20th Annual WHL Bantam Draft was posted live on www.whl.ca. Click on the WHL Bantam Draft icon on the www.whl.ca homepage or on the top banner at lethbridgehurricanes.com to view the results.
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WHL HOSTS 4th ANNUAL U.S. PROSPECTS CAMP IN ANAHEIM - CLICK HERE TO VIEW
The Western Hockey League held the fourth annual WHL U.S. Prospects Camp in Anaheim, California on the weekend of April 10-12, 2009. The WHL U.S. Prospects Camp was held at the Anaheim Ice, the official training centre of the NHL Anaheim Ducks and featured 80 top rated players in the 1994 age category from throughout the western United States. The players attending the camp were evaluated by WHL Clubs in preparation for the WHL Bantam Draft, which will be held in Edmonton, Alberta on April 30th, 2009.
The number of U.S. born players participating in the WHL has more than doubled in the past five years. This season approximately 45 U.S. - born players were on the rosters of WHL Clubs, including some of the WHL’s top players; Jonathan Blum of the Vancouver Giants (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), Colin Long of the Kelowna Rockets (Santa Ana, CA) and Drayson Bowman (Littleton, CO), Mitch Wahl (Seal Beach, CA) and Tyler Johnson (Spokane, WA) all members of the 2008 Memorial Cup Champion Spokane Chiefs.
2008 WHL Bantam Draft Picks
Hurricanes scouting staff along with Hurricanes director of Scouting and Player Personnel Brad Robson and Hurricanes GM Roy Stasiuk gathered in Calgary for the 19th annual WHL Bantam Draft held on May 1st, 2008 in Calgary.
The Canes made forward Phil Tot their first selection – 18th overall in the first round of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. Tot is a 6’1” 175 lbs. ’93-born forward who is a strong combination Left Wing/Centre. Tot, a native of Calgary, Alberta, finished the season fifth in league scoring in the AMBHL. In 33 games with the Calgary Bisons, Tot notched 60 points (26G, 34A) with six game winning goals and 12 penalty minutes. His 16 points (9G, 7A) in 12 post season games was good enough for fourth in the AMBHL playoff scoring race.
“Phil Tot is a player who has the potential to be an excellent power forward in our league. He has good strength and he comes off the wall from either wing with a lot of authority.” said Stasiuk “He is a player who will complement our group of forwards both in the present and in the future.”
The Canes then selected defenseman Reid Jackson with the 28th overall pick in the second round of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. The Hurricanes acquired this pick from the Kamloops Blazers in exchange for goaltender Justin Leclerc prior to the start of the 2007-2008 season.
Jackson, who hails from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, is 6’1” 160 pound mobile defenseman who played last season with the Weyburn Wings of the South Saskatchewan Bantam Hockey League. In 20 games with Weyburn, Jackson tallied 25 points (4G, 21A) with 22 penalty minutes.
“Reid is big strong kid, who plays a physical game and possesses probably the best shot bantam hockey today.” says Robson “He’s a strong two way defenseman with good hockey skills and good hockey sense.”
The Hurricanes then followed that up by selecting defenseman Drew Graham, a native of Chilliwack, BC is a 6’1” 175 pound defenseman who played last season with the Chilliwack Coyotes Bantam AAA club of the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association with their third round pick (62nd overall).
“Drew Graham is a player who is a rugged stay at home defenseman with some potential offensive upside.” said Stasiuk “While scouting and interviewing several players in that area, many of them mentioned that Graham is difficult defenseman to play against.”
The Canes then selected their third defenseman of the draft and their first Lethbridge area prospect with the 84th overall pick of the 2008 WHL Draft, selecting defenseman Brandyn Hulit in the fourth round.
Hulit, a southern Alberta native of Coutts, is a 6’2” 175 pound defenseman who tallied 19 points (3G, 16A) and 24 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks of the AMBHL.
“Brandyn is a tall, mobile defenseman who has very good lateral movement.” said Stasiuk adding “He competes very hard and is among a group of players who got significantly better throughout the course of the 2007-2008 AMBHL season.”
The Canes then selected their second forward Jordan Baillie with the first pick of the 6th round (111th overall). This is the pick which the Hurricanes received from Portland as a part of the Colton Sceviour, Nick Hotson and Lukas Alexiuk trade.
Baillie, was second in scoring for his hometown Ft. Saskatchewan Rangers of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League (AMBHL) posting 68 points (24G, 44A) and 26 PIMs in 33 games. Baillie then went on to tally 15 points (5G, 10A) in nine playoff games and was the co-winner of the AMBHL 2007-08 most Sportsmanlike Player Award.
“We project Jordan to bring some valuable secondary scoring to our club in the future” said Stasiuk “We also believe he possesses very good leadership qualities as well”
The Canes then selected forward Sam Lawson of Calgary, AB with their 7th round (150th overall) selection in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. Lawson, tallied 24 points (10G, 14A) and 32 PIMs in 31 games for the Calgary Bisons of the AMBHL.
The Hurricanes then ended the day with a flurry swapping several picks from next season for equal picks in the same round this season. The result was Lethbridge selecting Shane Brolly with the 183rd pick as well as goaltender Alex Wakaluk with the 192nd pick in the ninth round. The Canes, who entered the day without a pick in the ninth round, traded their eighth round pick in 2009 to the Chilliwack Bruins in exchange for their pick in the 183rd position this year.
Brolly is a 5’8 150 pound winger from Spruce Grove, Alberta, who played last season with the Spruce Grove PAC Timberwolves of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League (AMBHL). Brolly tallied 46 points (27G, 19A) placing him second in scoring for the Timberwolves in 33 regular season games.
Wakaluk was a standout this past season as a member of the Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks of the AMBHL. The 5’8” 136 pound goaltender posted a 2.44 GAA and a 0.910 save percentage while playing the majority of minutes for the Hawks.
Robson then announced a pair of tenth round selections and the Canes final selection of the draft as the Hurricanes selected 5’7” 130 pound forward Matthew Scarth with the 204th pick of the draft as well as defenseman Austin Yadlowski with the 216th pick of the draft.
Scarth finished the season with 29 points (12G,17A) in 32 games for the Calgary Bisons of the AMBHL. Scarth is the third player selected from the Bisons by the Hurricanes in this year’s draft. Yadlowski, a 5’9 140 pound native of Edmonton, totaled 17 points (2G, 15A) and 46 PIMs in 32 games with the South Side Athletic Club Southgate Lions of the AMBHL. Yadlowski already has some ties to Lethbridge, his brother Brennan is currently in his rookie season with the Canes.
The Hurricanes then finished the day by selecting Brock McDonald of the Vernon Renegades (221st overall) and their first U.S. born player of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft, Adam Reid, in the eleventh round (218th overall). McDonald tallied 39 points (20G, 19A) and 102 PIMs in 39 games with the Renegades last season. Reid, the Hurricanes only U.S. born selection was scouted at the 2008 WHL U.S. Prospects camp in Anaheim and spent last season with the LA Selects, who took home the CAHA State Championship.
The entire draft can be reviewed online at www.whl.ca.
Hurricanes 2008 WHL Bantam Draft Picks
1st round (18th overall) – Phil Tot – C/LW – 6’1” 175 lbs.
Birth date: Sept.16/93 – Bantam Club: Calgary Bisons (AMBHL)
2nd round (28th overall – from Kamloops) – Reid Jackson – D – 6’1” 160 lbs.
Birth date: Jan.18/93 – Bantam Club: Weyburn Wings (SSBHL)
2nd round (40th overall) – Traded to Prince Albert
3rd round (62nd overall) – Drew Graham – D – 6’1” 175 lbs.
Birth date: Jan.8/93 – Bantam Club: Chilliwack Coyotes Bantam AAA (PCAHA)
4th round (84th overall) – Brandyn Hulit – D – 6’2” 175 lbs.
Birth date: June 4/93 – Bantam Club: Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks (AMBHL)
5th round (106th overall) – Traded to Portland
6th round (111th overall – from Portland) – Jordan Baillie – RW – 5’9” 155 lbs.
Birth date: May 12/93 – Bantam Club: Ft. Saskatchewan Rangers (AMBHL)
6th round (128th overall) – Traded to Kootenay
7th round (150th overall) – Sam Lawson – C – 5’11” 135 lbs.
Birth date: Aug.31/93 – Bantam Club: Calgary Bisons (AMBHL)
8th round (172nd overall) – Traded to Tri City
9th round (183rd overall – from Chilliwack) – Shane Brolly – LW – 5’8” 150 lbs.
Birth date: Feb.24/93 – Bantam Club: Spruce Grove PAC Timberwolves (AMBHL)
9th round (192nd overall – from Medicine Hat) – Alex Wakaluk – G – 5’8” 136 lbs.
Birth date: Aug.20/93 – Bantam Club: Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks (AMBHL)
9th round (194th overall) – Traded to Tri City
10th round (204th overall – from Kamloops) – Matthew Scarth – LW – 5’7” 130 lbs.
Birth date: Aug.28/93 – Bantam Club: Calgary Bisons (AMBHL)
10th round (216th overall) – Austin Yadlowski – D – 5’9” 140 lbs.
Birth date: Jul. 29/93 – Bantam Club: South Side Athletic Club (AMBHL)
11th round (221st overall – from Portland) – Brock McDonald – C – 6’0” 180 lbs.
Birth date: Apr. 23/93 – Bantam Club: Royal Lepage Vernon Renegades
11th round (218th overall – from Kamloops) – Adam Reid – C – 6'2" 160 lbs.
Birth date: Jan.29/93 – Bantam Club: L.A. Selects Hockey Club
By the numbers:
12 – Number of 2008 WHL Bantam Draft Picks made by the Canes (7 – Forwards; 4 – Defensemen; 1 – Goaltender)
8 – The number of Canes 2008 Bantam Draft picks selected from the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League (AMBHL)
3 – Number of Canes 2008 Bantam Draft picks from the Calgary Bisons of the AMBHL
2 – Number of Hurricanes 2008 Bantam Draft picks from the Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks of the AMBHL
1- American-Born WHL Draft Pick made by the Canes
