Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes are adding to their growing list of Bantam Draft picks as the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft kicked off in Calgary, AB this morning. The Canes wasted little time in getting the draft off to a fast start thanks to a pair of picks and a trade.
With their 1st pick (4th overall) the Canes selected Forward Giorgio Estephan from Edmonton, AB. Estephan at 5’11 and 168 pounds registered 100 points (43G, 57A) in 32 games with the Edmonton SSAC Bantam AAA (AMBHL); he also had 32 PIM’s. The 15-year old is a right-handed shot and was born February 3rd, 1997.
Of Estephan, Hurricanes Scout Blake Robson says “we’re getting a really good player. Not only has he led his team in scoring, but he led tournaments in scoring as well. He has good size, very good hands and he’s a great leader on a very good Edmonton Bantam team.” Robson adds “Estephan was highly sought after and was highly ranked among other WHL clubs. He’s a great addition to our team and he has a very bright future with the Canes.”
The Hurricanes also had the 18th pick in the first round – acquired when they traded Cam Braes to the Moose Jaw Warriors back for their 1st round pick. With their selection the Canes added Defenceman Thomas Lenchyshyn from Steinbach, MB. Lenchyshyn is a big strong blueliner at 6’0 and 178 lbs., he had 14 points (5G, 9A) and 123 penalty minutes in 42 games with the Eastman Selects of the Midget AAA League. Hurricanes Assistant GM, Brad Robson says “he was highly sought after by a number of teams. He’s a big strong kid and the only kid in the draftto play and compete in the Midget AAA Hockey League. He had over 100 PIM’s and with his size, he will add to our defensive core.”
With their 3rd pick in the 2012 Bantam Draft (28th overall), the Lethbridge Hurricanes selected 15-year old Forward Cole Plotnikoff from Surrey, BC. Plotnikoff is 5’11 and 150 lbs, and in 20 games with Semiahmoo (PCBHL) Plotnikoff had 29 points (8G, 21A) in 20 games.
Hurricanes Scout Stewart Robertson calls Plotnikoff “a complete player who has good work ethic. He skates well and has good hands. He’s not flashy, he’s just a solid up and down skater who doesn’t makes mistakes; he’s a character guy, a team player and also shows some leadership.”
The Hurricanes were without a pick in the 3rd round with the trade of Brandon Anderson to the Wheat Kings in October, but they made a deal with the Prince George Cougars (originally Kelowna’s pick) to have a selection coming 53rd overall. The Canes traded a 3rd and 6th round pick next year and an 8th round pick in 2014 for the selection in which they moved up so they could draft Centre Colt Conrad from St. Alphonse, MB. The 5’8, 149 pounder was an offensive threat for the Pembina Valley AAA Bantam Hawks registering 150 points (79G, 71A) in 53 games. Assistant GM, Brad Robson says “Colt brings a lot of speed and skill, he was Captain of his team, he’s skilled and will bring a lot of scoring to us.” Area Scout Gary Hanson added “he’s phsycially strong, competes hard and his team won Bronze at the Western Canadian Bantam Championships.”
The Canes lone pick of the 4th round was 87th overall, a selection they acquired from Tri City with the trade of Derek Ryckman. The Canes selected Zachary Goberis of Arvada, CO. At 6’0 and 181 pounds, Goberis had 7 goals and 5 assists in 12 games with the Major Bantam Colorado Thunderbirds. Assistant GM, Brad Robson says “he’s strong at the net, creates offense with size, strength and his hands.” Blake Robson had a chance to scout him at the US Prospects camp in Anaheim, CA and says “he’s a big strong kid, a power type forward.”
The 2012 WHL Bantam Draft kicked off Thursday morning (May 3rd, 2012) at 8:30 AM MT from the Sundance Room at the Deerfoot Inn in Calgary, AB. For the first time in franchise history, the Seattle Thunderbirds had the first overall pick and they used their pick to select Mathew Barzal of the Burnaby Winter Club.
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