Lethbridge, AB – Following last year’s historic draft in which the Lethbridge Hurricanes had two picks in the 1^st round (3^rd and 5^th overall for the first time in franchise history), the Hurricanes are once again in a good position heading into the 2012 Bantam Draft. The Hurricanes will pick 4^th overall in the first round and also have the 18^th pick (Moose Jaw’s) with the trade of Cam Braes.

The Hurricanes scouting staff has been busy all season watching this year’s crop of talent and Hurricanes Assistant General Manager Brad Robson says they “are expecting to draft from both BC and Alberta while he expects Saskatchewan and Manitoba will have their high end guys go early on.”

 With the early season trade of Goalie Brandon Anderson to the Brandon Wheat Kings which also saw the Canes deal their 3^rd and 6^th round picks, Robson added “we will get 3 really good players in those early couple of rounds which will only compliment what we already have in the system… the key to this year’s draft is where the USA kids will go. The prospects camp in Anaheim and the scouting that was done showed there was a lot of talent in the US and the ’97 group of US kids is the best we’ve seen in a long time.”

1^st ROUND ORDER OF SELECTION (based on draft lottery)

1). Seattle Thunderbirds
2). Prince Albert Raiders
3). Prince George Cougars
4). Lethbridge Hurricanes

5). Swift Current Broncos
6). Red Deer Rebels
7). Everett Silvertips
8). Victoria Royals
9). Kelowna Rockets

10). Kootenay Ice
11). Regina Pats
12). Brandon Wheat Kings
13). Saskatoon Blades
14). Spokane Chiefs
15). Vancouver Giants
16). Medicine Hat Tigers
17). Calgary Hitmen
18). Moose Jaw Warriors
19). Kamloops Blazers
20). Portland Winterhawks
21). Tri-City Americans
22). Edmonton Oil Kings

2^nd ROUND AND ALL SUBSEQUENT ROUNDS

1)  Prince Albert Raiders
2)  Prince George Cougars
3)  Seattle Thunderbirds
4)  Everett Silvertips
5)  Victoria Royals
6)  Lethbridge Hurricanes
7)  Swift Current Broncos
8)  Red Deer Rebels
9). Kelowna Rockets
10). Kootenay Ice
11). Regina Pats
12). Brandon Wheat Kings
13). Saskatoon Blades
14). Spokane Chiefs
15). Vancouver Giants
16). Medicine Hat Tigers
17). Calgary Hitmen
18). Moose Jaw Warriors

19). Kamloops Blazers
20). Portland Winterhawks
21). Tri-City Americans
22). Edmonton Oil Kings

Players eligible for the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft will be 1997-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.

WHL fans can watch the first round of the WHL Bantam Draft live online via Webcast. The Draft begins at 8:30AM MST.