The Blazers' picks . . .

The 2010 WHL bantam draft selections by the Kamloops Blazers, showing the round pick and the number of the pick, with comments by Matt Recchi, the team’s director of player personnel:
1. (8) F Matt Needham, Penticton Vees (bantam AAA).
Needham, 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, had 253 points in 64 games. “When he wants the puck, which is pretty much every shift, he gets it. He plays a lot of minutes on his bantam team and every shift he probably has the puck 75 per cent of the time. The puck is always on this stick. He wants it. He wants to be a difference maker.”
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2. (30) F Cole Ully, Calgary Bronks (bantam AAA).
The WHL had Ully, a left winger, at 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds; however, he also has been shown as 5-foot-9 and 140 pounds. He had 64 points, including 34 goals, in 32 games with the bantam AAA Calgary Bronks. “Has tremendous speed. A real competitive guy. We slated him in the second round from the first time we saw him. He was tremendous down the stretch.”
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2. (35) D Tyson Harvey, Nanaimo Clippers (bantam AAA).
There weren’t any stats available for Harvey, who is shown as being 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds. “Big, strong physical defenceman who has some offensive upside. He borders on being a mean player. Very good passing skills. Very, very good skater.”
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3. (61) D Josh Connolly, Prince George (bantam AAA).
The 5-foot-7, 145-pounder is the brother of Cougars star Brett Connolly. There weren’t any stats available on his season “Smaller skilled defenceman with great skating ability. A natural skater. Glides on his skates with great edges. He’ll be able to run the power play one day. Sees the ice extremely well and has lots of giddy-up. Plays with a lot of poise. He’s a smaller defenceman but his brother is 6-foot-2 so there’s a chance he could grow.”
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5. (98) F Matt McLeod, Saskatoon.
The 5-foot-11, 160-pounder had 47 points, including 27 goals, with the bantam AA Saskatoon Stallions. “A big strong, winger. In a straight line, he could be the fastest skater in the draft. Relentless on the foecheck. Creates offence by getting in fast on the forecheck and being real physical. Not afraid to grind it out. Captain of his team and he can score.”
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6. (118) F Dylan Frey, Weyburn, Sask.
The 6-foot-0, 165-pounder had 50 points in 26 games with the bantam AA Weyburn Mission Wings. “A player we circled (Wednesday) night at our meeting. A player we really wanted to draft. A big hard-nosed winger who plays a power game and goes to the net as hard as anyone. A real good second gear for a big guy. Going to be a big, pounding winger who can score.”
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6. (132) D Ryan Rehill, Edmonton Maple Leaf Athletic Club.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder had 17 points and 54 penalty minutes in 32 games with his bantam AAA team. “Mark Blair, our Edmonton north scout, suggests he was probably the most improved player in northern Alberta this season. A big raw defenceman who is very physical . . . crushing hits. Makes a good first pass and his skating has improved dramatically. Big strong guy.”
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7. (140) G Braden Krogfoss, North Shore Winter Club.
The 5-foot-10, 140-pounder was the only goaltender selected by the Blazers. He was 27-5 with a 1.98 GAA and a .910 save percentage. He is from Cloverdale. “Played real well at the St. Albert tournament and was real good in Westerns. A real quick goalie. Never gave up on pucks. Real competitive.”
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8. (162) F Mackenzie Ferner, Vernon (bantam AAA).
The 6-foot-0, 150-pound son of former Mark Ferner, a former player and coach who now is GM/head coach of the two-time BCHL-champion Vernon Vipers. “From last year to this, his improvement is drastic. Plays with lots of poise and confidence. Skating has gotten better and better. Really competitive and passes the puck really well. And we’re glad to get the son of another alumni.” No statistics were available.