There were some interesting trades made during the bantam draft.
For starters, the Brandon Wheat Kings gave the Regina Pats a third-round selection (60th oveall) and F Geordie Maguire, 18, for “draft considerations.” The Pats agreed not to select F Nolan Patrick of Winnipeg with the second pick of the first round, leaving him for the Wheat Kings to take at No. 4.
Patrick’s father, Steve, played for the Wheat Kings (1978-81) and was selected 20th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1980 NHL draft. Nolan is a nephew of James Patrick, a defenceman who played in 1,280 NHL games after attending North Dakota and being selected ninth overall by the New York Rangers in 1981.
Maguire, from Winnipeg, had nine points in 64 games this season.
Brandon also dealt G Corbin Boes, 20, and the 17th pick in the draft to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for the sixth pick. Brandon used that selection to take D Kale Clague of Lloydminster, Alta. Clague is the son of former WHL G Jason Clague (Regina, Red Deer, 1991-95).
Boes, from Saskatoon, spent three seasons with Brandon, playing in 117 games and going 46-45-14, 3.35, .901.
The Wheat Kings are left with Curtis Honey, 19, and Jordan Papirny, 17, as the top two goaltenders on their depth chart.
Later, the Spokane Chiefs dealt F Todd Fiddler, 20, to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a third-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft.
Fiddler had a career-high 42 goals this season. The native of Meadow Lake, Sask., was a healthy scratch for the fourth game of a second-round series with the Portland Winterhawks. The Winterhawks won that game, 5-0, and swept the series.
The trade also gets Spokane down to the maximum three 20-year-olds — G Eric Williams, F Mike Aviani and F Mitch Holmberg — but, of course, that could all change before next season gets here.
Fiddler is one of four 1993-born players on Moose Jaw’s roster, the others being F Sam Fioretti, F Jordan Wyton and D Reid Jackson, whose season was cut short by a concussion.
Meanwhile, Regina sent a fourth-round pick (68th overall) to the Calgary Hitmen for G Dawson MacAuley, who is to turn 19 on June 14. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound MacAuley, who is from Prince Albert, has had a couple of brief looks with the Medicine Hat Tigers, including six games early this season.
Medicine Hat selected him with the 39th pick of the 2009 bantam draft. The Tigers dropped his rights after adding G Cam Lanigan early this season. The Hitmen then added him to their protected list.
MacAuley ended up with the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers, and went 16-6-1, 2.14, .921 in the regular season. MacAuley and the Terriers won the SJHL title and now are in Nanaimo, B.C., competing for a berth in the Royal Bank Cup.
Matt Hewitt was Regina’s starter this season, but he has used up his eligibility. The backup was Teagan Sacher, who turns 19 on Dec. 1.
And the Vancouver Giants dealt F Owen Sillinger, who was taken with the 199th selection in the 2012 draft, to the Saskatoon Blades. In the deal, the Blades traded the 39th overall pick in yesterday’s draft and a second-rounder in 2014 for Sillinger and the 41st and 44th selections yesterday. Sillinger is the son of former NHL F Mike Sillinger, who played for his hometown Pats.
———
For all the bantam draft coverage and statistics, check out Alan Caldwell’s blog Small Thoughts At Large. There is a link over there on the right.
My contribution is a collection of bloodlines, presented here in no particular order (feel free to post a message point out any that I have missed, and I’m sure there are some) . . .
The Kootenay Ice used the 89th selection on F Drew Warkentine of Prince Albert, the brother of Moose Jaw Warriors F Myles Warkentine.
With the 90th selection, the Tri-City Americans took F Morgan Geekie of Strathclair, Man. He is the son of former WHL D Craig Geekie (Brandon, Spokane, 1990-94).
The Calgary Hitmen selected G Kyle Dumba of Calgary with the 68th pick. He and Red Deer Rebels D Mathew Dumba are brothers.
The Regina Pats used the 28th pick to take D Liam Schioler, a Winnipeger who played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. His cousin, Dane, also from Winnipeg, was taken by the Pats in the second round of the 2012 draft.
The Saskatoon Blades’ first two picks have hockey bloodlines. D Nolan Reid (41st) of Deer Valley, Sask., and D Parker Smyth (44th) of Red Deer have fathers – Scott Reid and Kevin Smyth – who played with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Kelowna Rockets took D Callun Foote from the bantam AAA Colorado Thunderbirds with the 43rd selection. His father, Adam, is a former NHL defenceman.
F Tyler Benson, taken first overall by the Vancouver Giants, is the brother of Edmonton Oil Kings F Cole Benson.
With the fourth overall pick, the Brandon Wheat Kings took F Nolan Patrick of Winnipeg. His father, Steve, played with the Wheat Kings before going on to the NHL, while an uncle, James, is a former NHL defenceman. Steve and James both were NHL first-round draft picks.
The Moose Jaw Warriors took F Brett Howden of Oakbank, Man., with the fifth overall pick. He is a brother to Quinton Howden, a former Warriors defenceman (2007-12).
With the sixth overall pick, the Brandon Wheat Kings took D Kale Clague, the son of former WHL G Jason Clague (Regina, Red Deer, 1991-95).
The Medicine Hat Tigers used the No. 10 pick on D David Quenneville of Edmonton. His brother, John, is a forward with the Wheat Kings.
The Victoria Royals took D Dante Hannoun of the North Shore Winter Club with the 11th pick. He and Portland Winterhawks F Nic Petan are cousins.
Kamloops took D James Miller of Spruce Grove, Alta., with the 129th pick. He and former Brandon D Ryley Miller are brothers.
Kamloops took F Garrett Pilon of Kindersley, Sask., in the seventh round. He is the son of former WHL/NHL D Rich Pilon (Prince Albert, 1985-88).
Portland opened the seventh round by taking F Keiffer Bellows of Edina, Minn. He is the son of former NHLer Brian Bellows.
Calgary took D Quaid McBean of the minor midget Phoenix Jr. Coyotes in the seventh round. He is the son of former WHL/NHL D Wayne McBean (Medicine Hat, 1985-88).
In the eighth round, the Kelowna Rockets took D Connor Bowey of Winnipeg. He is the brother of Kelowna D Madison Bowey.
In the 10th round, Saskatoon took F Brett Clayton of Abbotsford, B.C. His brother, Clayton, is a forward with the Calgary Hitmen.
D Marshall Skapski of Abbotsford became the third brother to be selected when he went 54th overall to the Medicine Hat Tigers. MacKenzie is the Kootenay Ice’s starting goaltender, while Mitch is a forward with the Everett Silvertips. . . . Who has draft bragging rights for the Skapski family? That would be Marshall. . . . The Ice took Mackenzie with the 57th pick in 2009. Mitch was taken by Portland with the 86th selection of the 2011 draft. He was dealt to Everett as part of the Seth Jones deal.
The Spokane Chiefs selected D Jake Toporowski from a bantam AAA team in in Chicago with the 62nd pick. His father, Kerry, is a former WHL player who spent two seasons (1989-91) with the Chiefs and was part of the organization’s first Memorial Cup-championship team.
According to a Chiefs news release: “A Bettendorf, Iowa native, Toporowski had petitioned the WHL earlier in the spring and received approval to be eligible for the bantam draft based on family history and current relationships within the league.”


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A few draft notes . . .

 A tip of the cap — no, a thousand tips of the cap — to Alan Caldwell over at Small Thoughts at Large for his tremendous coverage of the WHL’s bantam draft.
If you haven’t visited his site, get over there. There’s a link over there on the right. And everything you wanted to know about the draft is right there.
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I won’t even pretend to try and compete with that. But I have thrown together a few notes . . . It is rather interesting that the Tri-City Americans used their first selection (No. 75) on C Brian Williams of San Diego, who played for the L.A. Selects bantam AAA team. That is an interesting selection because the Americans used an eighth-round pick in the 2010 draft on F Brian Williams of Claremont, Calif. The latter Williams has signed with Tri-City. . . . The Americans, despite not picking until the third round, still took 11 players and seven of them were from the U.S. . . .
The WHL site shows that the Prince Albert Raiders selected F Mitchell Barker of the Kamloops Jardine’s Blazers with the 206th pick. However, that 10th-round selection actually was made by the Spokane Chiefs.
———
What follows are some of the bloodlines from the draft, showing draft position, selecting team and family connection. . . .
3. D Ryan Pilon, Lethbridge — Nephew of former WHL and NHL D Rich Pilon.
7. C Ty Mappin, Everett — Brother of former WHL F Cass Mappin, who was selected by Red Deer with the 12th overall pick in 2005.
18. C Blake Penner, Medicine Hat — Brother of Cole Penner, who was taken fourth overall by Prince Albert in the 2006 draft.
11. D Kord Pankewicz, Brandon — Cousin of former WHLer Greg Pankewicz.
15. F Rourke Chartier, Kelowna — Son of former WHLer Marc Chartier.
19. C Tanner MacMaster, Spokane — Brother of Calgary Hitmen F Nathan MacMaster.
 20. F Thomas Foster, Vancouver — Brother of Edmonton Oil Kings F T.J. Foster.
23. D Josh Thrower, Calgary — Brother of Saskatoon D Dalton Thrower.
24. F Dakota Odgers, Swift Current — Son of former NHLer Jeff Odgers.
36. F Dane Schioler, Regina — Son of former WHLer Dave Schioler.
50. D Connor Clouston, Kamloops — Son of Medicine Hat head coach Shaun Clouston.
52. C Tim Vanstone, Prince Albert — No relation to Regina Leader-Post sports columnist Rob Vanstone.
54. LW John Quenneville, Brandon — Cousin of Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville.
64. C Dominic Turgeon, Portland — Son of former NHL player Pierre Turgeon.
66. C Landyn Hickmott, Saskatoon — Brother of former WHL player Jordan Hickmott.
67. F Chris Wilkie, Victoria — Son of former NHL and WHL player David Wilkie.
76. D Sam Ruopp, Prince George — Brother of Prince Albert D Harrison Ruopp.
119. F Logan Mick, Edmonton — Son of former WHL coach and player Troy Mick.
123. F Riley Simpson, Edmonton — Son of former NHLer Craig Simpson.
137. F Jake DeBrusk, Swift Current — Son of former NHLer Louie DeBrusk.
138. D Connor Hamonic, Kamloops — Younger brother of D Justin Hamonic of the Tri-City Americans.
142. F Mitchell Lipon, Prince George — Younger brother of Kamloops F J.C. Lipon.
166. F Jason Miller, Brandon — Former WHLer Don Gillen is a great uncle.
171. F Jared Virtanen, Kootenay — Cousin to F Jake Virtanen, who went to Calgary with the first overall pick in this draft.
175. F Chase Thudium, Red Deer — Son of former WHLer Cal Thudium.
183. LW Nicholas Pouliot, Everett — Brother of Portland D Derrick Pouliot.
196. D Layne Viveiros, Portland — Son of former Prince Albert D Emanuel Viveiros. Layne played in Austria this season. (Alan Caldwell noted: “Now, this is an interesting pick. This is the son of Emanuel Viveiros and he has been playing in the Austrian league, where the family lives. The only way this is a legal pick is if the family has moved back to WHL territory, like the Musils two years ago. Layne is a 1995 born player, not 1996 like everyone else in this draft.”

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Blazers take Manitoba product in first round

JORDAN THOMSON

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
Any stress Jordan Thomson felt on Thursday was of his own doing, and it didn't last very long.
Thomson, a 15-year-old from Wawanesa, Man., was the Kamloops Blazers' first selection in the WHL's bantam draft, held Thursday in Calgary. Thomson went fourth overall, the highest the Blazers have ever selected in the first round.
It was a self-proclaimed “great day” for the 5-foot-11, 165-pound defenceman, but it started a little earlier than he might have liked.
Thomson had been nervous a few days prior to the draft, but slept like a log Wednesday night.
The only problem?
“I got up a bit too early,” admitted Thomson, who got out of bed at around 7 a.m., then had to kill 2-1/2 hours before the Calgary Hitmen made the draft's first selection, forward Jake Virtanen of Abbotsford.
Fortunately for Thomson, he didn't have to wait long once the draft started.
“I was pretty nervous,” Thomson said. “But more so four or five days before. I couldn't sleep. But last night, I actually slept really well.”
The top three picks in the draft went as expected - after Virtanen, the Swift Current Broncos took Calgary defenceman Brycen Martin and the Lethbridge Hurricanes selected defenceman Ryan Pilon of Duck Lake, Sask.
Thomson, who was the third-ranked defenceman heading into the draft, was chosen fourth.
He certainly wasn't surprised at being drafted early - he took the day off school and was watching the webcast - but he was prepared to wait a little longer than he had to Thursday.
“Everyone was saying (between) seven (and) 10, seven to 10,” Thomson said. “So I was expecting to go seven to 10. Then my named popped up at four . . .”
That brought about a celebration from his family and a phone call from the Blazers, who told Thomson they like his style of play.
“I'm mostly an offensive defenceman,” Thomson explained. “I can jump in and jump out . . . I'm solid defensively.
“Hopefully I have a little more growing to do,” he added, noting that he's already taller than his father, Brian, who stands 5-foot-8.
Thomson was one of only two players in Western Canada to play midget AAA as a 14-year-old. He starred for the Brandon-based Southwest Cougars of the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League, finishing with 16 points, 14 of them assists, and 42 penalty minutes in 40 games.
The Cougars won the league's West Division, but were swept out of the league final by the Winnipeg Thrashers, who went on to win the Telus Cup national championship in St. John's, N.L., last month.
All in all, it was a great experience for Thomson, who plans to play for the Cougars again next season.
“It was a great experience,” he said, “playing against bigger, smarter players. I had to pick up my game . . . it definitely made me better.”
Thomson already was thinking about the future Thursday, but not before celebrating with his family in Brandon.
Wawanesa, which is about 50 kilometres southeast of Brandon, is home to about 500 people and, most notably, the Wawanesa Insurance Co., which is housed in “the biggest building in town,” according to Thomson.
Because there's not a lot going on there, Thomson and about six or seven relatives from Wawanesa and Virden, which is about an hour west of Brandon on the Trans-Canada Highway, were to converge in Brandon for dinner.
Thomson will spend part of the summer at his family's cabin on Clear Lake, located about 100 km north of Brandon, before hitting the gym.
“I'll be at the lake for a bit, then it's back to Brandon to work out for the summer,” he said.

Eight is enough for Jardine's Blazers

Seven of the eight Kamloops Jardine's Blazers who were selected in the WHL's bantam draft on Thursday: From left, Mitchell Barker, Ryan Gropp (back), Chad Butcher, Matt Murray, Kyle Michalovsky, Liam McLeod (back) and Joe Hicketts. Missing from the photo is Carson Bolduc, who is from Salmon Arm.
(Photo by Murray Mitchell / Kamloops Daily News)

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
The Kamloops Jardine’s Blazers bantam Tier 1 team got pretty good at celebrating throughout the season.
But for some, being chosen in Thursday’s WHL bantam draft was as much a cause to celebrate as it was a relief.
The Blazers had eight players selected in Thursday’s bantam draft, which was held in Calgary. The eight Kamloops-based players chosen marked the most successful draft ever for Kamloops, and equaled the amount of locals selected over the previous six drafts, dating back to 2005.
The week leading up to the draft was quite stressful for the eligible Blazers, what with the actual hockey finished for the season and their fate in everyone else’s hands.
Defenceman Joe Hicketts, who last played in Sunday’s final at the B.C. Cup showcase tournament at Interior Savings Centre, was a popular guy the previous four days. He’s glad it’s over.
“We’ve been getting phone call after phone call,” said Hicketts, who was chosen 12th overall by Victoria. “I think I was on the phone more in this last week than I’m usually on it in a year.
“Team after team calling, asking more questions . . . but it was weird knowing you could do nothing about it. It’s out of your hands.”
The Blazers’ season was absolutely magical, there’s no other way to put it.
Not only did they win major tournaments in St. Albert and Medicine Hat, they also won the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament in April — only the second time a Kamloops team has done so.
And Thursday was a nice reward for nearly half the Blazers’ 17-person roster.
Hicketts was one of two Kamloops players chosen in the first round, following forward Ryan Gropp, who was taken sixth overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Forward Carson Bolduc, a Salmon Arm native who played for the Blazers this season, went 59th overall to the Prince George Cougars, with Chad Butcher, also a forward, going 62nd overall to the Medicine Hat Tigers.
The Kootenay Ice selected defenceman Matt Murray 70th overall, with goaltender Liam McLeod going 182nd to the Kamloops Blazers, forward Mitchell Barker taken 206th by the Spokane Chiefs and goaltender Kyle Michalovsky chosen 221st by the Calgary Hitmen.
(The WHL website lists Barker as having been chosen by the Prince Albert Raiders, but he was in fact chosen by Spokane).
Hicketts and Gropp didn’t have to sweat through the day not knowing where they would be picked — both boys knew they had been selected before they headed off to school.
“I wasn’t expecting too much,” Gropp said. “I was expecting to go pretty high, but I had no idea where I was going to go.”
Gropp got a congratulatory phone call from Seattle general manager Russ Farwell.
“I just let him speak,” Gropp said. “I didn’t really have much to say — I was kind of in shock about what happened.”
Real life didn’t stop for the others, who spent the day at school, sitting on pins and needles.
Murray was sitting in a social studies class when he got a text message from his mother.
“It just said that Kootenay picked me,” Murray said. “The last four days, I’ve just been waiting. . . . I was curious, but I wouldn’t say I was stressed.”
For McLeod, the timing of his call couldn’t have been worse. He was doing a science test when his cell phone started ringing.
“Got a phone call from my mom and interrupted the whole class — it was a pretty good reason, I thought,” McLeod said. “The teacher understood after I told her what the call was about.”
McLeod really doesn’t know how well he did on the test.
“My mind wasn’t really in it after the phone call,” he admitted. “I was pretty excited, thinking about other stuff.”
He is only the sixth Kamloops player to be selected by the Blazers over the past 16 years, and was pleased to have received a phone call from goaltending coach Dan De Palma yesterday afternoon.
“I’m really glad — I really wanted to play here,” McLeod said. “I’m glad I get to stay at home, and I really like Dan De Palma — he’s a great goalie coach and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
The Blazers had a chance to select Gropp or Hicketts with the fourth pick, but neither boy was disappointed when they selected defenceman Jordan Thomson of Wawanesa, Man.
“I’m really happy that Seattle took me,” Gropp said. “It’s a good opportunity.”
“It would have been cool to have stayed in your hometown,” Hicketts added, “but it’s pretty cool that you get to go live somewhere else for a while and learn from other people’s experiences.”

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca

WEHP mock draft

In advance of Thursday’s WHL bantam draft, Tyler Neisz of Western Elite Hockey Prospects has shared with us the mock draft held by WEHP.
Here, then, is how it went . . .
1. Calgary — D Brycen Moen, Calgary Bisons
2. Swift Current — D Ryan Pilon, Warman SK
3. Lethbridge — F Jake Virtanen, Abbotsford Hawks
4. Kamloops — F Ryan Gropp, Kamloops Jardine’s Blazers
5. Lethbridge — D Jordan Thomson, SouthWest Cougars MB
6. Seattle — F Reid Duke, Calgary Royals
7. Everett — F Ty Mappin, Red Deer Rebels White
8. Prince Albert — F Reid Gardiner, Humboldt Broncos
9. Edmonton — D Zach Gonek, St. Albert AB
10. Prince George — FMiles Warkentine, Prince Albert Pirates
11. Brandon — D Aaron Irving, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton
12. Victoria — F Conner Bleackley, Okotoks Oilers
13. Swift Current — F John Quennville, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton
14. Moose Jaw — F Rhett Gardner, Moose Jaw Warriors
15. Kelowna — F Tanner Macmaster, Calgary Bisons
16. Regina — F Rourke Chartier, Saskatoon Stallions
17. Kootenay — D Jordan Harris, Prince Albert Pirates
18. Medicine Hat — F Kolten Olynek, Saskatoon Outlaws
19. Spokane — F Steven Owre, L.A. Selects
20. Vancouver — F Riley Stadel, Cloverdale Colts (BC)
21. Red Deer — F Collin Shirley, Saskatoon Bandits
22. Brandon — F Adam Brooks, Winnipeg Hawks
(SOURCE: Western Elite Hockey Prospects)

Western Elite Hockey Prospects' Top 50

The WHL’s bantam draft is to be held Thursday in Calgary.
The vast majority of the drafted players will have been born in 1996, although there likely will be a few 1995-borns selected in the later rounds.
From a WHL news release: “Players eligible . . . will be 1996-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.”
You aren’t going to find a whole lot of coverage at this site on the bantam draft and I don’t intend to provide any draft-day coverage. For that, you should visit Alan Caldwell’s site — Small Thoughts at Large.
However, thanks to Tyler Neisz of Western Elite Hockey Prospects, we have had some advance coverage over the last few days.
Today, we bring you WEHP’s Top 50 going into the draft:

1. D Ryan Pilon, Warman SK, 6-1.5, 170
2. D Brycen Martin, Calgary Bisons, 6-0, 155
3. LW Jake Virtanen, Abbotsford BC, 5-11, 164
4. F Ryan Gropp, Kamloops, 6-0, 146
5. F Reid Duke, Calgary Royals, 5-10, 160
6. D Jordan Thomson, Southwest Cougars MB (midget AAA), 6-0, 167
7. C Reid Gardiner, Humboldt SK, 5-11, 162
8. F Ty Mappin, Red Deer Rebels White, 5-10, 154
9. F Conner Bleackley, Okotoks AB, 5-11, 170
10. F Mile Warkentine, Prince Albert, 6-0, 165
11. D Zach Gonek, St. Alberta AB, 6-1, 185
12. D Aaron Irving, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton, 6-0, 165
13. F Tanner Macmaster, Calgary Bisons, 5-8, 135
14. F John Quennville, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton, 6-0, 180
15. F Rourke Chartier, Saskatoon Stallions, 5-7, 140
16. D Joe Hicketts, Kamloops, 5-6, 169
17. F Adam Brooks, Winnipeg Hawks, 5-9, 153
18. C Kolten Olynek, Saskatoon Outlaws, 5-7, 150
19. D Haydn Fleury, Notre Dame, 6-1, 175
20. D Jordan Harris, Prince Albert, 6-1, 170
21. C Collin Shirley, Saskatoon Bandits, 5-11, 150
22. D Riley Stadel, Cloverdale BC, 5-10, 158
23. D Zach Patterson, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton, 5-9.5, 153
24. D Josh Thrower, Pursuit of Excellence, 5-11, 172
25. F Rhett Gardner, Moose Jaw, 6-1, 175
26. F Blake Penner, Notre Dame, 5-8.5, 153
27. F Brayden Point, Calgary Bisons, 5-3, 130
28. D Brandon Hickey, Leduc AB, 5-11, 150
29. F Braden Oleksyn, Beardy’s SK (midget AAA), 5-10, 180
30. D Griffin Mumby, Calgary Bronks, 5-11, 166
31. D Shaun Dosanjh, Richmond (Seafair) BC, 6-0, 165
32. D/F Kord Pankewicz (D/F), Leduc AB, 5-10, 155
33. F Tyler Sandhu, Richmond (Seafair) BC, 5-10, 148
34. D Taylor Fisher, Winnipeg Warriors, 6-1, 225
35. F Carter Amson, Martensville Marauders SK, 6-1, 170
36. F Cavin Leth, Lethbridge, 5-11 135
37. G Jordan Papirny, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton, 5-10, 136
38. F Ryan Duret, Prince Albert, 5-9, 155
39. D/F Michael Bell, Kitimat BC (midget), 5-11, 185
40. F Spencer Meyer, Surrey BC, 5-10, 144
41. F Logan Franz, Shattuck St. Mary’s, 6-0, 170
42. D Jake Dube, Airdrie Xtreme, 5-9, 150
43. D David Dunn, Russell MB, 6-0, 150
44. F Josh Uhrich, Notre Dame, 5-11, 165
45. F Tim Vanstone, Swift Current, 5-10, 175
46. F Landyn Hickmott, Mission BC, 5-10, 168
47. F Dallas Starodub, Winnipeg Hawks, 6-0, 160
48. D Travis Sanheim, Elkhorn MB, 5-9, 140
49. F Tyler Wong, Airdrie AB, 5-7, 155
50. F Alec Dawydiak, Richmond (Seafair) BC, 5-10, 160
(SOURCE: Western Elite Hockey Prospects)

Sunday . . .

The WHL’s bantam draft is set for Thursday in Calgary.
With the help of Tyler Neisz of Western Elite Hockey Prospects, we are providing a bit of advance coverage in the form of some of Western Elite Hockey Prospects’ rankings.
Today, here’s a look at WEHP’s top 15 forwards:
1. Jake Virtanen, Abbotsford BC, 5-11, 164
2. Ryan Gropp, Kamloops, 6-0, 146
3. Reid Duke, Calgary Royals, 5-10, 160
4. Reid Gardiner, Humboldt SK, 5-11, 162
5. Ty Mappin, Red Deer Rebels White, 5-10, 154
6. Conner Bleackley, Okotoks AB, 5-11, 170
7. Mile Warkentine, Prince Albert, 6-0, 165
8. Tanner Macmaster, Calgary Bisons, 5-8, 135
9. John Quennville, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton, 6-0, 180
10. Rourke Chartier, Saskatoon Stallions, 5-7, 140
11. Adam Brooks, Winnipeg Hawks, 5-9, 153
12. Kolten Olynek, Saskatoon Outlaws, 5-7, 150
13. Collin Shirley, Saskatoon Bandits, 5-11, 150
14. Rhett Gardner, Moose Jaw, 6-1, 175
15. Blake Penner, Notre Dame, 5-8.5, 153
(SOURCE: Western Elite Hockey Prospects)
———
Brent Peterson, a former player and coach with the Portland Winterhawks, no longer goes on the ice with the Nashville Predators, even though he is an associate coach with the NHL team. He knows, too, that he won’t ever get to be an NHL head coach.
“His Parkinson's disease has finally worked over his body to the extent that he can't go on the ice any longer with the Nashville Predators,” writes Jim Matheson in the Edmonton Jounral. “It's a crying shame, really, but Peterson, who is Barry Trotz's right-hand man, can still be on the bench.”
Matheson’s complete story is right here.
———
Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist bids a fond farewell to the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings right here. The Salmon Kings, who are being bumped from their town by the WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins, trail the Anchorage Aces 3-0 going into tonight’s game in Victoria. Should the Salmon Kings lose this one, their run will be over. Permanently.
———
One of the QMJHL’s semifinals ended in a sweep, with the Saint John Sea Dogs taking out the Lewiston Maineiacs, while the other is headed to Game 7. The host Gatineau Olympiques beat the Quebec Remparts 4-0 on Sunday to tie that series 3-3. Game 7 will be played Tuesday at the Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City.
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The WHL playoffs resume tonight with the Portland Winterhawks in Spokane to meet the Chiefs. Portland holds a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference final, with the winner to meet the Kootenay Ice for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. . . . According to a Chiefs news release, “Four of the last five playoff meetings between the two have gone the distance and each time Spokane has won a sixth game forcing the seventh and deciding game.” . . . Game 7, if needed, is scheduled for Portland’s Rose Garden on Tuesday. Should this series go the distance, the teams will finish up having played four games in five nights. . . . Yes, the Ice is smilin’ and hopin’.
———
THE COACHING GAME: The KIJHL’s Grand Forks, B.C., Border Bruins have signed Brent Batten as their new GM/head coach. Batten spent this season coaching at the Pursuit of Excellent academy in Kelowna. The Border Bruins, a junior B team, had relieved GM/head coach Jesse Dorrans of his duties in January.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Saturday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jeremy Reich (Seattle, Swift Current, 1995-2000) signed a one-year contract with Ingolstadt (Germany DEL). He had 14 goals and nine assists in 72 games for the Providence Bruins (AHL) this season. Reich also was captain of the Bruins. Ingolstadt GM Jim Boni: "Jeremy has great character, is a very hard working player with leadership qualities. He is also a good skater, which makes him even more dangerous on the larger ice surfaces in Europe. He has put up good numbers, although he has rarely played on the power play. We are delighted to have Jeremy in the Panther family."
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The WHL’s bantam draft is set for Thursday in Calgary.
With the help of Tyler Neisz of Western Elite Hockey Prospects, we are providing a bit of advance coverage in the form of some of Western Elite Hockey Prospects’ rankings.
Today, here’s a look at WEHP’s top 15 defencemen:
1. Ryan Pilon, Warman SK, 6-1.5, 170
2. Brycen Martin, Calgary Bisons, 6-0, 155
3. Jordan Thomson, Southwest Cougars MB (midget AAA), 6-0, 167
4. Zach Gonek, St. Alberta AB, 6-1, 185
5. Aaron Irving, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton, 6-0, 165
6. Joe Hicketts, Kamloops, 5-6, 169
7. Haydn Fleury, Notre Dame, 6-1, 175
8. Jordan Harris, Prince Albert, 6-1, 170
9. Riley Stadel, Cloverdale BC, 5-10, 158
10. Zach Patterson, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton, 5-9.5, 153
11. Josh Thrower, Pursuit of Excellence, 5-11, 172
12. Brandon Hickey, Leduc AB, 5-11, 150
13. Griffin Mumby, Calgary Bronks, 5-11, 166
14. Shaun Dosanjh, Richmond (Seafair) BC, 6-0, 165
15. Kord Pankewicz (D/F), Leduc AB, 5-10, 155
(SOURCE: Western Elite Hockey Prospects — westernelitehockeyprospects.blogspot.com)
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In Victoria, the Anchorage Aces scored six straight goals and beat the Salmon Kings 6-2 on Saturday night to take a 3-0 lead in the ECHL’s best-of-seven Western Conference final. . . . The Aces get their first shot at wrapping it up on Monday in Victoria. . . . The Salmon Kings, who are being replaced in the B.C. capital by the WHL franchise formerly known as the Chilliwack Bruins, scored the games first goal but then gave up six in a row. . . . Attendance was 3,614. . . . The Aces won the first two games at home, scoring with nine seconds left in the third period take the opener 2-1 and then winning Game 2, 4-3, in OT. By the way, the winner in Game 2, originally credited to former Salmon Kings captain Wes Goldie, later was changed to F Chris Langkow (Spokane, Saskatoon, Everett, 2005-2010). Langkow added two more goals in Game 3.
Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist was at Game 3, and his story is right here.
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ON THE WHL ICE SATURDAY:
In Portland, F Sven Bartschi scored one goal and added two assists to help the Winterhawks to a 3-2 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . The Winterhawks lead the best-of-seven Western Conference final 3-2 with Game 6 in Spokane on Monday. A seventh game, if needed, would be played in Portland on Tuesday. . . . Spokane F Tyler Johnson opened the scoring just 59 seconds into the first period. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth all but shut the door after that. He was beaten by F Mitch Holmberg at 12:48 of the third but finished with 39 saves. . . . Bartschi tied the score at 19:27 of the second and drew assists on goals by F Ty Rattie, at 5:22 of the third, and F Craig Cunningham, at 11:47. . . . Spokane G James Reid stopped 40 shots. . . . Spokane was 0-for-1 on the PP; Portland was 0-for-2. . . . Attendance was 9,486. . . . Four of the five games have been decided by one goal — 2-1, 2-1, 3-2 and 3-2. . . . Spokane won Game 4, 8-3. . . . The Chiefs were without F Collin Valcourt, who drew a one-game suspension under supplemental discipline for an unpenalized hit on Portland D Tyler Wotherspoon during the third period of Game 4. Valcourt had a career-high four points in that game. He will be back for Game 6. . . . A couple of notes from the Chiefs after Game 4: F Matt Marantz scored 10 seconds into that game, setting a franchise record for fastest goal to start a game. The previous record was set by F Brad Schell in Portland on March 17, 2002. . . . As well, F Levko Koper played in his 60th playoff game, the most in Spokane franchise history. That is one more than F Derek Schutz (1995-2000). Including Game 5, Koper has appeared in 392 regular-season and playoff games for the Chiefs and only Schutz (411) appeared in more.Paul Danzer of The Columbian covered Game 5 and his story is right here.
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SATURDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
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