The 2011 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft was held Thursday and among the players selected were thirty from the Keystone province.
Wawanesa's Jordon Thomson was the top Manitoban chosen in the draft, going fourth overall to the Kamloops Blazers. The Southwest Midget AAA Cougar defenceman was the highest drafted western Manitoban since Calgary made Chris Nielson went first overall in 1995.
In total, the draft saw one Manitoban selected in round one, five in the second, three in each of the fourth and fifth rounds. Two each were taken in rounds six and seven, there were six chosen in round nine, five more in the tenth, two in round eleven and one more in the 13th and final.
Alberta led the way with twelve first round selections, followed by Saskatchewan with six and British Columbia with three. No U.S. born players were chosen in the opening round.
The Brandon Wheat Kings chose twelve players Thursday, including four from Manitoba. Among them were center Jayce Hawryluk of Roblin and left-winger Brett Kitt of Brandon. Hawryluk was a member of the Russell Bantams this past season and scored 138 goals and 264 points in 54 games. Kitt meanwhile averaged a point per game as a member of the Brandon Bantam Wheat Kings in 2010-11.
The complete list of Manitobans chosen at this year's Bantam Draft are as follows:
Round Selection WHL Team Name of Player Hometown
1 4th Kamloops Jordan Thomson Wawanesa
2 25th Regina Adam Brooks Winnipeg
2 27th Seattle Austin Douglas Winnipeg
2 32nd Brandon Jayce Hawryluk Roblin
2 36th Regina Dane Schioler Winnipeg
2 38th Tri-City Reid Zalitach Winnipeg
4 74th Prince Albert Kristjon Finnson Stonewall
4 77th Brandon Dallas Starodub Selkirk
4 78th Prince Albert Taylor Fisher Winnipeg
5 92nd Portland Michael Fortin Souris
5 94th Brandon Brett Kitt Brandon
5 96th Brandon Ryley Lindgren East St. Paul
6 124th Medicine Hat Zac Robidoux Morden
6 125th Kelowna David Dunn Russell
7 138th Kamloops Connor Hamonic Winnipeg
7 140th Prince Albert Taran Lacquette Waterhen
9 177th Calgary Travis Sanheim Elkhorn
9 185th Edmonton Jesse Mitchell Anola
9 186th Prince George Ty Edmonds Winnipeg
9 190th Moose Jaw Tanner Lewis Virden
9 193rd Kootenay Bronson Ammeter Starbuck
9 194th Medicine Hat Nolan Martens Gretna
10 199th Calgary Skylar Canada Boissevain
10 200th Swift Current Riley Welsh Oakbank
10 208th Prince George Sam Houston Boissevain
10 210th Victoria Cole Jones Oakbank
10 216th Medicine Hat Pat Normandeau Ste. Anne
11 225th Seattle Mark Nelson Morden
11 227th Everett Maverick Rafter Winnipeg
13 283rd Saskatoon Ryan Pruden Winnipeg