Image

 

 

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