Monday, May 30, 2011

Prospects lists

Since the CHL hockey season is over now, it's time to starting looking to next year.

Work on this summer's edition of the team-by-team prospects lists is well underway and I should be ready to start posting some of the lists in about a week or so's time.

As in past years, I'm going to start up a poll over there on the right side of the blog, where you can vote on which team's prospects you would like to see posted first. I'll post the reports in the order of the team with the most votes. Every team will get done, so if your favourite team is lagging behind in the votes, don't worry - it only means you'll have to wait a few days longer to see it.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Habscheid stays

Victoria press conference is over and basically the only news is no news: Marc Habscheid is staying on as coach and general manager.

No name or colors announced, so for now they remain the Victoria To-Be-Named-Laters.

Victoria Royals?

Speculation this morning seems to be that the new name of the Victoria WHL team will be Victoria Royals. Somewhat fitting, I guess, for a city named after a Queen. We'll see what they do with the uniforms.

Also appears that Marc Habscheid will be staying on as the team's coach and G.M., which is a very smart move IMO.

Press conference at 10:30 Pacific time this morning will confirm/deny all of these things.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Victoria to get a name?

The Victoria club has called a press conference for tomorrow morning at 10:30am Pacific time, at which time apparently "multiple announcements" will be made.

I'm guessing we'll find out what the name of the team is going to be, for starters. Perhaps also an update on season ticket sales and, I'm hoping anyway, an update on the status of Marc Habscheid as the team's coach & general manager. I believe Habscheid's contract had an escape clause that allowed him to leave if the team were to move, so they'll want to be firming up that outstanding issue one way or another ASAP as well.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Chilliwack/Richardson

Two more notes today....

First, those "another WHL team is moving to Chilliwack" rumors can be put to bed. The BCHL announced today that the Quesnel Millionaires will move to Chilliwack for next season, and will more than likely be called the Chilliwack Chiefs since the new ownership group owns the rights to that name.

And another BCHL/WHL note, the WHL has lost a first round bantam pick, as forward Evan Richardson - Swift Current's first round pick in 2009 - committed to Boston College today.

The WHL hasn't lost very many high picks to the NCAA in recent years but it looks like they lost Richardson. Next player in question: fellow 2009 first round pick Seth Jones (#11 overall to Richardson's #15 overall). Everett has said in the past that they expect Jones to play for them this coming 2011-12 season....but nothing is official....

Tuesday update

Four of the six round-robin games are done at the 2011 Memorial Cup and things have not gone well for the WHL champion Kootenay Ice.

The Ice lost their first two games - Saturday to Owen Sound and Sunday to Mississauga - to sit 0-2 heading into their final round-robin game tonight against the Saint John Sea Dogs, who are 2-0.

Only one team in Memorial Cup history has ever started 0-2 and gone on to win the title. That was the 2009 Windsor Spitfires, who won their final round-robin game against WHL rep Kelowna (who were 2-0 and had already clinched first place and a bye to the final), then reeled off two more wins before beating Kelowna again in the final.

Kootenay has a chance to repeat that performance since tonight's opponent, Saint John, is also 2-0 and have already clinched first place and a bye into Sunday's final. So, there exists the possibility that the Sea Dogs might not be motivated to play 100% for 60 minutes tonight when the outcome of the game means nothing to them.

Regardless of how Saint John plays tonight though, the math is simple for the Ice: they must win four straight games to win the Memorial Cup. They are going to have to win tonight, and assuming that happens, then they must win the 3rd/4th place tiebreaker game on Thursday against either Owen Sound or Mississauga - whichever of those teams loses their round-robin meeting tomorrow night.

Then the Ice will have to win the semifinal on Friday night against the other of Owen Sound/Mississauga, and then finally they will have to beat Saint John on Sunday. Basically, they have to beat Saint John twice and both of the OHL reps once each. No losses allowed or their season is over.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Memorial Cup set, new player for Americans?

A day (or five) late, but the Memorial Cup field is set after the Saint John Sea Dogs captured the QMJHL title. The Owen Sound Attack also captured the OHL title over the Memorial Cup host Mississauga St. Michael's Majors with a thrilling game seven overtime victory, but both those teams had already booked their appearance in the Cup.

It raises a question though - host teams which don't win their leagues are often derided as having gotten into the tournament through the "back door" instead of by winning their league like the other three entries do. In the case of Mississauga though, they got about as close as it is possible to get without actually winning - overtime of game seven of the finals. Since Mississauga is pretty clearly equally deserving of being OHL champs as Owen Sound is, I wonder if the "back door" taunts will take a break for this year.

The Memorial Cup gets underway tomorrow night with Saint John against Mississauga.

A few WHL roster notes now:

 - Swift Current has released '92 defenceman Ryan Aasman and '93 forward Brandon Bruce. Aasman was the 8th overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft but has not lived up to those expectations during WHL stops in Prince Albert, Seattle, and Swift Current. Many of you may remember the sad news when Aasman's father passed away from cancer just days before the start of Aasman's 16 year old season in 08-09.

 - Kelowna has released their two imports, '91 forward Andreas Stene and '92 forward Gal Koren. Stene probably wasn't coming back as an overager next year anyway and Koren was hardly used this year so the Rockets are probably hoping for better luck with a new import. Or perhaps in the wake of Kootenay winning the WHL with zero imports, we'll see more teams willing to go with one or zero imports rather than using roster spots on marginal players.

 - and not a WHL roster note (YET) but '92 forward Max Gardiner has left the University of Minnesota after one year. Unhappy about his playing time, Gardiner told the Gophers he was going to play junior hockey next season. He could be talking about the USHL, but it's more likely in my opinion that he is headed for the WHL and the Tri-City Americans, who own his WHL rights. Gardiner was a third round pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2010 NHL draft and would add a big offensive threat down the middle to an Americans lineup which is losing some big scorers like Reddick and Ashton.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Ice, Ice baby

The Kootenay Ice are the 2010-11 WHL champions after a 4-1 win over Portland in game five tonight in Portland.

Ice goaltender Nathan Lieuwen was named WHL playoff MVP. That had to be a tight vote, with so many other deserving candidates on the Ice roster - Eakin, McNabb, King, Reinhart.

I suspect at the start of the year the Ice might not have been very high on most people's lists of the top contenders in the WHL. But if there ever was an example of the adage that "it's not how you start but how you finish that counts", the Ice are a prime example. They peaked at exactly the right time and after going down 2-1 to Moose Jaw in the first round of the playoffs, the Ice promptly rattled off 15 wins in their next 16 games to take the WHL title. And that one loss, to Portland in the opener of the final series, was in OT. Imagine, it's playoff time and Kootenay's last regulation loss was back on March 29th in Moose Jaw. They knocked off the #1, #3, and #5 overall teams in the WHL in the last three rounds and only lost one game in the process. They truly are the best team in the WHL and are deserving champions.

For Portland, it's a tough way to end the season but I think the Winterhawks organization can be proud of how far they have come in a very short period of time. Remember, just two years ago this was a sub-.300 team and today they are 2nd-best in the league. They may (or may not!) lose some key players to the NHL next season but there's going to be enough of this team back next year that I'm certain we haven't heard the last of the Winterhawks. (Imagine if somehow they got Niederreiter, Johansen, AND Bartschi all back as 19 year olds next year?)

The Ice are now off to represent the WHL in the Memorial Cup in Mississauga, Ontario. Their competition there will be the OHL's Mississauga St. Michael's Majors and Owen Sound Attack, and from the QMJHL either the Saint John Sea Dogs or the Gatineau Olympiques. Some impressive teams there but I think we've seen in the WHL playoffs that the Ice belong in that group....I'd give them a good chance at winning their second Memorial Cup title. Should be fun to watch.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

2009 unsigned draft picks

The June 1 deadline for NHL teams to sign their 2009 draft picks is fast approaching, so here's a quick look at all the WHLers (and former WHLers) who were selected in that draft and their current signing status:

First round:
#4, Atlanta: Evander Kane (Vancouver Giants) - signed
#5, Los Angeles: Brayden Schenn (Saskatoon Blades) - signed
#8, Dallas: Scott Glennie (Brandon Wheat Kings) - signed
#9, Ottawa: Jared Cowen (Spokane Chiefs) - signed
#29, Tampa Bay: Carter Ashton (Tri-City Americans) - signed

Second round:
#32, Detroit: Landon Ferraro (Everett Silvertips) - signed
#43, San Jose: William Wrenn (Portland Winter Hawks) - not signed
#48, St. Louis: Brett Ponich (Portland Winter Hawks) - signed
#49, Colorado: Stefan Elliott (Saskatoon Blades) - signed

Third round:
#64, Colorado: Tyson Barrie (Kelowna Rockets) - signed
#66, Buffalo: Brayden McNabb (Kootenay Ice) - signed
#67, Florida: Josh Birkholz (Everett Silvertips) - not signed
#73, New Jersey: Alexander Urbom (Brandon Wheat Kings) - signed
#74, Calgary: Ryan Howse (Chilliwack Bruins) - signed
#81, Philadelphia: Adam Morrison (Saskatoon Blades) - not signed
#82, Edmonton: Cameron Abney (Edmonton Oil Kings) - signed
#83, Vancouver: Kevin Connauton (Vancouver Giants) - signed
#85, Washington: Cody Eakin (Kootenay Ice) - signed
#86, Boston: Ryan Button (Seattle Thunderbirds) - signed

Fourth round:
#96, Los Angeles: Linden Vey (Medicine Hat Tigers) - signed
#101, Edmonton: Toni Rajala (Brandon Wheat Kings) - signed
#103, Minnesota: Kris Foucault (Calgary Hitmen) - signed
#105, Phoenix: Justin Weller (Red Deer Rebels) - not signed
#108, St. Louis: Tyler Shattock (Calgary Hitmen) - signed
#119, Chicago: Byron Froese (Red Deer Rebels) - not signed

Fifth round:
#127, NY Rangers: Roman Horak (Chilliwack Bruins) - signed
#129, Dallas: Tomas Vincour (Vancouver Giants) - signed
#141, Calgary: Spencer Bennett (Vancouver Giants) - not signed

Sixth round:
#155, Atlanta: Jimmy Bubnick (Calgary Hitmen) - not signed
#157, Phoenix: Evan Bloodoff (Kelowna Rockets) - not signed
#161, Minnesota: Darcy Kuemper (Red Deer Rebels) - signed
#175, Washington: Garrett Mitchell (Regina Pats) - signed
#178, Carolina: Rasmus Rissanen (Everett Silvertips) - signed
#179, Los Angeles: Brandon Kozun (Calgary Hitmen) - signed
#180, Detroit: Mitchell Callahan (Kelowna Rockets) - signed

Seventh round:
#185, Atlanta: Levko Koper (Spokane Chiefs) - not signed
#189, San Jose: Marek Viedensky (Saskatoon Blades) - signed
#201, Calgary: Gaelan Patterson (Saskatoon Blades) - signed
#208, Carolina: Tommi Kivisto (Red Deer Rebels) - not signed

 * if I've missed any signings here, corrections (especially with link to source!) are definitely welcome

In the cases of Wrenn and Birkholz, since they played NCAA hockey their drafting teams will own their rights until June 1, 2013 - the end of what would have been their senior season in college. So this year's June 1 deadline doesn't apply to them. If they don't sign, it's likely they'd be back in the WHL as overagers next year.

All other unsigned players on this list though will be re-entered into the 2011 NHL draft if they are not signed by June 1.

Weller, Froese, Bennett and Koper, their NHL teams probably are interested in getting deals done but not at any cost. For Morrison, Bubnick, Bloodoff, and Kivisto, I wouldn't be surprised to see them not get signed. Possible they do, just not surprising to me if they don't.

Bennett, Koper, and Bloodoff have graduated from the WHL and won't be back regardless of what happens to them signing-wise. Kivisto hasn't been in the WHL in two years and isn't going to be back as an overage import next year either.

For Weller, Froese, Morrison, and Bubnick, whether they (A) sign by June 1, (B) are re-drafted and sign with their 2011 drafting team, or (C) go undrafted and sign as free agents after the draft will determine whether they return to the WHL as overagers next year or whether they move on to the pros.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Friday notes

One more stat category I missed in that review of the draft picks (below): what month were the most players born in? I think we already know the answer to this, but here's the math:

232 players picked. Of those, the numbers by birth month:

January: 41 (17.7%)
February: 36 (15.5%)
March: 32 (13.8%)
April: 34 (14.7%)
May: 25 (10.8%)
June: 13 (5.6%)
July: 13 (5.6%)
August: 14 (6.0%)
September: 5 (2.2%)
October: 10 (4.3%)
November: 4 (1.7%)
December: 5 (2.2%)

Overall, 62% of draft picks were born in the first four months (33%) of the year 1996. Assuming that births of baby boys were evenly spread over the 12 months of the year, you can see what a disadvantage the boys born in the last third of the year (10.3% of picks) had against the bigger, older boys from the early months.

This happens every year.

Second bit of business today, I need to get in a prediction for the WHL title series.....

This is a tough series to predict, which is exactly what you want to see of course. On paper, Portland is the better team than the Ice, but then, on paper the Blades were better than the Ice too and look what happened to them. I have to put some stock in how red-hot the Ice are because I think there's a lot of value in chemistry and peaking at the right time, which Kootenay is. So, I have to go with them....at the start of the year I would have said I was crazy for doing this. But I am: Kootenay in six.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Draft pick breakdowns

A statistical breakdown of today's draft - showing the number of picks by each team and the average height (in inches) and weight (in pounds) of their draftees, as well as breakdown by positions (forwards-defensemen-goaltenders), and where the players hailed from (B.C.-Alberta-Saskatchewan-Manitoba-USA).


Nbr Ht Wt F D G BC AB SK MB US
Brandon 12 70.5 157.8 8 3 1 0 8 0 4 0
Calgary 10 70.8 161.4 6 3 1 4 2 2 2 0
Edmonton 10 71.6 159.3 4 5 1 4 5 0 1 0
Everett 11 71.2 159.4 8 2 1 5 3 2 1 0
Kamloops 11 71.3 164.2 6 4 1 2 4 2 2 1
Kelowna 10 71.5 157.6 6 3 1 3 1 4 1 1
Kootenay 14 70.8 161.1 7 6 1 3 7 3 1 0
Lethbridge 11 70.1 161.1 6 4 1 1 6 4 0 0
Medicine Hat 11 69.3 151.5 6 4 1 2 4 0 3 2
Moose Jaw 9 70.2 161.6 7 2 0 2 3 3 1 0
Portland 10 69.9 153.6 6 4 0 4 1 0 1 4
Prince Albert 10 70.9 168.9 6 3 1 1 2 4 3 0
Prince George 10 69.9 151.3 5 4 1 2 2 3 2 1
Red Deer 9 71.7 163.3 4 3 2 1 3 4 0 1
Regina 10 71.5 163.3 4 4 2 1 5 0 2 2
Saskatoon 12 71.1 170.3 7 4 1 2 3 6 1 0
Seattle 9 73.2 167.8 4 4 1 2 1 3 2 1
Spokane 11 70.3 149.9 6 4 1 2 6 2 0 1
Swift Current 12 70.8 161.4 7 4 1 3 5 2 1 1
Tri-City 11 70.3 156.2 7 4 0 0 4 0 0 7
Vancouver 9 72.3 166.3 3 5 1 4 3 0 1 1
Victoria 10 70.8 171.1 5 4 1 4 2 2 1 1

For reference, the average player picked today is 70.5 inches tall and weighs 160.1 pounds. 

The team picking the biggest players is Seattle, at an average height of 73.2. Vancouver is second but almost a full inch shorter at 72.3 inches. Obviously Seattle put a priority on size. 

Shortest team is Medicine Hat at 69.3, followed by Portland and Prince George at 69.9.  (Side note here - one of Portland's players, Ryan Collins, has no ht/wt to be found and so I did not average him in. He is the only drafted player excluded from the ht/wt numbers)

When it comes to position, there were 129 forwards, 82 defensemen, and 21 goaltenders picked. Most teams took some kind of roughly proportional mix of those. A few exceptions:

 - Brandon took 8F-3D-1G
 - Everett took 8F-2D-1G
 - Moose Jaw took 7F-2D-0G

Guess those teams were targeting forwards over defensemen. Vancouver took 3F-5D-1G, so they may have been targeting defenders.

For where the players came from, there were 52 from British Columbia, 80 from Alberta, 46 from Saskatchewan, 29 from Manitoba, and 25 from south of the 49th.

Something to think about - Alberta and B.C. typically team up to form Team Pacific at the U-17 Challenge, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba are Team Western. If this draft is any indication of the overall strength of the 1996 born players, how's that U-17 Challenge going to look in 2 years? Alberta alone had more players drafted than Saskatchewan and Manitoba put together. In theory, Pacific should be crushing Western in 2 years.

Manitoba almost got beaten out by the American players. Not a great year for the Manitoba hockey programs?

Interesting to see how some teams draft more heavily from their own region, and some draft from wherever. A few notes there:

 - Tri-City picked 4 kids from Alberta and the rest of their draft was American kids. Trying to put the "Americans" in "Tri-City Americans", I guess.

 - Regina, the provincial capital, did not pick a single kid from Saskatchewan.

 - Lethbridge's 6 Alberta kids included 4 from Calgary. What do they say about keeping your enemies closer?

 - Calgary minor hockey produced 24 draftees altogether. That's almost as many as the entire province of Manitoba.


Tenth & later round picks

The passes started with Portland last round, so I'm going to combine the 10th and all later rounds into one post here...

#199 Calgary:
Skylar Canada - F, 6'2", 195 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Boissevain Border Kings (Souris bantam A tournament)3426n/a
10-11: Team Helm (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)31010


#200 Swift Current:
Riley Welsh - LW, 6'0", 160 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Springfield IceHawks (MB AA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Springfield Icehawks (MB AA bantam - PLF)483112
10-11: Springfield Ice Hawks (Maple Leaf AA bantam Tournament)446100
10-11: Team Helm (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)32132
10-11: Eastman (WMHA AA midget)20000


#201 Regina:
Kenneth Nordstrom - D, 6'0", 154 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Bruins (B.C. Cup)5000n/a
10-11: Prince George Cougars (KIBIHT AA)70222


#202 Lethbridge:
Phoenix Worth - D, 5'10", 154 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: South Delta Storm (PCAHA AAA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: South Delta Storm (Jardine AAA bantam tournament)40110
10-11: Sabres (B.C. Cup)5101n/a


#203 Seattle:
Kevin Wolf - D, 6'4", 180 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Chicago Fury (Tier 1 Elite major bantam AAA)3101135
10-11: Chicago Fury (Nike/Bauer trmt, 1996 AAA Elite division)40000


#204 Everett:
Sébastien Barrette - LW, 5'9", 157 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Cranbrook Ice (SCAHL AA bantam)3110122226
09-10: Cranbrook Ice (SCAHL AA bantam - PLF)70332
09-10: Cranbrook Ice (Rossland-Trail AA tournament)34150
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (SSMBHL AA bantam)238142236
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (Nike/Bauer AAA bantam tournament)40004
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)51238
10-11: Bruins (B.C. Cup)5000n/a
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (SMHL AAA midget)40002


#205 Everett:
Ryan Rensby - C, 5'9", 145 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Langley Eagles (PoCo AAA bantam tournament)41232
10-11: Langley Eagles (PCAHA AAA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Langley Eagles (Jardine AAA bantam tournament)575124
10-11: Langley Eagles (KIBIHT AAA)55382
10-11: Leafs (B.C. Cup)5303n/a


#206 Spokane (NOT Prince Albert like the WHL website shows!):
Mitchell Barker - LW, 5'6", 128 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Kamloops Jardine Blazers (BCAHA AAA bantam)48362662n/a
10-11: Kamloops Jardine Blazers (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)63360
10-11: Kamloops Jardine Blazers (KIBIHT AAA)8551020


#207 Prince George:
Sam Houston - D, 5'11", 165 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Boissevain Border Kings (Souris bantam A tournament)2000n/a
10-11: Team Howden (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)30000


#208 Brandon:
Liam Gregor - LW, 5'9", 145 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Beaumont Braves (AMBHL AA bantam)2813263928
09-10: Beaumont Braves (Edmonton AA bantam tournament)42134
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (AMBHL AAA bantam)3330386848
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)53366
10-11: Northeast Flyers (Alberta Cup)50552
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (AMMHL AAA minor midget)20112


#209 Victoria:
Cole Jones - D, 5'11", 180 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Seine River Snipers (Maple Leaf AA bantam Tournament)511232
09-10: Eastman (Directors Cup)44040
10-11: Springfield IceHawks (MB AA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Springfield Icehawks (MB AA bantam - PLF)41562
10-11: Springfield Ice Hawks (Maple Leaf AA bantam Tournament)444822
10-11: Team Helm (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)30000
10-11: Eastman (WMHA AA midget)20002


#210 Saskatoon:
Wyatt Hinson - F, 5'10", 185 lbGPGAPtsPIM
08-09: Beardy’s Blackhawks (CFHL AA pee wee)2037135068
09-10: Meadow Lake Stampeders (CFHL AA bantam)2210122238
09-10: Meadow Lake Stampeders (Saskatoon bantam tournament)43691
10-11: Meadow Lake Stampeders (CFHL AA bantam)2232205244
10-11: Meadow Lake Stampeders (Saskatoon bantam tournament)44156
10-11: Zone 8 (SaskFirst)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Beardy’s Blackhawks (SMHL AAA midget)50002
10-11: Beardy’s Blackhawks (Macs Midget Tournament)40000


#211 Swift Current:
Cole Bevan - D, 6'1", 175 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Cloverdale Colts (PCAHA AAA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Stars (B.C. Cup)5022n/a


#212 Tri-City:
Brandon Carlo - D, 6'0", 156 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Colorado Thunderbirds (Nike/Bauer trmt, 1996 AAA Elite division)40000


#213 Kootenay:
Braden Jakubowski - RW, 5'8", 130 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Leduc Roughnecks (EMHA AA bantam)3125194470
09-10: Leduc Roughnecks (Edmonton AA bantam tournament)41236
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (AMBHL AAA bantam)3328326040
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)52354
10-11: Edmonton South Bruins (Alberta Cup)51122
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (AMMHL AAA minor midget)10002


#214 Medicine Hat:
Patrick Normandeau - D, 5'8", 162 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (SSMBHL AA bantam)17215172
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (Maple Leaf AA bantam Tournament)583110
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)51232
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (Nike/Bauer trmt, 1996 AAA Elite division)40110
10-11: Team Pickard (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)31010


#215 Spokane:
Colton Bobyk - D, 5'9", 146 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Rimbey (NCAHL AA bantam)201682495
10-11: Red Deer Rebels White (AMBHL AAA bantam)336152152
10-11: Red Deer Rebels White (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)51232
10-11: Central Thrashers (Alberta Cup)51456


#216 Portland:
Rhett Wilcox - F, 5'10", 147 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Surrey Thunder (Jardine AAA bantam tournament)620210


#217 Red Deer:
Blake Weyrick - G, 6'4", 180  lbGPGAAWLT/OTLSV%
10-11: Shattuck St Marys (Nike/Bauer tournament, 1996 AAA Elite division)41.75301n/a
10-11: Shattuck-Saint Mary's (USA bantam AAA)291.5824410.939


#218 Calgary:
Kyle Michalovsky - G, 5'11", 155 lbGPGAAWLT/OTLSV%
10-11: Kamloops Jardine Blazers (BCAHA AAA bantam)262.0819420.914
10-11: Kamloops Jardine Blazers (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)32.333000.938
10-11: Kamloops Jardine Blazers (KIBIHT AAA)41.97400n/a
10-11: Predators (B.C. Cup)n/an/an/an/an/an/a


#219 Seattle:
Mark Nelson - D, 6'4", 171 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Morden Hawks (Maple Leaf AA bantam Tournament)40220
10-11: Team Barker (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)30000
10-11: Morden Thunder (Zone 4 H.S. (MB))60110


#220 Everett:
Maverick Rafter - LW, 5'11", 150 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Winnipeg Hawks (WMHA AAA bantam)2210102042
10-11: Winnipeg Hawks (Western Canadian bantam champ.)521323
10-11: Winnipeg Hawks (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)50112
10-11: Team Hamonic (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)30332


#221 Prince George:
Francis Bamford - C, 5'5", 125 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Abbotsford Hawks (PCAHA AAA bantam)5439256416
10-11: Flyers (B.C. Cup)5246n/a


#222 Kootenay:
Joseph Leonidas - D, 5'10", 167 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Calgary White (CMHA AA bantam)2822416
09-10: Calgary White (CMHA AA bantam - PLF)61014
10-11: Calgary Royals Gold (CMHA AA bantam)281372074
10-11: Calgary South Flames (Alberta Cup)50554


#223 Medicine Hat:
Matthew Donnelly - F, 5'6", 120 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Rocky Mountain Roughriders (NAPHL AAA bantam)1046106
10-11: Rocky Mountain Roughriders (Nike/Bauer trmt, 1996 AAA division)43250


#224 Saskatoon:
Evan Polei - C, 5'9", 165 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Wetaskiwin (NCAHL AA bantam)13691513
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (AMBHL AAA bantam)3315304550
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)501116
10-11: Central Thrashers (Alberta Cup)56064


#225 Everett:
Darien Head - D, 5'10", 145 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Salmon Arm (BCAHA AA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Canucks (B.C. Cup)5011n/a


#226 Tri-City:
Shane McMahan - F, 5'10", 170 lbGPGAPtsPIM

No info on this SoCal player.


#227 Kootenay:
Jack Thomas - D, 5'10", 140 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Calgary Bisons (AMBHL AAA bantam)272101230
10-11: Calgary Bisons (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)51012
10-11: Calgary Rangers (AMMHL AAA midget minor)20000


#228 Saskatoon:
Cody Young - C, 5'10", 151 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Saskatoon Stallions (GSHL AA bantam)3816153132
09-10: Saskatoon Stallions (Saskatoon bantam tournament)41238
10-11: Saskatoon Generals (GSHL AA bantam)41383573100
10-11: Saskatoon Generals (Saskatoon bantam tournament)533616
10-11: Zone 6 (SaskFirst)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Saskatoon Blazers (SMHL AAA midget)30000


#229 Tri-City:
Kody Ichinaga - F, 5'3", 125 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: L.A. Selects (NAPHL AAA bantam)51340
10-11: L.A. Selects (Nike/Bauer trmt, 1996 AAA Elite division)41230

Smallest player picked in the draft....


#230 Saskatoon:
Ryan Pruden - RW, 5'10", 155 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Winnipeg Sharks (WMHA AA bantam)291192022
09-10: Winnipeg Sharks (Edmonton AA bantam tournament)431417
09-10: Winnipeg 2 (Directors Cup)422410
10-11: Winnipeg Sharks (WMHA AAA bantam)3022214348
10-11: Winnipeg Sharks (Western Canadian bantam champ.)512320
10-11: Team Eakin (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)30222


#231 Tri-City:
Austin Mayton - , 6'0", 160 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Spokane Jr. Chiefs (USA AAA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Spokane Jr. Chiefs (Rossland-Trail AA bantam tournament)32242
10-11: Spokane Jr. Chiefs (KIBIHT AAA)70220


And that's all, folks.....hope everyone enjoyed following the draft.

Ninth round picks

Ninth round now. Going to start seeing some picks being passed soon....


#177: Calgary:
Travis Sanheim - D, 5'10", 160 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Yellowhead (Directors Cup)41232
10-11: Elkhorn Canadians (Maple Leaf A bantam Tournament)583112
10-11: Russell Rams (Saskatoon bantam tournament)50880
10-11: Team Howden (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)32132


#178: Swift Current:
Cameron Hughes - LW, 5'8", 154 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Edmonton CAC (AMBHL AAA bantam)2921214230


#179: Regina:
Patrick Gora - G, 5'8", 160 lbGPGAAWLT/OTLSV%
10-11: St. Albert Sabres (AMBHL AAA bantam)182.1012420.920
10-11: St. Albert Sabres (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)34.941200.844
10-11: Northwest Sharks (Alberta Cup)32.002100.949


#180: Lethbridge:
Reid Nemeth - LW, 5'10", 160 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Calgary Royals (AMBHL AAA bantam)3214122640
10-11: Calgary Royals (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)50004
10-11: Calgary South Flames (Alberta Cup)52350
10-11: Calgary Royals Gold (AMMHL AAA midget minor)51010


#181: Seattle:
Jordan Ross - RW, 5'10", 155 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Lumsden/Bethune Lions (Maple Leaf AA bantam Tournament)61232
10-11: Balgonie Prairie Storm (SSMBHL AA bantam)2116233926
10-11: Zone 1 (SaskFirst)n/an/an/an/an/a


#182: Kamloops:
Liam McLeod - G, 5'8", 187 lbGPGAAWLT/OTLSV%
10-11: Kamloops Jardine Blazers (KIBIHT AAA)41.75400n/a
10-11: Kamloops Jardine Blazers (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)33.002100.919
10-11: Kamloops Jardine Blazers (BCAHA AAA bantam)272.5822310.900


#183: Everett:
Nicholas Pouliot - LW, 5'10", 153 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Weyburn Wings (SSMBHL AA bantam)2514173114
09-10: Weyburn Wings (Saskatoon bantam tournament)40116
10-11: Weyburn Wings (SSMBHL AA bantam)2227224920
10-11: Weyburn Red Wings (Saskatoon bantam tournament)576138
10-11: Zone 1 (SaskFirst)n/an/an/an/an/a

Brother of Derrick Pouliot of the Portland Winterhawks


#184: Spokane (from Prince Albert for ???):
Trevor Martin - G, 6'0", 150 lbGPGAAWLT/OTLSV%
09-10: Sherwood Park Flyers (AMBHL AAA bantam)142.797340.89
09-10: Sherwood Park Flyers (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)140010.852
10-11: Sherwood Park Flyers (AMBHL AAA bantam)182.7810710.919
10-11: Sherwood Park Flyers (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)33.982100.871
10-11: Northeast Flyers (Alberta Cup)33.121100.908


#185: Edmonton:
Jesse Mitchell - D, 6'5", 200 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Springfield IceHawks (MB AA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Springfield Icehawks (MB AA bantam - PLF)40116
10-11: Springfield Ice Hawks (Maple Leaf AA bantam Tournament)43034
10-11: Team Hamonic (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)30002

#186: Prince George:

Ty Edmonds - G, 5'10", 145 lbGPGAAWLT/OTLSV%
10-11: Winnipeg Warriors (WMHA AAA bantam)152.86832n/a
10-11: Team Boyd (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)21.95652173913043n/an/an/a0.927

#187: Brandon:
Dominic Thom - D, 6'1", 158 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Calgary Northstar Sabres (AMBHL AAA bantam)280111160
10-11: Calgary North Stars (Alberta Cup)50004
10-11: Calgary Canucks (AMMHL AAA midget minor)300017


#188: Victoria:
Michael Herringer - G, 5'10", 158 lbGPGAAWLT/OTLSV%
10-11: Comox Valley Chiefs (VIBHL AAA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Comox Valley Chiefs (PoCo AAA bantam tournament)30000n/a


#189: Kamloops (from Vancouver - swap of picks at 2010 bantam draft, Apr 29/10):
Eric Krienke - LW, 6'2", 163 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Calgary Blazers (CMHA AA bantam)28471142
09-10: Calgary Blazers (CMHA AA bantam - PLF)20002
09-10: Calgary Blazers (PoCo AAA bantam tournament)41234
10-11: Calgary Northstar Sabres (AMBHL AAA bantam)3316143071
10-11: Calgary North Stars (Alberta Cup)41126
10-11: Calgary Canucks (AMMHL AAA minor midget)31010


#190: Moose Jaw:
Tanner Lewis - C, 5'11", 155 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Virden Oil Kings (MB bantam A - PLF)47714n/a
10-11: Virden Oil Kings (Maple Leaf A bantam Tournament)5510154
10-11: Team Howden (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)31122
10-11: Virden (Westman (MB) H.S.)18527n/a


#191: Moose Jaw (from Kelowna - swap of picks at 2010 bantam draft, Apr 29/10):
Brandon Delgrosso - LW, 5'11", 160 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Burnaby Winter Club (PCAHA AAA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Burnaby Winter Club (Western Canadian bantam champ.)55166
10-11: Burnaby Winter Club (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)61232
10-11: Leafs (B.C. Cup)5112n/a


#192: Tri-City:
Ryan Tait - RW, 5'8", 150 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Shattuck-Saint Mary's (USA AAA bantam)4437397628
10-11: Shattuck-Saint Mary's (Nike/Bauer AAA bantam tournament)11120


#193: Kootenay:
Bronson Ammeter - G, 5'10", 165 lbGPGAAWLT/OTLSV%
10-11: Team Toews (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)23.33n/an/an/a0.891
10-11: Macdonald Lightning (MB AA bantam - PLF)20.000001.000


#194: Medicine Hat:
Nolan Martens - D, 5'10", 145 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Altona Maroons    (MB bantam A - PLF)56410n/a
10-11: Altona Maroons (Souris bantam A tournament)55510n/a
10-11: Team Boyd (Manitoba U-16 POE camp)30220
10-11: W.C. Miller Aces (Zone 4 H.S. (MB))21108186


#195: Kamloops (from Spokane - swap of picks at 2010 bantam draft, Apr 29/10):
Riley Hummitsch - D, 5'11", 185 lb




10-11: Orange County Hockey Club (AAA bantam)3316143071


#196: Portland:
Layne Viveiros - D, 6'0", 175 lb




10-11: Klagenfurter AC (Austrian U-20)2345924

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.


#197: Red Deer:
Jacob MacLachlan - D, 5'10", 145 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (SSMBHL AA bantam)512314
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (Maple Leaf AA bantam Tournament)51234
10-11: Thrashers (B.C. Cup)5000n/a


#198: Saskatoon:
Kaelan Wall - D, 6'1", 175 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Martensville Marauders (Saskatoon bantam tournament)41012
10-11: Warman Wildcats (CFHL AA bantam)202101220
10-11: Warman Wildcats (Saskatoon bantam tournament)411210
10-11: Warman Wildcats (KIBIHT AAA)61232
10-11: Zone 8 (SaskFirst)n/an/an/an/an/a

Eighth round picks

The eighth rounders:

#155: Prince George (from Calgary - for Del Cowan, Nov 3/09):
Tyler Busch - C, 5'11", 138 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Lloydminster Heat (AMBHL AAA bantam)33461030
10-11: Lloydminster Heat (AMBHL AAA bantam)3215355074
10-11: Northeast Flyers (Alberta Cup)513414


#156: Swift Current:
Victor Dombrovskiy - D, 5'10", 167 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Burnaby Winter Club (Western Canadian bantam champ.)50000
09-10: Burnaby Winter Club (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)60110
10-11: Burnaby Winter Club (PCAHA AAA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Burnaby Winter Club (Western Canadian bantam champ.)51676
10-11: Burnaby Winter Club (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)61564
10-11: Predators (B.C. Cup)5000n/a


#157: Regina:
Kienan Scott - LW, 5'9", 150 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Spokane Jr. Chiefs (Rossland-Trail AA tournament)302210
10-11: Spokane Jr. Chiefs (USA AAA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Spokane Jr. Chiefs (Rossland-Trail AA tournament)33140
10-11: Spokane Jr. Chiefs (KIBIHT AAA)7611170


#158: Lethbridge:
Jonathan Hogue - G, 5'9", 142 lbGPGAAWLT/OTLSV%
09-10: Lethbridge Raiders (SCAHL AA bantam)243.1971130.907
09-10: Lethbridge Raiders (SCAHL AA bantam - PLF)44.152100.894
09-10: Lethbridge Hurricanes (Edmonton AA bantam tournament)31.332010.950
10-11: Lethbridge Golden Hawks (AMBHL AAA bantam)253.9371530.894
10-11: South Senators (Alberta Cup)32.671020.930


#159: Seattle:
Reid Fritzke - D, 5'11", 160 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Swift Current Raiders (SSMBHL AA bantam)1725734
10-11: Swift Current Raiders (GSHL AA bantam tournament)50110
10-11: Swift Current Raiders (KIBIHT AAA)60444
10-11: Zone 3 (SaskFirst)n/an/an/an/an/a


#160: Kamloops:
Kyler Nachtigall - LW, 5'10", 147 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Calgary Northstar Sabres (AMBHL AAA bantam)2432514
10-11: Calgary Northstar Sabres (AMBHL AAA bantam)3315173218
10-11: Calgary North Stars (Alberta Cup)51010
10-11: Calgary Blazers (AMMHL AAA minor midget)63252


#161: Everett:
Kyle MacDonald - RW, 5'9", 130 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Nanaimo Clippers (VIBHL AAA bantam)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Sabres (B.C. Cup)5022n/a


#162: Prince Albert:
Kevin Yasinski - F, 6'2", 160 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Grande Prairie Storm (AMBHL AAA bantam)3114122636
10-11: Northwest Sharks (Alberta Cup)40000


#163: Edmonton:
Trevor Posch - D, 6'0", 160 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (AMBHL AAA bantam)3351015134
10-11: Leduc Oil Kings (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)501127


#164: Prince George:
Matt Jones - RW, 5'10", 170 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Team Arizona (USA AAA bantam)3310213120
10-11: Team Arizona (Nike/Bauer trmt, U16 AAA division)41230

Another one of the top U.S. players available, Jones is here in the 8th round due to committment questions.


#165: Brandon:
Mackenzie Bauer - C, 5'7", 145 lbGPGAPtsPIM
08-09: Kneehill Chiefs (NCAHL AA bantam)2117162833
08-09: Kneehill Chiefs (NCAHL AA bantam - PLF)30242
09-10: Kneehill Chiefs (NCAHL AA bantam)2334447816
09-10: Kneehill Chiefs (NCAHL AA bantam - PLF)20116
09-10: Kneehill Chiefs (Saskatoon bantam tournament)436912
10-11: Airdrie Xtreme (AMBHL AAA bantam)3335377224
10-11: Airdrie Xtreme (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)52352
10-11: Central Thrashers (Alberta Cup)51344
10-11: AC Avalanche (AMMHL AAA minor midget)10002


#166: Brandon (from Victoria):
Jason Miller - RW, 5'7", 140 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Spruce Grove Saints (AMBHL AAA bantam)33591430
09-10: Spruce Grove Saints (Edmonton AAA bantam tournament)51014
10-11: Spruce Grove Saints (AMBHL AAA bantam)3122214372
10-11: Spruce Grove Saints (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)688164
10-11: Spruce Grove Saints (KIBIHT AAA)658132
10-11: Northwest Sharks (Alberta Cup)54045
10-11: Spruce Grove Saints (REM midget AA 15 yo)12350


#167: Vancouver:
Tyler Leicht - D, 6'1", 155 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Grande Prairie Storm (AMBHL AAA bantam)3101144
09-10: Grande Prairie Storm (Edmonton AAA bantam tournament)40008
10-11: Grande Prairie Storm (AMBHL AAA bantam)325111688
10-11: Grande Prairie Storm (AMMHL AAA minor midget)40112


#168: Moose Jaw:
Ben Duperreault - C, 5'6", 139 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Balgonie Prairie Storm (SSMBHL AA bantam)252618448
09-10: Balgonie Prairie Storm (Saskatoon bantam tournament)45160
09-10: Prairie Storm (Maple Leaf A bantam Tournament)573100
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (SSMBHL AA bantam)2225345916
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (Nike/Bauer AAA bantam tournament)41122
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)51562
10-11: Zone 1 (SaskFirst)n/an/an/an/an/a
10-11: Notre Dame Hounds (SMHL AAA midget)41010


#169: Kelowna:
Lien Miller-Jeannotte - F, 6'0", 160 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Dawson Creek Canucks (KIBIHT AA)74484
10-11: Wild (B.C. Cup)5426n/a


#170: Tri-City:
Jeremy Briscoe - D, 6'3", 178 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)51012
10-11: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (Nike/Bauer trmt, 1996 AAA Elite division)40002


#171: Kootenay:
Jared Virtanen - RW, 5'6", 141 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Abbotsford Hawks (PCAHA AAA bantam)5921426326
10-11: Flyers (B.C. Cup)5358n/a

I know what you're thinking, you're thinking "Virtanen....I've heard that name already today". Yes, you have....this is the cousin of #1 overall pick Jake Virtanen.


#172: Medicine Hat:
Josh McCulloch - C, 5'7", 155 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Calgary Royals Gold (AMBHL AAA bantam)303586
10-11: Calgary Royals (AMBHL AAA bantam)2922204240
10-11: Calgary Royals (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)51674
10-11: Calgary South Flames (Alberta Cup)43250


#173: Lethbridge (from Spokane - for Michael Tadjdeh, Oct 9/09):
Colby Chartier - RW, 5'8", 140 lbGPGAPtsPIM
09-10: Airdrie Xtreme (AMBHL AAA bantam)30220
09-10: Bow Valley Timberwolves (SCAHL AA bantam)3218234152
09-10: Bow Valley Timberwolves (SCAHL AA bantam - PLF)10471116
10-11: Airdrie Xtreme (AMBHL AAA bantam)3119274686
10-11: Airdrie Xtreme (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)53030
10-11: South Senators (Alberta Cup)52136

#174: Portland:
Ryan Collins - D, no ht/wtGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: St. Louis Park (Nike/Bauer trmt, 1996 AAA division)41120
10-11: Detroit Little Caesars (Tier 1 Elite minor midget AAA)311214268


#175: Red Deer:
Chase Thudium - F, 5'6", 131 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Red Deer Rebels White (AMBHL AAA bantam)3317203744
10-11: Red Deer Rebels White (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament)53366
10-11: Central Thrashers (Alberta Cup)52132

#176: Victoria (from Saskatoon - in Collins/Gogol deal, Nov 2/10):
Austin LaRochelle - F, 5'10", 150 lbGPGAPtsPIM
10-11: Swift Current Raiders (SSMBHL AA bantam)17481256
10-11: Swift Current Raiders (GSHL AA bantam tournament)531412
10-11: Swift Current Raiders (KIBIHT AAA)61230
10-11: Zone 3 (SaskFirst)n/an/an/an/an/a