Bantam draft - first round

Draft should be getting underway soon....the thing was supposed to start almost half an hour ago so either they're having some technical problems, the buffet ran out of scrambled eggs, or somebody's trying to wheedle the #1 pick out of Portland with a trade.

I'm feeling pretty crappy today so I might not update as frequently. We'll see how it goes.

And here we go.....the Hawks have picked at #1....
Derrick Pouliot - Defence, 5'11" 165lbs
08-09: Weyburn Wings (SSMHL AA bantam) -- 26gp-25g-38a-63pts-24pim
08-09: Moose Jaw Warriors (SMHL AAA midget) -- 5gp-1g-1a-2pts-0pim
08-09: Moose Jaw Warriors (Macs Midget Tournament) -- 4gp-3g-2a-5pts-2pim
08-09: Weyburn Wings (Saskatoon bantam tournament) -- 3gp-3g-3a-6pts-2pim
08-09: Weyburn Wings (Western Bantam Championships) -- 4gp-2g-2a-4pts-6pim
07-08: Weyburn Wings (SSMHL AA bantam) -- 26gp-6g-24a-30pts-18pim

Pouliot is said to be a strong two-way defenceman with future team captain potential.

With #2, it's Moose Jaw:
Morgan Rielly - Defence, 5'10" 158lbs
08-09: Notre Dame Hounds (SSMHL AAA bantam) -- 23gp-25g-27a-52pts-8pim
08-09: Notre Dame Hounds (SMHL AAA midget) -- 4gp-0g-2a-2pts-4pim
08-09: Notre Dame Hounds (KIBIHT) -- 7gp-7g-4a-11pts-2pim
08-09: Notre Dame Hounds (Nike/Bauer AAA bantam tournament) -- 7gp-2g-5a-7pts-0pim
08-09: Notre Dame Hounds (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament) -- 6gp-7g-7a-14pts-0pim

Rielly is probably the best offensive defenceman available in the draft. Puck-mover and powerplay QB.

At #3, Chilliwack trades their pick to Edmonton....how's that for a shocker. No idea what is coming back to the Bruins, we'll find out. The Oil Kings pick:
Griffin Reinhart - Defence, 6'4" 190lbs
08-09: Vancouver NW Giants (BCMMHL AAA midget) -- 3gp-1g-3a-4pts-0pim
08-09: Vancouver NW Giants (BCMMHL AAA midget - PLF) -- 2gp-0g-0a-0pts-0pim
08-09: Hollyburn Huskies (BCAHA AA midget) -- no stats
07-08: Hollyburn Huskies (KIBIHT) -- 5gp-1g-1a-2pts-6pim

He's the son of former NHL defenceman Paul Reinhart (and younger brother of Kootenay Ice forward Max Reinhart) and look at that size for a 14 year old....

#4, Red Deer:
Matt Dumba - Defence, 5'10" 155lbs
08-09: Calgary Bronks (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 33gp-20g-18a-38pts-103pim
08-09: Calgary Bronks (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 2gp-3g-0a-3pts-2pim
08-09: Calgary Stampeders (SAML - midget 15 y.o.) -- no stats
08-09: Calgary Bronks (KIBIHT) -- 7gp-4g-3a-7pts-4pim
08-09: Calgary North Stars (Alberta Cup) -- 5gp-4g-2a-6pts-10pim
07-08: Calgary Bronks (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 33gp-3g-8a-11pts-26pim
07-08: Calgary Bronks (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 2gp-1g-1a-2pts-2pim

A lot of people spoke of Dumba as possibly the #1 pick....two-way guy, likes the physical play.

#5, Regina:
Chandler Stephenson - Forward, 5'8" 161lbs
08-09: Saskatoon Generals (SMHA AA bantam) -- 48gp-49g-61a-110pts
08-09: Saskatoon Blazers (SMHL AAA midget) -- 9gp-2g-1a-3pts-2pim
08-09: Saskatoon Blazers (Macs Midget Tournament) -- 1gp-0g-1a-1pts-0pim

Stephenson is the first forward chosen after four defencemen....a lot of folks thought the best forward in the draft was the next guy picked, Winther....Stephenson seems a bit small for me (when was the last time the top forward picked was a 5'8" guy?) but Winther isn't much bigger.

#6, Prince Albert:
Mike Winther - Center, 5'9" 155lbs
08-09: Airdrie Xtreme (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 32gp-40g-23a-63pts-48pim
08-09: Airdrie Xtreme (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 14gp-13g-9a-22pts-20pim
08-09: Airdrie Xtreme (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament) -- 7gp-6g-3a-9pts-6pim
08-09: Airdrie Xtreme (Western Bantam Championships) -- 4gp-5g-6a-11pts-2pim
08-09: Central Thrashers (Alberta Cup) -- 5gp-1g-3a-4pts-4pim
07-08: Airdrie Xtreme (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 32gp-29g-33a-62pts-69pim
07-08: Airdrie Xtreme (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 10gp-9g-6a-15pts-6pim
07-08: Airdrie Xtreme (Western bantam championships) -- 5gp-3g-3a-6pts-4pim

Another trade now.....Prince George has traded the #7 overall pick to Tri-City. Again, no word yet on what the deal was. Like the Reinhart deal, I suspect these are swaps of first round picks, with Chilliwack and Prince George just moving down in the first round in exchange for something else. We'll find out in due time, I'm sure.

Anyway, at #7, the Ams pick....
Connor Rankin - Center, 6'0" 185lbs
08-09: NSWC Winter Hawks (BCAHA AAA bantam) -- no stats

Rankin was the near-consensus pick as the top forward in B.C.....sorry, no stats though.

At #8, Everett....
Nicholas Walters - Defence, 6'0" 160lbs
08-09: St. Albert Sabres (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 32gp-4g-24a-28pts-68pim
08-09: St. Albert Sabres (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 5gp-0g-4a-4pts-10pim
08-09: St. Albert Sabres (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-1g-2a-3pts-10pim
08-09: Northwest Sharks (Alberta Cup) -- 5gp-0g-2a-2pts-0pim
07-08: Kelowna Pursuit of Excellence (KIBIHT) -- 7gp-1g-2a-3pts-4pim
07-08: Kelowna Pursuit of Excellence (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-1g-1a-2pts-0pim

#9, Chilliwack uses Edmonton's pick....so we know they just moved down:
Steven Hodges - Center, 5'9" 150lbs
08-09: South Delta (Victoria AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-6g-3a-9pts-2pim
08-09: South Delta (South Delta AAA bantam tournament) -- 3gp-2g-4a-6pts-2pim

#10, Kamloops:
Brady Gaudet - no ht/wt
08-09: Carlyle Moose Mountain Wild (SSMHL AA bantam) -- 26gp-15g-23a-38pts-57pim
08-09: Carlyle Moose Mountain Wild (Saskatoon bantam tournament) -- 3gp-4g-1a-5pts-8pim

#11, Everett - using Lethbridge's pick they acquired in the Kyle Beach trade:
Seth Jones - Defence, 6'2" 170lbs
08-09: Dallas Stars (USA AAA bantam) -- no stats
08-09: Dallas Stars (Nike/Bauer AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-2g-4a-6pts-0pim

Everett swings for the fences....Jones was ranked right up there with those defencemen who went in the top four picks, but he's not comitted to the WHL, yet. Obviously the Silvertips are gambling they can convince him. He's the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones.

#12, Seattle:
Branden Troock - Right Wing, 6'0" 160lbs
08-09: Edmonton CAC (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 32gp-21g-28a-49pts-82pim
08-09: Edmonton CAC (AMMHL AAA midget 15 y.o.) -- 1gp-0g-0a-0pts-0pim
08-09: Edmonton CAC (KIBIHT) -- 6gp-5g-2a-7pts-16pim
08-09: Edmonton CAC (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-3g-0a-3pts-2pim
08-09: Edmonton North Oilers (Alberta Cup) -- 5gp-4g-6a-10pts-4pim
07-08: Edmonton CAC (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 30gp-21g-20a-41pts-48pim
07-08: Edmonton CAC (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 2gp-0g-1a-1pts-2pim
07-08: Edmonton CAC (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament) -- 6gp-2g-7a-9pts-4pim
07-08: Edmonton CAC (Edmonton AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-4g-0a-4pts-4pim

#13, Kootenay:
Colby Cave - Center, 5'10" 155lbs
08-09: Battlefords Barons (CFHL AA bantam) -- 20gp-24g-21a-45pts-18pim
08-09: Battlefords Stars (SMHL AAA midget) -- 3gp-0g-1a-1pts-2pim
07-08: Battlefords Barons (CFHL AA bantam) -- 16gp-10g-9a-19pts-16pim
06-07: Battlefords Barons (CFHL AA pee wee) -- 20gp-14g-21a-35pts-24pim

#14, Medicine Hat:
Hunter Shinkaruk - Center, 5'9" 150lbs
08-09: Calgary Royals Gold (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 27gp-32g-31a-63pts-10pim
08-09: Calgary Royals Gold (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 10gp-11g-11a-22pts-6pim
08-09: Calgary Royals Gold (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-6g-8a-14pts-2pim
08-09: Calgary South Flames (Alberta Cup) -- 5gp-6g-2a-8pts-10pim
07-08: Calgary Royals (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 33gp-10g-30a-40pts-24pim
07-08: Calgary Royals (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 3gp-2g-2a-4pts-0pim
07-08: Calgary Royals (KIBIHT) -- 7gp-5g-7a-12pts-0pim

Shinkaruk is the little guy in this adorable picture (by the Calgary Sun's Dave Chidley) from the 1996-97 WHL season, when he was 2 years old. The Hitmen used to pick a junior fan who got to skate with the team during the pre-game, and stand on the blueline during the anthem, etc. I guess Shinkaruk is going to get a chance to be one of the big boys in the scrum now....



#15, Swift Current:
Evan Richardson - Center, 5'3" 125lbs
08-09: Kelowna Pursuit of Excellence (KIBIHT) -- 7gp-7g-3a-10pts-18pim
08-09: Kelowna Pursuit of Excellence (Victoria AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-6g-4a-10pts-2pim
08-09: Kelowna Pursuit of Excellence (St. Albert AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-4g-4a-8pts-25pim
08-09: Kelowna Pursuit Of Excellence (Nike/Bauer AAA bantam tournament) -- 4gp-2g-1a-3pts-0pim
07-08: Nanaimo Clippers (KIBIHT) -- 7gp-5g-7a-12pts-4pim

I'm hoping that size I have for him is out of date. I mean, 5'3"? At that height, that could be HIM in the picture above, for all we know.

#16, Spokane:
Reid Gow - Defence, 5'11" 165lbs
08-09: Killarney/Wawanesa (Westman H.S.) -- 18gp-4g-6a-10pts
08-09: Killarney Stars (Maple Leaf AA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-8g-14a-22pts-8pim
08-09: Westman South (Director's Cup) -- 4gp-0g-7a-7pts-2pim

#17, Kelowna:
Jason Siebert - Right Wing, 6'1" 179lbs
08-09: Abbotsford Hawks (BCAHA AAA bantam) -- no stats
08-09: Fraser Valley Bruins (BCMMHL AAA midget) -- 1gp-0g-0a-0pts-0pim
08-09: Abbotsford Hawks (Western Bantam Championships) -- 4gp-5g-1a-6pts-4pim

#18, Brandon:
Eric Roy - Defence, 6'2" 168lbs
08-09: Meadow Lake Stampeders (CFHL AA bantam) -- 20gp-27g-18a-45pts-34pim
08-09: Meadow Lake Stampeders (Saskatoon bantam tournament) -- 3gp-5g-3a-8pts-0pim
07-08: Meadow Lake Stampeders (CFHL AA bantam) -- 16gp-10g-11a-21pts-22pim
06-07: Meadow Lake North Stars (CFHL AA pee wee) -- 20gp-21g-12a-33pts-34pim

At #19, Prince George uses Tri-City's pick, so we can assume their trade was like the Edmonton-Chilliwack one, a swap of first rounders in exchange for probably a later pick as well. The Cougars pick:
Josh Smith - Defence, 5'10" 170lbs
08-09: Red Deer Rebels Black (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- no stats
08-09: Red Deer Rebels Black (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 2gp-0g-1a-1pts-8pim
08-09: Central Thrashers (Alberta Cup) -- 5gp-3g-5a-8pts-14pim
07-08: Red Deer Rebels Black (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 33gp-2g-5a-7pts-111pim

Smith is said to be one of the tougher customers in the draft as well. Tough guy to play against in his own zone.

#20, Saskatoon:
Ryan Olsen - Center, no ht/wt
08-09: South Delta (Victoria AAA bantam tournament) -- 5gp-4g-7a-11pts-0pim
08-09: South Delta (South Delta AAA bantam tournament) -- 3gp-1g-5a-6pts-12pim

#21, Vancouver:
Dalton Sward - Center, 6'0" 154lbs
08-09: Abbotsford Hawks (BCAHA AAA bantam) -- no stats
08-09: Abbotsford Hawks (Western Bantam Championships) -- 4gp-7g-3a-10pts-6pim

#22, Calgary:
Chase Clayton - Center, 5'10" 132lbs
08-09: Abbotsford Hawks (BCAHA AAA bantam) -- no stats
08-09: Fraser Valley Bruins (BCMMHL AAA midget) -- 1gp-1g-1a-2pts-0pim
08-09: Abbotsford Hawks (Western Bantam Championships) -- 4gp-1g-0a-1pts-20pim

That's three forwards from the B.C. champion Abbotsford Hawks picked in the first round - Siebert, Sward, and Clayton.

That's it for the first round....