Top picks have paid off for Wheat Kings

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This article was published 03/05/2017 (3298 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Wheat Kings head into Thursday’s annual Western Hockey League bantam draft with a top 10 pick for the fifth time in the past 15 years, and will be hoping that history repeats itself.

After picking Stelio Mattheos first overall in 2014, Nolan Patrick with the fourth pick and Kale Clague with the sixth pick in 2013 and Brayden Schenn ninth overall in 2006, the team has found impact players every time.

Darren Ritchie, Brandon’s director of scouting, is hopeful the trend continues.

“With us having the eighth pick, we’re going to obviously just get the best player that we feel we can is available at that time,” Ritchie said. “We think we’ll get a real good player at number eight and our staff is real excited about that.”

The 22 WHL teams will be picking players born in 2002 from across Western Canada and the American states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Ritchie, who is in his first year in the position after the departure of Wade Klippenstein last summer, said it’s difficult for him to judge this draft against previous ones other than when he’s had a chance to see last year’s picks in action. He said defencemen will be particularly important this year.

“I think the top 30 to 40 are probably the same as any other year,” Ritchie said. “They’re good players. It may drop off a bit after that. I think D will be really important early on maybe than most years because I don’t think D is as strong as it has been in the past. There are still really good players in the draft; don’t get me wrong.”

The 2016 draft featured a rich selection of top defenders, with Brandon trading up to snag Braden Schneider of Prince Albert with the 12th pick in the first round.

Manitoba will likely make a more modest contribution at the front of the draft this year as well, according to a number of insiders the Brandon Sun spoke to about the draft. After the epic 2015 draft when Calen Addison, Jett Woo, Koby Morrisseau, Riley Stotts, Dawson Barteaux and Caiden Daley all went in the first round, only one Manitoban is widely considered a can’t-miss first round prospect in 2017.

Top-ranked Seth Jarvis of Winnipeg, a speedy five-foot-nine, 145-pound forward who led the Rink Academy with 45 goals and 26 assists in 33 games, should go in the top half of the first round.

Several more Manitobans could go in the first couple of rounds — including players such as Brandon’s Daemon Hunt who could work their way into the first round — with a steady number being picked each round after as well.

Manitoba had 36 players taken in the 2013, 2015 and 2016 drafts, 34 in 2014 and 31 in 2012.

The Wheat Kings head into the draft with extra picks in the second and eighth rounds, and no pick in the sixth. They have their regular selection in the second round at 30th overall, but also own the 27th pick as part of a deal with the Saskatoon Blades in January 2016 that sent Colton Waltz and Braylon Shmyr to Saskatoon for Mitch Wheaton and Schael Higson.

The Blades, however, hold the fifth and 10th picks in the draft.

The Prince Albert Raiders have the top pick after moving up two spots courtesy of the draft lottery.

After taking two forwards in the first round in 2015‚ Cole Fonstad and Carson Miller, the Raiders took defenceman Rhett Rhinehart in 2016.

They’ll have a choice to make with the first pick, likely between highly touted B.C. forwards Connor McClennon of the Pursuit of Excellence academy and Justin Sourdif of Delta Prep, and defenceman Kaiden Guhle, the younger brother of former Raider Brendan Guhle.

The six-foot-one, 165-pound Kaiden Guhle played with OHA Edmonton.

The first goalie to go will likely be six-foot-three, 204-pound Sebastian Cossa of the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers, who should hear his name called in the bottom third of the first round or early in the second.

The draft begins at 9:30 a.m.

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @PerryBergson

» Thursday’s Sun: Young Brandon prospects look forward to draft.

THIRTY TO WATCH

1. Kaiden Guhle, D

OHA Edmonton (Alta.), 6-1, 165 pounds

2. Connor McClennon, C

POE Academy (B.C.), 5-8, 145

3. Justin Sourdif, C/LW

Delta Prep (B.C.), 5-10, 173

4. Ethan Bowen, C

Yale Prep (B.C.), 6-0, 152

5. Aiden De La Gorgendiere, D

Yale Prep (B.C.), 6-0, 167

6. Luke Prokop, D

POE Academy (B.C.), 6-2, 177

7. Jake Neighbours, RW/LW

POE Academy (B.C.), 5-11, 175

8. Seth Jarvis, LW

Rink Prep (Man.), 5-9, 145

9. Kyle Crnkovic, LW/RW

POE Academy (B.C.), 5-6, 146

10. Payton Mount, C/RW

Delta Prep (B.C.), 5-9, 173

11. Kaden Kohle, C

Humboldt Broncos (Sask.), 6-0, 172

12. Ozzy Weisblatt, C

Calgary Bisons (Alta.), 5-8, 154

13. Ryan Watson, LD

Delta Prep (B.C.), 5-9, 144

14. Cohner Saleski, C

Saskatoon Stallions (Sask.), 5-9, 140

15. Anson McMaster, RD

Rocky Mountain Raiders (Alta.), 6-3, 162

16. Anthony Kehrer, D

Rink Prep (Man.), 5-11, 174

17. Joel Sexsmith, LD

Rink Prep (Man.), 6-1, 162

18. Ridly Greig, F

Lethbridge Golden Hawks (Alta.), 5-7, 130

19. Sebastian Cossa, G

Fort Sask Rangers (Alta.), 6-3, 204

20. Tyson Phare, RW/C

Yale Prep (B.C.), 5-11, 168

21. Cole Shepard, LW/RW

Delta Prep (B.C.), 5-8, 135

22. Braden Plaschewsky, C/LW

Calgary Bison (Alta.), 5-11, 154

23. Daemon Hunt, D

Brandon, 5-11, 186

24. Michael Benning, RD

St. Albert Sabres (Alta.), 5-7, 141

25. John Little, F/D

Shawnigan Lake (B.C.), 6-0, 180

26. Ben King, F/D

POE Academy (B.C.), 6-0, 155

27. Trevor Thurston, RD

Delta Prep (B.C.), 6-0, 156

28. Logan Dowhaniuk, D

Camrose Red Wings (Alta.), 6-0, 165

29. Sahil Panwar, F

Los Angeles Jr. Kings U16 (U.S.), 6-0, 168

30. Tanner Brown, LD

POE Academy (B.C.), 5-10, 165

* Note: Top prospect Ryan Helliwell has committed to the University of Notre Dame.

MANITOBA’S TOP 10

1. Seth Jarvis — Rink Academy

2. Anthony Kehrer — Rink Academy

3. Daemon Hunt — Brandon Bantam AAA Wheat Kings

4. Ty Thorpe — Rink Academy (Brandon)

5. Jakob Brook — Rink Academy (Roblin)

6. Nolan Ritchie — Brandon Bantam AAA Wheat Kings

7. Levi Thiessen — Winnipeg Hawks

8. Nathaniel Hinds — Winnipeg Warriors

9. Luke Benedictson — Winnipeg Monarchs

10. Jake Poole — Yellowhead Chiefs

WESTMAN’S TOP 10

1. Daemon Hunt — Brandon

2. Nolan Ritchie — Brandon

3. Ty Thorpe — Rink Academy (Brandon)

4. Jake Poole — Yellowhead

5. Landon Roberts — Southwest

6. Reece Richmond — Yellowhead

7. Calder Anderson — Brandon

8. Tyson Kozak — Southwest

9. Cory King — Southwest

10. Brody Wilson — Yellowhead

FIRST ROUND DRAFT ORDER

1. Prince Albert Raiders

2. Kootenay Ice

3. Vancouver Giants

4. Edmonton Oil Kings

5. Saskatoon Blades

6. Spokane Chiefs

7. Calgary Hitmen

8. Brandon Wheat Kings

9. Swift Current Broncos (from Red Deer Rebels)

10. Saskatoon (from Victoria Royals)

11. Portland Winterhawks

12. Tri-City Americans

13. Swift Current Broncos

14. Kamloops Blazers

15. Moose Jaw Warriors

16. Lethbridge Hurricanes

17. Kelowna Rockets

18. Prince George Cougars

19. Seattle Thunderbirds

20. Everett Silvertips

21. Medicine Hat Tigers

22. Red Deer (from Regina Pats)

BRANDON’S OTHER PICKS

•2nd round — Two selections.

— Have their own pick (30th overall), plus Saskatoon’s pick (27th) from Colton Waltz/Braylon Shmyr deal on Jan. 4, 2016.

•3rd round — One selection.

— Traded their pick (52nd) to Victoria in Baron Thompson/Jordan Wharrie deal on Sept. 1, 2016, have Tri-City’s (56th) from deal for Richard Nejezchleb on Nov. 4 , 2014.

•4th round — One selection.

— Have their own pick (74th).

•5th round — One selection.

— Have their own pick (96th).

•6th round — No selection.

— Traded their pick (118th) to Victoria for Zach Russell on Nov. 10, 2016.

•7th round — One selection.

— Have their own pick (140th).

•8th round — Two selections.

— Have their own pick (162nd), plus Kelowna’s (171st) from Leif Mattson deal on Oct. 3, 2016.

•9th round — One selection.

— Have their own pick (184th).

• 10th round — One selection.

— Traded their pick (206th) to Saskatoon as part of Garrett Armour deal on Sept. 24, 2015, have Victoria’s (208th) as part of Baron Thompson/Jordan Wharrie deal on Sept. 1, 2016.

• 11th round — One selection.

— Have their own pick (228th).

• 12th round — One selection.

— Have their own pick (250th).

2016 WHEAT KING PICKS

1. (12) Braden Schneider

2. (43) Ben McCartney

4. (87) Kyle Bettens

5. (109) Ethan Kruger

7. (153) Neithan Salame

8. (175) Jonny Hooker

9. (197) Carter Cockburn

10. (219) Timber Lewis

11. (241) Justin MacDonald

12. (263) Dylan Halliday

13. (285) Kolton Shindle

PAST WHEAT KING FIRST ROUNDERS

Overall number of pick in brackets

2016 — (12) Braden Schneider

2015 — (22) Caiden Daley

2014 — (1) Stelio Mattheos

2013 — (4) Nolan Patrick

2013 — (6) Kale Clague

2012 — (12) Braylon Shmyr

2011 — (11) Kord Pankewicz

2011 — (22) Jordan Papirny

2010 — None

2009 — (18) Eric Roy

2008 — (13) Klarc Wilson

2007 — (17) Brandon Regier

2006 — (9) Brayden Schenn

2005 — (17) Sanfred King

2004 — (11) Keith Aulie

2003 — (18) Mike Cann

2002 — (15) Codey Burki

2001 — (9) Jeff Topilko

2000 — (5) Eric Fehr

1999 — (13) Tim Konsorada

1998 — (15) Brett Dickie

1997 — (16) Mike Wirll

1996 — (18) Wade Skolney

1995 — (16) Aaron Goldade

1994 — (11) David Darguzas

1994 — (13) Josh Woitas

1993 — (2) Darren Van Oene

1992 — (2) Wade Redden

1992 — (6) Justin Kurtz

1992 — (7) Joel Korenko

1991 — (2) Colin Cloutier

1991 — (7) Mike Dubinsky

1990 — (4) Bobby Brown

SOME LATE-ROUND DRAFT STEALS

(Year, round, pick, player)

2014 — 5. (106) Connor Gutenberg

2012 — 5. (100) Jesse Gabrielle

2012 — 6. (122) Logan Thompson

2011 — 5. (96) Ryley Lindgren

2010 — 9. (180) Quintin Lisoway

2009 — 7. (136) Ryan Pulock

2007 — 5. (92) Mark Stone

2007 — 12. (259) Brendan Walker

2004 — 7. (136) Jay Fehr

2002 — 9. (169) Daryl Boyle

2002 — 11. (207) Theran Yeo

2001 — 5. (85) Teagan Moore

2001 — 7. (123) Dustin Byfuglien

1997 — 6. (106) Colin McRae

1995 — 10. (162) Jomar Cruz

1994 — 8. (124) Dan Tetrault

1994 — 10. (146) Burke Henry