Wheat Kings make Brown first-ever selection

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This article was published 08/05/2024 (766 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In Part 3 of The Brandon Sun’s look back at the Western Hockey League draft history of the Brandon Wheat Kings, we examine 1999 back to 1990 when the event began.

At the draft, it lasts as many rounds as it takes for the last team to stop picking. Byes are included in the number of picks since 1995.

Longtime NHLers indicates older players who suited up for a set number of National Hockey League games depending on when they played.

Also, some of the top picks and longtime NHLers went to college and never played a game of major junior, which was noted.

The number in brackets denotes the overall pick when they were selected.

1999

• (12 rounds, 216 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Ryan Hollweg (F).

• BWK first rounder — Tim Konsorada (13).

• BWK late steal — Defencemen Andre Blanchette (139) and Josh Garbutt (157) both played a lot of games in the league.

• BWK overall value — Konsorada and Lance Monych (39) were five-year Wheat Kings. Caine Pearpoint (49) put up 149 points in 322 games in Brandon and Prince Albert.

• Snuck through the cracks — Triston Grant of Neepawa (134), Jeremy Williams (155), goalie Todd Ford (191).

• Future longtime NHLers — Kyle Brodziak (14), Johnny Boychuk (15), Cody McLeod of Binscarth (60), Cam Ward (63), Ian White (83).

1998

• (15 rounds, 269 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Jay Bouwmeester.

• BWK first rounder — Brett Dickie (15).

• BWK late steal — Jordin Tootoo (43) lasted way too long in the draft for the impact he later had. Reagan Leslie (123) was a good defenceman.

• BWK overall value — Brandon also grabbed Mark Ardelan (33) and Travis Young (38), so they found four defenders in that draft. Their final pick, forward James Marquis (158), played 49 games with the club, so seven of the 10 picks were WHLers.

• Snuck through the cracks — Defenceman Aaron Rome (96), future Wheat Kings forward Erik Christensen (101), Jeff Taffe (171), goalie David LeNeveu (175).

• Future longtime NHLers — Bouwmeester (1), Tootoo (43), Boyd Gordon (76),

1997

• (13 rounds, 234 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Jarret Stoll

• BWK first rounder — Mike Wirll (16).

• BWK late steal — Forward Colin McRae (106) turned into a good WHLer.

• BWK overall value — Wirll finished his career with 37 goals in the 2002-03, but played with four teams in his five-year career. The real value came behind him, with the Wheat Kings grabbing Brett Thurston (22), Kevin Harris (27), Ryan Craig (34) and Robert McVicar (70) with their next four picks. Craig became one of the great captains in team history.

• Snuck through the cracks — Shaone Morrisonn (151).

• Future longtime NHLers — Stoll (1), Scott Hartnell (7), Nick Schultz (43).

1996

• (14 rounds, 202 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Steve McCarthy (D).

• BWK first rounder — Wade Skolney (18).

• BWK late steal — JD Kehler (126) was a terrific two-way player whose career was derailed by injury.

• BWK overall value — For five seasons, Skolney was a rock on the Brandon blue-line and Randy Ponte (69) was a tough, inspirational leader. Petr Kudrna (72) showed flashes but never quite found his way. The loss of Kehler really hurt this draft.

• Snuck through the cracks — Ryan Johnson (199).

• Future longtime NHLers — Johnson, Barret Jackman (12), Scott Gomez (161).

1995

• (13 rounds, 192 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Chris Nielsen (F).

• BWK first rounder — Aaron Goldade (16).

• BWK late steal — Goalie Jomar Cruz (162) was taken in the 10th round, of the team’s best-ever late picks.

• BWK overall value — Brett Girard (20) was a future captain who played an understated two-way game. Brooks Paisley (41) and Bevin Guenther (50) both had extended looks. The fact they grabbed Cruz late salvages this draft.

• Snuck through the cracks — Micki Dupont (191). If you like your enforcers, Stephen Peat (3) and Jeremy Yablonski (64) were two of the best.

• Future longtime NHLers — Robyn Regehr (17), Scott Gomez (73, he was drafted two years in a row), Erik Rasmussen (97), Darcy Hordichuk (128).

1994

• (12 rounds, 154 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Jarrett Smith (F).

• BWK first rounder — David Darguzas (11), Josh Woitas (13).

• BWK late steals — Dan Tetrault (124), Brent Hobday (138) and Burke Henry (146) are ridiculously good value. They picked 12 players and 11 skated in the league.

• BWK overall value — The Wheat Kings drafted 12 players and 11 of them played in the WHL. None of the first rounders turned into stars, but snipers Jason Boyd (21) and Hobday did, albeit with other teams. Defenceman Derek Holland (61) also followed that path. Brad Twordik (34) was a future captain and excellent two-way player. They also found Alex Argyriou (109), but it was nabbing Tetrault and Henry late that set them up for future success.

• Snuck through the cracks — Mike Commodore (118), Scott Parker (133).

• Future longtime NHLers — Patrick Marleau (6), Scott Hannan (8), Andrew Ference (15), Brad Stuart (39), Todd Fedoruk (56), Eric Brewer (81), Kyle Calder (118).

1993

• (Seven rounds, 85 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Martin Hohenberger (F).

• BWK first rounder — Darren Van Oene (2).

• BWK late steal — Ryan Robson (42) and Jeff Temple (48) both turned into real good WHLers.

• BWK overall value — Van Oene became a great Wheat Kings captain. Ian Walterson (34) was involved in a trade in his first season and blossomed into a solid defenceman in Prince George.

• Snuck through the cracks — Martin Sonnenberg (45), Boyd Kane (57).

• Future longtime NHLers — Chris Phillips (5).

1992

• (Seven rounds, 73 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Mike McBain (D).

• BWK first rounders — Wade Redden (2), Justin Kurtz (6), Joel Korenko (7).

• BWK late steal — Kelly Smart (34) was a great pick and Darryl Stockham was excellent value at 50.

• BWK overall value — Redden was outstanding, and graduated to the NHL at 19. Kurtz and Smart were key parts of the 1996 championship team. All five players they took played with the club.

• Snuck through the cracks — Perry Johnson (39), Travis Brigley (43), future Wheat Kings forward Mark Dutiaume (54).

• Future longtime NHLers — Redden, Kyle McLaren (5).

1991

• (Six rounds, 52 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Adam Smith (D).

• BWK first rounder — Colin Cloutier (2), Mike Dubinsky (7).

• BWK late steal — None. The best player of the group, Jason Botterill, went to the University of Michigan and later played in the NHL.

• BWK overall value — Cloutier was part of the deal that brought Mike Leclerc in, while Dubinsky struggled with a bad knee. Jeff Glowa (19) also went to school.

• Snuck through the cracks — Fan favourite Chris Dingman (11) went to Seattle and was traded to Brandon, while Mike Leclerc (17) came to Brandon from Prince George. Clarke Wilm (20), Ryan Smyth (21), Daymond Langkow (22).

• Future longtime NHLers — Jason Wiemer (3), Rhett Warrener (5), Curtis Brown (6).

1990

• (Two rounds, 25 picks)

• First overall WHL pick — Darcy Mattersdorfer (F).

• BWK first rounder — Bobby Brown (4).

• BWK late steal — They only made two picks. Carlos Bye battled a non-hockey-related illness and only played four games with Brandon. He was out of the game at 17.

• BWK overall value — Brown was Brandon’s heart and soul for his entire career. He was an outstanding pick.

• Snuck through the cracks — Future Wheat Kings defenceman Bryan McCabe (10) and goalie Jody Lehman (20). Chris Wells (8).

• Future longtime NHLers — McCabe and Wells.

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