A player-by-player look at Brandon’s draft

Brandon Wheat Kings director of hockey operations Chris Moulton discusses what he likes about each of the players the club selected on Wednesday and Thursday in the Western Hockey League’s annual draft.

This year it was of players born in 2011.

• ROUND 1 (18th overall)

— Rylan Edwards.

Home: Regina.

5-6, 145 lbs, F, NAX U15.

31gp, 18g, 26a, 44p, 12pim.

“He’s skilled, tenacious, incredible vision, dog on a bone, great stick, great forechecker. He is not the biggest guy now but he is about five-eight and brother and dad are five-10, five-11. He’ll be big enough to play. He is a workaholic who works and works and works and a committed athlete. He’s a perfect fit for us.”

• ROUND 2 (42nd overall)

— Marko Malbasa.

Home: St. Andrews.

6-1, 155 lbs, D, Rink U15 prep.

30gp, 7g, 24a, 31p, 56pim.

“Marko is just a well-rounded guy. He can play with some skill, he can play with physicality. He’s engaged, he moves the puck, he transitions the puck well, he defends well, he will be a top-two defencemen in our league at some point. He has the ability to play in every situation.”

• ROUND 3 (67th overall)

— Mason Corkish.

Home: Cottage Grove, Minn.

5-11, 158 lbs, F, Minnesota Moose 14U

11gp, 6g, 10a, 16p, n/a pim.

“He’s a skilled guy with compete. Mason has the ability to find the back of the net and make plays and creates offence, but on top of that, he is strong on the puck and isn’t afraid to play the game the right way. he plays 200 feet and also has the ability to win battles.”

• ROUND 5 (105th overall)

— Austin Rideout.

Home: Fort McMurray, Alta.

5-11, 178 lbs, F, OHA Edmonton U15 prep.

29gp, 12g, 16a, 28p, 32pim.

“He plays the game hard. He is as tough as nails, he likes to be an agitator, likes to get in the opposition’s face, loves to bring physicality, but in the same breath, can skate and create offence. He’s a well-rounded guy who can do a lot of things but the biggest thing I think he brings is keeping the opposition honest.”

• ROUND 6 (130th overall)

— Nate Harrington.

Home: Edmonton.

5-11, 140 lbs, D, OHA Edmonton U15 prep.

30gp, 8g, 16a, 24p, 12pim.

“He’s a well-rounded, puck-transition guy who had a great second half to the season. He moves the puck really well, gaps up really well, has a great stick defensively, transitions the puck. He plays within himself and doesn’t turn over a lot of pucks.”

• ROUND 7 (153rd overall)

— Lachlan Kisio.

Home: Calgary.

5-10, 141 lbs, F, Edge U15 prep.

16gp, 3g, 7a, 10p, 2pim.

“He’s a hard-working, honest guy who is on the incline. He’s a late birthday (Oct. 10) who is just coming into his own and has a really good knack of finding the spots to make himself available for scoring opportunities. He has a great shot and a great release.”

• ROUND 8 (176th overall)

— Lucas Seidel.

Home: Sundre, Alta.

5-5, 135 lbs, D, Red Deer U15 AAA.

31gp, 8g, 24a, 32p, 24pim.

“He’s a puck-moving, smart, creative defenceman who can play on the power play and can be evasive and makes good decisions, and a very accurate passer.”

• ROUND 9 (193rd overall)

— Kasen Nuttall.

Home: Lethbridge.

6-0, 140 lbs, G, Calgary CNHA U15 AAA.

19gp, 2.66 gaa, .931 save %.

“Kasen is steady, just a steady consistent goaltender. He makes the saves he has to make, rarely lets in the bad one and keep this team in most games.”

• ROUND 9 (199th overall)

— Wyatt Lowther.

Home: Maple Ridge, B.C.

5-10, 138 lbs, F, BWC Academy U15 prep.

30gp, 10g, 23a, 33p, 56pim.

“He’s a combination of compete and skill. He has the ability to create offensively and has the ability to score but also isn’t afraid to get into the trenches and play hard and do the things he has to do to create for himself and his teammates.”