Ruzicka, Pantelas chosen in fifth round
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A pair of Brandon Wheat Kings were taken in the fifth round of the National Hockey League draft in Buffalo on Saturday.
Goaltender Filip Ruzicka of Trinec, Czechia was grabbed with the 137th overall pick by the Minnesota Wild, while Giorgos Pantelas of Victoria was selected by the Los Angeles Kings 153rd overall.
It’s the fourth year in a row at least one Wheat Kings was picked, and seventh time in the last eight years. The last time Brandon was blanked was in 2022.
Brandon Wheat Kings goalie Filip Ruzicka, shown last November, was grabbed with the 137th overall pick by the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League draft on Saturday. (Steve Hiscock/Saskatoon Blades)
A year ago, Roger McQueen (10th, Anaheim Ducks), Carter Klippenstein (123rd, Minnesota Wild) and Brady Turko (200th, Anaheim) were taken.
Brandon last had a player taken in the fifth round when the New York Islanders grabbed defenceman Ryan Pilon with the 147th pick in 2015.
Other former fifth rounders in Wheat Kings history include Richard Nejezchleb (2014, New York Rangers), Eric Roy (2013, Calgary Flames), Micheal Ferland (2010, Calgary), Matt Calvert (2008, Columbus Blue Jackets), Ryan Reaves (2005, St. Louis Blues), Robert McVicar (2002, Vancouver Canucks), Jiri Jakes (2001, Boston Bruins), Aaron Goldade (1998, Buffalo Sabres), Brian Elder (1995, Winnipeg Jets), Dean Sexsmith (1986, Islanders), Brad Kempthorne (1979, Atlanta Flames), Doug Murray (1975, Vancouver) and Brian Coates (1972, Boston).
Overall, the Western Hockey League had 37 players and two alumni chosen, with just one Westman player taken, defenceman Carson Carels of Cypress River. The Prince George Cougars blue-liner, who was taken by the Calgary Flames sixth overall, is suiting up with the University of North Dakota next season.
The other six WHL players or alumni taken in the first round were former Medicine Hat Tigers forward Gavin McKenna, (first, Toronto Maple Leafs), Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Daxon Rudolph (fourth, Buffalo Sabres), former Victoria Royals defenceman Keaton Verhoeff of UND (ninth, San Jose Sharks), Vancouver Giants defenceman Ryan Lin (21st, San Jose), Medicine Hat forward Liam Ruck (22nd, Pittsburgh Penguins) and Kamloops Blazers forward JP Hurlbert (23rd, Detroit Red Wings).
Carels was one of four Manitobans taken, with Beausejour defenceman Brek Liske of the Everett Silvertips (53rd Philadelphia Flyers), Ste. Anne forward Zachary Lansard of the Regina Pats (68th, Carolina Hurricanes) and Winnipeg defenceman Jonas Woo of Medicine Hat (185th, Columbus Blue Jackets) also chosen.
Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Gio Pantelas, shown smiling at practice last season, was selected by the Los Angeles Kings with the 153rd overall pick on Saturday. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
There were also five players selected who have signed WHL contracts for next season.
In total, 106 Canadian Hockey League players were selected, the most since 2010.
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