Wheat Kings pick second overall in U.S. Priority Draft

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This article was published 17/05/2022 (1491 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you thought the Canadian Hockey League’s import draft was a crapshoot, welcome to today’s Western Hockey League U.S. Priority draft.

The Brandon Wheat Kings choose second overall and again with the 43rd pick in the third annual event, which targets players from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Wheat Kings general manager Doug Gasper, who moves on at the end of June, said there are a couple of ways to look at the American draft.

“You try to hit a home run,” Gasper said. “You want a high-quality player but there is also a little bit of the business side to it with education packages.

“I don’t know if most of the fans are aware, but it’s a considerably more expensive education package for an American player than it is for a western Canadian player. In saying that, we’re not a cheap organization by any means but we want to get good value for our money.

“To spend that money on a depth player, if it’s an American or a western Canadian, we’ll probably lean towards the western Canadian. If he’s an elite player, naturally we want to get him in here.”

Only a handful of the 88 picks in the first two years of the draft have signed with WHL clubs.

In 2020, the Wheat Kings grabbed a pair of young forwards from the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Tier 1 Sabres bantam team, choosing Zach Nehring of Minot, N.D., with the 17th pick and Ty Henricks of Mission Viejo, Calif., with the 28th selection.

Both have committed to Western Michigan University.

In 2021, the Wheat Kings selected forward Colin Frank of Ladera Ranch, Calif., with the 13th choice and defenceman Ethan Gonyeau of Flower Mound, Texas, with the 32nd pick.

Neither has committed anywhere yet.

Gasper said the reason so few Americans have signed could be due to who the WHL teams target.

“One of the theories and approaches is that you’re taking very high-end players who are maybe going to get signed to an NHL contract at 18 or 19, at which point, whether they were college or not, they need a place to play,” Gasper said.

Not surprisingly, the five American teams have had the most success finding and recruiting U.S.-born players, a phenomenon that dates well before the priority draft and which Gasper said isn’t a big surprise.

“Education is such an important part for parents, as it should be, and even if it’s a different state, you’re still dealing within your own country,” Gasper said. “As far as travel even, there are a lot of positives in the same way Brandon and Winnipeg have an advantage with the Manitoba kids.

“… Playing close to home is always a positive for families as well. I think every area has an advantage in a different way.”

Brandon is able to identify potential draftees in a couple of ways.

The Wheat Kings have Kori Pearson scouting in Minneapolis, but Gasper and Moulton also have enough contacts and connections in the United States that other players come recommended.

“We’ll see who’s available,” Gasper said. “The guys have done a good job with their homework and interviews and we’ll see who has some interest.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

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