Official Blog of the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL: Bantam Draft '11

One of the best ways to have a winning team is to draft and develop your players well. The Warriors will look to the Assistant Hockey Operations Director, Rob MacLachlan along with the Warriors scouting staff of Bob Bartlett (AB/USA), Dale Britton (AB), Ed Williamson (AB), Jim Hardington (BC), Mark Penny (SK), Rod Huff (MB), Doug Gasper (SK) and Bill Brett (BC) to select the best players in the upcoming draft. These individuals spend hours travelling and observing young hockey players in preparation for the annual Bantam draft.

HOW IT WORKS

The players who are drafted will be born in 1996, making them 14 or 15 years old. The players drafted will not play for the tribe until they are at least 16 years old like 2009 draftees Morgan Rielly, Brayden Cuthbert and Andrew Johnson did this past season.

The WHL Bantam Draft is an opportunity for WHL Clubs to replenish their systems with graduating Bantam-aged players. The order of selection for the first round of the draft is determined by a weighted lottery consisting of the six non-playoff teams. The draft order is based on the inverse overall standings from the regular season.

2011 SELECTION ORDER
The 2011 WHL Bantam Draft will see the Calgary Hitmen select first overall. It marks the first time since their inaugural Bantam Draft that the Hitmen will have the first overall pick followed by the Swift Current Broncos and then the Lethbridge Hurricanes (from Regina). The Moose Jaw Warriors hold the 14^th overall pick. The Broncos have two selections in the first as will the Wheat Kings. The Hurricanes have two picks in the top 5 while the Saskatoon Blades hold no first round picks.

TRIBE PICKS

Along with the 14^th overall pick, the Warriors have three picks in the second round. The tribe has the 33^rd overall pick from Brandon from the 2009 season’s Travis Hamonic trade along with the 36^th overall and the 44^th pick from the Blades (Connor Cox trade).

The Warriors will not have a pick in the 3^rd and 4^th rounds. The Warriors will have Medicine Hat’s 5^th round pick (18^th pick in the round). In the 6^th round the Warriors have Portland’s pick (20^th pick in the round). The tribe will have 14^th selection in each subsequent round along with Kelowna’s pick in the 9^thround. The tribe has a total of 7 picks in rounds 5 to 10.

SUMMARY

1^st round- 14^th pick

2^nd round- 33^rd, 36^th and 44^th

3^rd and 4^thround- No pick

5^th- 18^th pick in the round

6^th- 20^th pick in the round

7^th-10^th- 14^th pick in each round + Kelowna’s 9^th round pick

PREVIOUS FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDERS

In the 2010 draft, the Warriors had two first round picks and chose Carter Hansen 10^th overall and the 21^st pick in Torrin White. In 2009, Morgan Rielly was taken 2^nd overall. In 2007, Quinton Howden was the first overall selection. The last time the Warriors had the 14^th overall pick was in 1999. They chose current Minnesota Wild player Kyle Brodziak. In 2008, the Warriors held the 33^rd pick and chose current Warrior Joey Kornelsen and they also held the 44^th pick and chose defensemen Shayne Gwinner.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST

Although it is always a positive to hold picks in the first few rounds—sometimes great players come out of later picks. Some late and great picks chose by the Warriors include: Brian Sutherby (6^th round 94^th overall in 1997), Troy Brouwer (7^th round 115^th overall in 2000), Riley Holzapfel (8^th round 149^th overall in 1991), Travis Hamonic (9^th round 162 overall in 2003) and Joel Edmudson (6^th round 121^st overall in 2008).

The draft will be live on www.whl.ca and posted on the Warriors website at www.mjwarriors.ca. Be sure to follow the Warriors on facebook and twitter for up to date, real time updates throughout the draft. Check out the Warriors blog for further stories and draft details. The draft goes Thursday May 5^thin Calgary.

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