Allen Douglas
B.C. Division

2018 WHL Bantam Draft has set up Giants for success heading into 2022

Written by Adam Kierszenblat on

The 2018 WHL Bantam Draft is already proving to be one of the most successful in Giants history. The 2018 draft class has impressed in their first few seasons and will be a major part of the 2021-22 team.

Today, we look at how some of these players have done and look towards next season.

2018 Bantam Draft

Round Overall Player Position
1 12 Zack Ostapchuk F
3 46 Drew Sim G
3 56 Justin Lies F
4 78 Nicco Camazzola D
6 122 Wyatt Cook F
6 126 Brenden Pentecost D
7 144 Matthew Peterson F
10 210 Noah Alvarez F
11 232 Kyle Melo D
12 254 Kyle Bochek F

Zack Ostapchuk

Second-year forward Ostapchuk put up seven goals and nine assists in 22 games.

He had a little bit of a slow start, but bounced back and now finds himself ranked 60th among North American skaters for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Ostapchuk is a power forward who can skate well and is not afraid to throw the body. He really stepped up this season which is evident by the fact he doubled his point production from 2020.

With Eric Florchuk and Tristen Nielsen moving on, Ostapchuk will be relied upon to drive the offense for the Giants. Look for him to play alongside Justin Sourdif if he is back with the Giants next season. He has become a leader on and off the ice and it would not be surprising to see him wearing a letter next season.

Drew Sim

Sim should be the starting goaltender next season for the Giants and will look to build off an impressive 2021 season. He posted a 5-2 record with one shutout. Sim has great size, can move laterally very well, and does not give up to many rebounds. Despite mostly starting only against Victoria, Sim should be able to prove himself against the entire league next season.

When people evaluate Sim, they may worry about his save percentage. The numbers, however, are in direct correlation to the fact that the Giants held teams to under 20 shots per game on a consistent basis. Therefore, one goal allowed lowers a goalie’s save percentage considerably for the game. If the Giants are going to have success in 2022, Sim will be one of the main reasons.

Justin Lies

Forward Lies is like a freight train that hits anything and anyone. He put up eight points in 21 games while leading the team with 40 penalty minutes. Lies also tied for the lead in fights in the WHL with five in 2020-21. If he continues to play this style of hockey next season, fans will be drawing parallels to fan favourite Garet Hunt who played with the Giants from 2004-2008. Hunt went on to lead the ECHL in all-time penalty minutes.

The type of game Lies plays is very valuable to the team. He stands up for teammates and can win board battles. Lies also makes his presence felt on every shift. The one part of Lies game that is very underrated is his faceoff ability. He went 59 for 115 which was good enough for fourth on the team. Look for Lies to play a role on the penalty kill next season and get the fans out of their seats with momentum-shifting hits.

Nicco Camazzola

Camazzola is a player that really impressed in 2021 despite only registering one point. He was stable in his own end and even took shifts on the penalty kill. He played well enough to get into 18 games and should become a stabilizing anchor on the blueline next season.

The Giants have a fantastic opportunity in 2021-22 with Camazzola. He can be the anchor on a pair with Mazden Leslie. By partnering the two up, Leslie could jump into the offense more. WHL teams need a steady defenceman that can skate well and can separate players from the puck. Camazzola fits that bill and should be a big part of the penalty kill next season.

Brendan Pentecost

Pentecost is very similar to Camazzola in that he is a stay-at-home defenceman who is not afraid to use his body. One part of his game that was really impressive is his ability to get pucks to the net. Pentecost is a player who has potential and could provide the team with depth minutes for a number of seasons.

Next season, expect Pentecost to play on the penalty kill and matchup against the third and fourth line of the opponents. He has been great value for a sixth round pick. A player who is not super flashy, Pentecost should play a depth role on next year’s team.

A very deep draft

This draft year was extremely deep and has set the Giants up for success next season. Although it did not produce a star player like Justin Sourdif or Tyler Benson, this may be one of the best drafts the Giants have ever had. Look for most of these players to play a big role next season as the Giants look to recapture the BC Division crown.