The Kamloops Blazers had to do some wheeling and dealing to get 11 players in the 2021 WHL Draft on Thursday.
🔁 TRADE! 🔁
We have traded our 1st round pick (21st overall) to the @WHLPats for a 1st round pick in 2023! pic.twitter.com/vbUQDDdGUB— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) December 9, 2021
The Blazers came into the draft with the 21st pick. However, they traded that pick to the Regina Pats for a 2023 first pick. The Pats used that pick to select Jaxsin Vaughan. Vaughan is a teammate of Tij Iginla at Rink H.A. Kelowna 18 Prep.
Welcome @tait_ashton! 🔥🔥
Our FIRST selection in today’s WHL Prospects Draft! pic.twitter.com/wQaGnbmVgP— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) December 9, 2021
The Blazers’ first pick was in the second round, 26th overall. Centre Ashton Tait of the Prince Albert Mintos U18. Tait is second on the Mintos in scoring with 24 points (15G, 9A).
Tait was the eighth-ranked prospect from Saskatchewan. Players ahead of him included first pick Berkly Catton and third pick Roger McQueen. He’s 5’10, 151 pounds, and shoots right-handed. Tait played in the same program as former goaltender Connor Ingram
With their second pick, 42nd overall, of the second round, the Blazers selected goaltender Jesse Sanche from the Okanagan Hockey Academy U17 program. The native of Kelowna also played with RHA Kelowna U15 Prep (3-0,1.00, .989 Save Percentage).
🔁 TRADE 🔁
We have traded the 3rd round selection (67th overall) to @WHLWpgICE for a 3rd round pick on 2022 and a 6th round pick in this draft (115th overall) pic.twitter.com/s87my2gdGu— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) December 9, 2021
LUUUUUKE!🔥🔥🔥
Our latest drafted player is F Luke Dahlen! Welcome Luke. pic.twitter.com/KNf3oL8sBh— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) December 9, 2021
In the third round, the Blazers made another trade. They sent the 67th overall pick to the Winnipeg Ice for the sixth-round pick,115th overall (Luke Dahlen), and a third-round pick in the 2022 Draft.
We had a special guest in the 7th round make the draft call… Blazer F Fraser Minten welcomes his brother Bryce to the 🔥🔥!@TheWHL pic.twitter.com/PqWTEI2eWa
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) December 9, 2021
Among the nine other picks that the Blazers selected, one has a family connection, Fraser Minten’s brother Bryce was selected in the seventh round,154th overall. Bryce played at the Shawinigan Lake School U17 Prep program. He had 46 points (18 G,28 A) in 29 games with the West Van Academy Bantam Varsity in 2019-2020. He has 15 points (6G, 9A) in 14 games with the Shawinigan Lake School U17 Prep this season.
Of the 11 selections, the Blazers made on Thursday, five were forwards, five were defensemen and one goalie. Four were from B.C, four from Alberta, two from Saskatchewan, and one from Manitoba. Three of the picks are over six feet tall.
For a list of the Blazers draft picks, click here.
