The Western Hockey League Bantam Draft was staged earlier than normal this year due to the season being cut short because of COVID-19.
As a result, the draft went virtual and it was held last Wednesday with Connor Bedard going first overall to the Regina Pats. Prior to even being drafted, the young superstar signed his WHL Standard Player Contract with Regina.
When it comes to what the Brandon Wheat Kings were up to, they were a very busy team just like a number of teams across the league. The Wheat Kings drafted six forwards, four defencemen and one goalie.
“I think it was a really good day for our group and our scouts,” said Darren Ritchie, General Manager. “Led by Doug Gasper, I think our guys had a plan in place and for the most part, we got the players that we were after.”
This was the first draft for the recently named General Manager Ritchie.
The club was first on the clock with the 13th pick in the first round and they selected Quinn Mantei of the Weyburn bantam AA Red Wings.
In 30 games last season, Mantei lit the lamp 22 times and he racked up 37 penalty minutes.
“He’s a really good skater and he’s light on his feet,” said Ritchie. “He gets around the ice really well and he has a great hockey IQ. He’s a competitive guy that plays against top players. He’ll be able to run our power play as well.”
With the 13th overall pick in the 2020 #WHLBantamDraft , the Wheat Kings select defenceman Quinn Mantei, Weyburn Wings Bantam AA pic.twitter.com/TYds0N7bWJ
— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) April 22, 2020
Brandon had to wait for 22 selections for their next pick and when they were on the clock with the 35th overall pick, they drafted Trae Johnson who played with Martensville bantam AA this past season. Of any selection for Brandon, Johnson had the second-most points in a race led by a man we’ll be touching on shortly.
He scored 36 goals and had 31 assists in 31 games.
“He’s a hard-working guy and he has good skill,” continued Ritchie. “He works extremely hard and he plays a full 200-foot game.
With their 57th overall pick in the third round, Brandon nabbed Teydon Trembecky who had 44 points with the Northern Alberta bantam prep team last season.
The Wheat Kings stuck with the Northern Alberta bantam prep team with their fourth-round pick, 79th overall. The team selected Eastyn Mannix who had 15 points last season in 30 games.
Their first four players were guys who play outside the crease. With their fifth pick, 99th overall, Brandon switched things up and selected a goaltender. From the Yale bantam prep team, Brandon drafted Carter Capton.
Capton was very solid last year with a 2.25 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
“He played on a really good Yale team and he always played in big games against the best teams,” continued Ritchie. “He was at the top of our list and our guys were really excited to get him in the fifth round.”
Brandon wasn’t on the clock in the sixth round; however, they did have two picks in the seventh round. Listed as 6’2″, 180 pounds, Brandon drafted from the Lloydminster bantam AAA Bobcats, Oakley McIlwain.
He posted 10 points last year, four of which were goals.
The Wheat Kings were on the clock three picks later with the 145th overall selection. From the Winnipeg Sharks Bantam AAA team, the Wheat Kings went small. Listed at just 5’6″, 145 pounds, Brandon drafted Hayden Chaloner.
Although small, Hayden is hard to stop on the ice. In just 36 games last season, he scored 45 times and had 32 goals. The 77 points were 39 more than Brandon Funk who was second in Sharks scoring with 38 points.
With just four picks left, Brandon continued to add offensive talent. With the 167th overall selection from the Saskatoon Maniacs Bantam AA team, Brandon drafted Jeter Korte.
Korte posted 13 goals and 38 assists last season for a 51 point total.
“He’s a good-sized young man who skates well and has a good set of hands-on him. We think he’s just starting to come into his own and once he gets some midget AAA under him, we think he’s going to be a real good player,” said Ritchie.
Next up was Evan Groening.
Playing with the Rink Hockey Academy bantam prep team last season, Groening scored seven goals and assisted on 11 others.
With just two selections left, more offence was added in what was an extremely deep draft. With the 189th overall pick, Brandon drafted a man who also had 50+ points last season.
Noah Asmundson had 28 goals and 23 assists for a 51 point total with the Prairie Storm.
To wrap up the draft with the 211th overall pick, the Wheat Kings drafted Thomas Stewart from the Rink Hockey Academy bantam prep team.
He had 29 points last season, nine of which were goals.
Stewart Fun Fact:
He was drafted by the Dauphin Kings, 16th overall in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Bantam Draft.
With the draft now in the past, Ritchie shares what is next as these young men look to work their way up to success in the junior ranks.
“It’s all about them developing now, this next year is really important for them,” concluded Ritchie. “They need to play where they feel will benefit them most and we’ll help them. All of these young men are now Wheat Kings.”
