The Winnipeg ICE and General Manager Matt Cockell were early movers of draft picks and players ad therefore selected first and second overall at the WHL Bantam Draft.
Winnipeg was able to do so by dealing their ninth overall pick to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for the third overall pick. Saskatoon also received two second round picks, one in 2019 and 2020 and a fifth round pick in 2021. Also going to Winnipeg was 20-year-old Reese Harsch.
Harsch was a member of the Saskatoon Blades for just 29 games in the 2018-19 season. He was previously a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds and won a league championship with them.
Winnipeg then moved the third overall pick and a 2020 third round pick to Prince George for the second overall pick. With it they selected Manitoba native Conor Geekie.
Geekie spent his bantam years with the Yellowhead Chiefs of the Winnipeg Bantam AAA league. In two seasons he scored 87 goals and added 67 assists in 66 games.
