A pair of Abbotsford hockey talents have been scooped up in round one of the Western Hockey League’s Bantam Draft earlier today (Thursday).
Yale Hockey Academy products Grayden Siepmann and Ben Thornton were chosen 13th and 15th overall respectively at the event.
Siepmann is now the property of the Calgary Hitmen, while Thornton was selected by the Spokane Chiefs.
Siepmann, a defenceman, collected 29 points in 29 games for the Yale Lions bantam prep team this season.
Congrats to @YHA_Lions student athlete @GraydenSiepmann on being selected in the first round, 13th overall, by the @WHLHitmen.#WHLBantamDraft pic.twitter.com/bVvApZAJWH
— CSSHL (@CSSHL) May 2, 2019
With the 13th pick in the #WHLBantamDraft Hitmen select Defenceman Grayden Siepmann!
— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) May 2, 2019
Weclome to the club Grayden! pic.twitter.com/SYbOGhUnQ7
Thornton, a left winger, had a strong offensive season for the Lions bantam team, with 45 points in 30 games. He was second on the team in scoring and tied for 17th in the Canadian School Sports Bantam Hockey League.
Welcome to #Spokane, @benthornton1404!#GoChiefsGo #WHLBantamDraft pic.twitter.com/7mdky6YUBy
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) May 2, 2019
The Chiefs said they are pleased to snag Thornton in round one. “Ben does a lot of good things,” said Chiefs’ Assistant General Manager Chris Moulton on the team’s website. “He’s a 200-foot player that contributes offensively. He’s got good size and huge character. For us it’s about being a complete player. Ben is a guy we coveted and we’re super happy.”
Spokane is familiar with Abbotsford and Yale products, as last year the club chose defenceman Graham Sward 17th overall in the bantam draft.
Abbotsford goalie Kolby Hay was next to be chosen, as he was taken 62nd overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings. Hay posted a record of 11-8 with the Yale Lions bantam prep team this season.
In the 3rd round, with the 62nd overall pick, your #OilKings select Kolby Hay in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. #allhail pic.twitter.com/CijZCxs5YY
— Edmonton Oil Kings (@EdmOilKings) May 2, 2019
Abbotsford hockey talent continued being selected as the draft continued, with the Victoria Royals choosing centre Brayden Schuurman 69th overall. Schuurman was third on the Lions with 37 points and tied for 26th overall in league scoring.
We have selected forward @Schuurman04 of @YHA_Lions with our 69th overall pick!#WelcomeToYYJ #RoarWithUs pic.twitter.com/r8AiSqZWBr
— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) May 2, 2019
The relocated Winnipeg WHL team then chose Abbotsford’s Brayden Edwards 127th overall. Edwards, a forward, was fifth on team scoring for the Yale Lions with 31 points in 26 games.
The Winnipeg ICE have selected Brayden Edwards of Yale Hockey Academy in the sixth round (127th Overall) in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.
— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) May 2, 2019
Winnipeg ICE Draft Coverage is presented by @CanadNation.#WHLBantamDraft pic.twitter.com/tQMBsXyswx
Abbotsford native and Burnaby Winter Club product Tyson Dyck was next to go, picked by the Tri-City Americans 143rd overall. Dyck was ninth in CSSBHL scoring with 54 points in 30 games.
With the 143rd pick in the 2019 #WHLBantamDraft, the Americans select forward Tyson Dyck#AmsNation pic.twitter.com/7n10ltpKs5
— Tri-City Americans (@TCAmericans) May 2, 2019
Other Yale Hockey Academy players chosen included: Jason Spizawka (19th to Victoria), Hayden Smith (24th to Saskatoon), Branden Whynott (35th to Calgary), Carter Streek (80th to Portland), Ben Feenan (121st to Tri-City) and Ryan Spizawka (137th to Victoria).
For the complete draft list, visit whl.ca/draft.