Americans Restock in 2016 Bantam Draft
KENNEWICK, WA – The Tri-City Americans today have made right wing Sasha Mutala their first pick (6th overall) in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, held in Calgary, AB. Overall, the Americans selected nine players in this year’s draft of 2001 birth year draft eligible players.
Mutala, listed at 6’0 and 175 pounds, became the fourth straight forward taken by Tri-City in the first round after posting league-high numbers in his bantam year. The Vancouver, B.C. native played this season with the Burnaby Winter Club Bantam A 1, appearing in 64 games and led the league with 97 goals and 197 points. He helped lead his team to the Western Bantam Championship where he was named Most Valuable Player.
“Sasha is a highly skilled, dynamic forward with good size,” said Americans Governor/General Manager Bob Tory. “He is an explosive offensive player that has a very high compete level.”
In the second round (29th overall), the Americans selected defenseman Mitchell Brown from Okanagan Hockey Academy, in Penticton, B.C. The 6’1, 185 pounder hails from Salmon Arm, B.C. and is considered to be a stay at home defenseman. Brown appeared in 30 games this season and had three goals and 25 points.
After dealing the third round pick to Prince Albert for 20-year-old defenseman Dalton Yorke, the Americans then selected as follows: F-Blake Stevenson (4 Rd., 68th via Vancouver), F-Kash Rasmussen (5 Rd., 95th), D-Bryan McAndrews (5 Rd., 105th via Red Deer), F-Connor Bouchard (8 Rd., 161st), F-Zachary Okabe (9 Rd., 183rd overall), G-Xavier Cannon (9 Rd., 196th) and D-Rajvir Sangha (10th Rd., 205th) respectively.
Of the nine players selected today, the Americans grabbed five forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender. Tri-City drafted three players from British Columbia and six from Alberta.
The WHL Bantam Draft is the WHL’s talent identification process and serves as the first opportunity for WHL teams to add players to their respective 50 player lists. Eligible players for the Bantam Draft were 2001-born players who reside in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Note: 5th round pick Bryan McAndrews is the brother of former Tri-City American left wing Devon McAndrews.
Tri-City Americans 2016 Bantam Draft Results:
1st Round (6th overall)
Sasha Mutala (F)
6’0 175 lbs., Vancouver, BC
Burnaby Winter Club (64-GP, 97-G, 100-A, 197-PTS)
2nd round (29th overall)
Mitchell Brown (D)
6’1 185 lbs., Salmon Arm, BC
Okanogan Hockey Academy (30-GP, 3-G, 19-A, 22-PTS)
4th round (68th overall)
Blake Stevenson (F)
5’10 155 lbs., Calgary, AB
Calgary Northstar Bantam AAA Sabres (36-GP, 19-G, 33-A, 52-PTS)
5th round (95th overall)
Kash Rasmussen (F)
5’8 137 lbs., Cochrane, AB
Edge School CSSHL (31-GP, 12-G, 25-A, 37-PTS)
5th round (105th overall)
Bryan McAndrews (D)
6’3 193 lbs., Edmonton, AB
SSAC Lions Bantam AAA (36-GP, 3-G, 13-A, 16-PTS)
8th round (161st overall)
Connor Bouchard (F)
5’5 134 lbs. Cochrane, AB
Okanogan Hockey Academy (34-GP, 21G, 21A, 42-PTS)
9th round (183rd overall)
Zachary Okabe (F)
5’7 140 lbs., Okotoks, AB
Edge School Bantam AAA (27-GP, G-17, A-10, PTS-27)
9th round (196th overall-via Kelowna)
Xavier Cannon (G)
6’5 195 lbs., Kamloops, BC
Kamloops Jr. Blazers (N/A)
10th round (205th overall)
Rajvir Sangha (D)
5’10 161 lbs., Calgary, AB
Calgary Northstar Bantam AAA Sabres (40-GP, 10-G, 28-A, 38-PTS)
