Broncos Bantam Draft Class of 2018
Swift Current, SK: The Swift Current Broncos completed the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft in Red Deer, AB on Thursday morning, selecting 10 players, including five forwards, four defenceman and one goaltender.
With the club’s first pick in the third round, 54th overall, Swift Current used it to draft forward Finlay Williams from the CSSBHL. The 5’11”, 161 lb product of North Vancouver, BC recorded 32 points (10g-22a) in 29 games for the Burnaby Winter Club Bantam Prep squad. Furthermore, Williams suited up in the John Reid Bantam tournament in which the 15-year-old tallied three assists in five contests.
“Finlay is a good skating, skilled forward that has great offensive upside,” said Director of Hockey Operations Jamie Porter. “We don’t think he’s done growing yet. We think his leadership and character are off the charts. We’re happy that he was still there with our first pick in the third round.”
With the prior trades that the Swift Current Broncos have done over the last couple seasons, the club only owned one selection through the first five rounds but possessed multiple picks in the latter rounds of the draft. Broncos’ Director of Hockey Operations Jamie Porter was pleased with the results.
“Once we got to the block that we’d start picking players in, we still had guys available that we targeted and done our homework on so we’re happy with how it went,” mentioned Porter. “Getting drafted now opens up the first opportunity. That’s what the player has to look at and take into consideration when he’s selected. We’re a team over the last few years that’s had an eighth, a ninth, a tenth, an 11th and a 12th that’s played for us.”
The Broncos added to their forward depth by taking Virden, MB native Braeden Lewis in the sixth round, 114th overall. Lewis posted impressive numbers for the Southwest Cougars Bantam AAA team this season, amassing 47 points (23g-24a) in 28 games.
Swift Current’s third selection in the seventh round, 153rd overall was used to take blue liner Blake Heward. The 5’11”, 154 lb defenceman from Regina, SK skated for the Northern Alberta Btm Prep of the CSSBHL this year, notching 25 points (5g-20a) to go along with 26 penalty minutes.
Porter sees tremendous upside with both selections in Lewis and Heward.
“Lewis has offensive upside but we really like his two-way game,” said Porter. “He’s a 200-foot player, has leadership, character and priorities that we were looking for. As for Heward, he’s got good hockey sense. We’re happy that he’s a guy that knows our system, knows what we’re looking for as a defenceman, knows what it takes to be a Bronco and has an understanding of what it’s going to take.”
A trade was completed between Swift Current and the Kamloops Blazers during the draft as the Broncos acquired 1999-born forward Erik Miller in exchange for a seventh round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. Miller collected 31 points (10g-21a) in 47 games for the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL while also suiting up in seven regular season games for the Blazers this year.
Swift Current made seven additional picks with an eighth round selection, a pair of ninth rounders, three 10th round picks and an 11th to close out the draft.
Round Eight – 175th overall: Brian Majic, Forward, Okanagan H.A. Bntm Prep, 26GP 5G 7A 12PTS 8PIM | 6’1″ 159lbs.
Round Nine – 188th overall: Shea Dougan, Defenceman, Lloydminster Bobcats BAAA, 36GP 7G 10A 17PTS 52PIM | 6’0″ 170 lbs.
Round Nine – 197th overall: Caleb Wyrostok, Forward, SEAC Tigers BAAA, 27GP 15G 9A 24PTS 99PIM | 5’7″ 143 lbs.
Round Ten – 211th overall: Zack Davis, Defenceman, Winnipeg Sharks B1AAA, 32GP 11G 24A 35PTs 71PIM | 6’3″ 251 lbs.
Round Ten – 216th overall: Ashton McNelly, Forward, Fort. Sask Rangers BAAA, 35GP 16G 10A 26PTS 61PIM | 5’10” 170lbs.
Round Ten – 219th overall: Cameron Emigh, Defenceman, Lakeland Panthers BAA, 31GP 11G 37A 48PTS 44PIM | 5’8″ 117lbs.
Round Eleven – 241st overall: Ashton Billesberger, Goaltender, Pursuit of Excellence Bantm Prep CSSBHL, 18GP 4.85 GAA .900% | 5’7″ 141lbs.
