Ashton selected in first round

FIVE WHL Players selected in 1st Round of 2009 NHL Entry Draft
rCalgary, AB – Vancouver Giants centerman Evander Kane became the first of five WHL players selected in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft when the Atlanta Thrashers used the 4th overall selection to pick the 17-year-old Vancouver, B.C. product this evening at the Bell Centre in Montreal.  The 6’1”, 176-lb center from Vancouver, B.C, is coming off an excellent 2008-09 season with the Giants, leading the team with 48 goals and finishing second with 96 points in just 61 games as the Giants won a franchise record 57 games.  Kane, who was the Giants’ 1st round pick, 19th overall, at the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft, is a gritty, talented power forward who has the potential to be a top-line scorer at the NHL level.  A strong skater with an NHL-caliber shot, Kane also boasts an intense competitive spirit and a desire to be a difference-maker when he’s on the ice.
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rBrandon Wheat Kings’ 17-year-old center Brayden Schenn was chosen immediately after Kane as the Los Angeles Kings used the 5th overall pick to take the Wheat Kings star.  Schenn, from Saskatoon, SK, led the Wheat Kings with 32 goals and 88 points in 2008-09 as the team posted its first 100-point season since 1995-96.  The 2008 WHL Rookie of the Year is an excellent playmaking center who brings a consistently strong work ethic every night and boasts terrific hockey sense.
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rWinnipeg, MB, product Scott Glennie of the Brandon Wheat Kings was the third WHL player selected among the top 10 with the Dallas Stars using the 8th overall selection to nab the speedy, talented scorer.  Glennie scored 28 goals and 70 points in only 55 games for the Wheat Kings in 2008-09.  He dominated during the 2009 playoffs, notching 18 points in 12 games as the Wheat Kings advanced to the 2008 WHL Eastern Conference Championship series.
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rTowering 18-year-old defenseman Jared Cowen of the Spokane Chiefs was the fourth WHL player selected in the top 10, chosen by the Ottawa Senators with the 9th overall pick.  Cowen, a former 1st overall WHL Bantam draft selection, notched seven goals and 21 points for the Chiefs in 2008-09 until a knee injury sidelined him in January.  The 6’5”, 220-lb rearguard is a solid defensive defenseman with offensive potential as well.  Cowen helped the Chiefs win the 2008 Memorial Cup.
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rSaskatoon product Carter Ashton of the Lethbridge Hurricanes rounded out the WHL’s five picks in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft when selected 29th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning.  The 18-year-old enjoyed a strong campaign for the Hurricanes in 2008-09, scoring a team-leading 30 goals – 10 of which came on the power play – while adding 20 assists for 50 points in 70 games as the ‘Canes posted a 35-32-3-2 record.
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rThe WHL has a long tradition of developing National Hockey League players.  Since the inception of the NHL Entry Draft in 1969, the WHL has seen 1688 players drafted by NHL clubs.
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rA total of 37 WHL players were selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including nine in the 1st round.
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rEvander Kane selected by Atlanta Thrashers, round 1 – #4 overall
rEvander Kane just finished his second full season in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants.  The Vancouver, B.C., native led his hometown team with 48 goals and finished second on the Giants with an impressive 96 points in just 61 games to help lead the team to a franchise record 57 wins and a fourth consecutive B.C. Division title.  Kane added another seven goals and 15 points in 17 playoff games as the Giants advanced to the WHL Western Conference Championship series.  As a 16-year-old rookie in 2007-08, Kane notched 24 goals and 41 points and was named a finalist for the 2008 WHL Rookie of the Year award.
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rA prolific and dynamic offensive player, Kane projects as a solid top-line point producer who can also play a gritty, physical game.  The 6’1”, 176-lb center already boasts an NHL-caliber shot, and can get it off in a hurry, but also scores plenty of goals by going hard to the net, pouncing on rebounds and loose pucks.  A strong skater, Kane has worked hard to improve his stride, agility and speed, making him a threat off the rush.  Perhaps Kane’s best attributes are his confidence, compete level and desire to make a difference.  Quite simply, he wants the puck and will do whatever it takes to help his team win.  If an NHL team in the market for a hard-nosed, point-producing power forward, Evander Kane is their guy.
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rA product of the North Shore Winter Club in Vancouver, Kane participated in the 2009 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game, suiting up for Team Cherry, and was also selected to Team WHL for the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge, but could not participate due to injury.
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rKane was a member of Canada’s Gold medal-winning entry at the 2009 World Junior Championship, where he was the youngest player on the roster.  He also played for Team West at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and suited up for Canada’s Under-18 team at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament.
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rBrayden Schenn selected by Los Angeles Kings, round 1 – #5 overall
rBrayden Schenn just completed his second full season in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings.  The 17-year-old Saskatoon, SK, native posted 32 goals and a team-leading 88 points in 70 games to lead the Wheat Kings to their first 100-point season since 1995-96, then notched a team-leading 18 points in 12 post-season contests as the Wheaties advanced all the way to the 2009 WHL Eastern Conference Championship series.  In 2007-08, Schenn led all 16-year-old players with 28 goals and 71 points to earn the 2008 WHL Rookie of the Year award.
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rA talented, gritty and hard-working center, Schenn is a player who brings a lot of different elements to the table and possesses very few, if any, areas of weakness.  A good skater with decent top speed, Schenn has the agility and mobility to beat defensemen off the rush.  Schenn also boasts excellent puck skills and tremendous vision, making him not only a top-end playmaker, but a consistent threat to score as well.  Perhaps his best attributes are his tireless work ethic and consistency.  Schenn rarely has an off-game, let alone a bad shift, and always brings a high level of compete.  A solid frame helps him win plenty of battles on the boards and in front of the net, and makes him incredibly difficult to knock off the puck.  
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rThe younger brother of former Kelowna Rocket and current Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn, Brayden played for Team WHL at the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge, and also suited up for Team Orr at the 2009 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game.
rSchenn played for Team Saskatchewan at the 2007 Canada Winter Games where he was one of four 15-year-old players on the roster, and also suited up for Team Western at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.  Schenn helped Canada’s Under-18 team win Gold at both the 2008 World U-18 Championship and the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, and attended Hockey Canada’s 2009 National Junior team selection camp.
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rScott Glennie selected by Dallas Stars, round 1 – #8 overall
rScott Glennie just completed his second season in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings.  The 18-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, finished tied for fourth on the Wheat Kings with 28 goals and fifth on the team with 70 points in 55 games as the Wheat Kings finished with their first 100-point season since 1995-96.  Having recovered from an injury that kept him out for the month of February and much of March, Glennie returned to help the Wheat Kings advance all the way to the 2009 WHL Eastern Conference Championship series.  As a rookie in 2007-08, Glennie scored an impressive 26 goals and 58 points playing on an all-rookie line with Brayden Schenn and Matt Calvert.
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rA terrific skater with outstanding breakaway speed and agility, Glennie plays a high-energy, creative offensive game.  The 6’ 1”, 177-lb winger has strong puck skills and can handle the puck and make plays at high speed.  With his speed, agility and puck handling ability, Glennie is always a threat to beat defenders on the outside, and gets a lot of offensive chances on breakaways and partial breaks.  Although not the biggest player, Glennie doesn’t shy away from physical play, and is effective and tenacious on the forecheck.  His high level of compete and his strong work ethic make Glennie a game-breaking player who can elevate his game when it counts, as shown with his great performance in the 2009 playoffs.
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rA former member of the Winnipeg Wild of the MMHL, Glennie participated in the 2009 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game, suiting up for Team Orr.
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rGlennie played for Team West at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and helped Canada’s Under-18 team win Gold at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
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rJared Cowen selected by Ottawa Senators, round 1 – #9 overall
rJared Cowen completed his second full season in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs.  The 18-year-old from Allan, SK, put up seven goals and 21 points with a solid +15 rating in 48 regular-season games for the Chiefs in 2008-09, but suffered a season-ending knee injury at the end of January.  As a 16-year-old rookie in 2007-08, Cowen became a key fixture on the blue line in helping the Chiefs win the WHL and Memorial Cup championships.
rSelected by Spokane with the first overall pick in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft, Cowen is a towering presence on the blue line who boasts a rare combination of size, strong skating ability and excellent hockey sense.  At over 6’ 5” and 220 lbs, Cowen has the size and strength to dominate in the defensive zone.  He uses his size and reach effectively to break up passes, win battles on the boards and move opposing forwards from the front of the net.  With his strong hockey sense, skating and puck skills, Cowen is also very adept at making first passes or carrying the puck out of the zone, himself.  Many feel Cowen boasts plenty of offensive upside as well.
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rA former member of the Saskatoon Contacts of the SMAAAHL where he played alongside fellow top prospects Carter Ashton and Brayden Schenn, Cowen suited up for Team Orr at the 2009 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game, and also played for Team WHL at the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.
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rCowen was a member of Team Saskatchewan at the 2007 Canada Winter Games, played for Team West at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and helped Canada’s Under-18 team win Gold at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament.
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rCarter Ashton selected by Tampa Bay Lightning, round 1 – #29 overall
rCarter Ashton just completed his second full season in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.  The 18-year-old from Saskatoon, SK, enjoyed a strong campaign for the Hurricanes in 2008-09, scoring a team-leading 30 goals – 10 of which came on the power play – while adding 20 assists for 50 points in 70 games as the ‘Canes posted a 35-32-3-2 record.  As a 16-year-old rookie in 2007-08, Ashton helped the Hurricanes to an Eastern Conference Championship.
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rA big-bodied forward with excellent puck skills and a terrific shot, Ashton has all the tools to become a dominant power forward at the next level.  With his size, reach and athleticism, Ashton can dominate down low and is very difficult to knock off the puck.  He also possesses good skating ability and speed for a player of his size.  Ashton is most effective around the net, and can score goals from in close thanks to his quick hands and strength.  Yet, with his accurate and heavy shot, Ashton can also score from the outside.  Skill and size aside, Ashton also boasts a strong compete level, wins a lot of puck battles, and has good hockey sense.
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rThe son of former NHLer Brent Ashton, Carter suited up for Team Cherry at the 2009 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game in Oshawa, ON.
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rHe has also suited up for Team Western at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and played for Canada’s Gold medal-winning Under-18 team at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
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r2009 NHL Entry Draft, WHL Players
r1st Round
r#4.  Atlanta Thrashers – Evander Kane; Vancouver, B.C.; Vancouver Giants
r#5.  Los Angeles Kings – Brayden Schenn; Saskatoon, SK; Brandon Wheat Kings
r#8.  Dallas Stars – Scott Glennie; Winnipeg, MB; Brandon Wheat Kings
r#9.  Ottawa Senators – Jared Cowen; Saskatoon, SK; Spokane Chiefs
r#29.  Tampa Bay Lightning – Carter Ashton; Saskatoon, SK; Lethbridge Hurricanes
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