33 WHL PLAYERS SELECTED IN 2011 NHL DRAFT

Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that 33 WHL players were selected in the 2011 NHL Draft, with five being selected in the first round.  Red Deer Rebels’ forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was selected first overall in the 2011 NHL Draft when the Edmonton Oilers used their first pick to select the 18-year-old (1993) Burnaby, B.C. product yesterday in Minnesota at the Xcel Energy Center, marking the first British Columbia born player to be selected first overall at the NHL Draft.

“On behalf of all WHL Clubs we congratulate the WHL players and their families who were selected in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “The WHL is proud to be a leading producer of NHL talent and wishes the players selected the very best as they get ready to embark on their professional career.”

The Canadian Hockey League also announced today that 101 CHL players were selected in the seven rounds of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft representing nearly 48% of the 211 drafted players.  The 101 players includes 21 selected in the first round which ties a CHL record set back in 1998 when the first consisted of 27 picks.  Of the 101 players selected, the Ontario Hockey League leads the way with 46 players selected matching the 2008 NHL Entry Draft as their highest total since 1999 when 52 players were selected.  This season the Western Hockey League had 33 players, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League had 22 players selected.

Full list of the 33 WHL players selected at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

1^st Round
#1.  Edmonton Oilers – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins; Burnaby, B.C.; Red Deer Rebels
#11.  Colorado Avalanche – Duncan Siemens; Sherwood Park, AB; Saskatoon Blades
#13.  Calgary Flames – Sven Bartschi; Langenthal, SUI; Portland Winterhawks
#18.  Chicago Blackhawks – Mark McNeill; Edmonton, AB; Prince Albert Raiders
#23.  Pittsburgh Penguins – Joseph Morrow; Sherwood Park, AB; Portland Winterhawks

2^nd Round
#31.  Edmonton Oilers – David Musil; Calgary, AB; Vancouver Giants
#32.  St. Louis Blues – Ty Rattie; Airdrie, AB; Portland Winterhawks
#46.  St. Louis Blues – Joel Edmundson; Brandon, MB; Moose Jaw Warriors
#57.  Calgary Flames – Tyler Wotherspoon; Surrey, BC; Portland Winterhawks

3^rd Round
#67.  Winnipeg Jets – Adam Lowry; Calgary, AB; Swift Current Broncos
#73.  Carolina Hurricanes – Keegan Lowe; Edmonton, AB; Edmonton Oil Kings
#74.  Edmonton Oilers – Travis Ewanyk; North Vancouver, BC; Edmonton Oil Kings
#84.  Phoenix Coyotes – Harrison Ruopp; Zehner, SK; Prince Albert Raiders

4^th Round
#106.  New York Rangers – Michael St. Croix; Winnipeg, MB; Edmonton Oil Kings
#107.  Buffalo Sabres – Colin Jacobs; Grapevine, TX; Seattle Thunderbirds
#111.  Phoenix Coyotes – Kale Kessy; Shaunavon, SK; Medicine Hat Tigers
#115.  Detroit Red Wings – Marek Tvrdon; Nitra, SVK; Vancouver Giants
#118.  Philadelphia Flyers – Marcel Noebels; Toenisvorst, DEU; Seattle Thunderbirds
#119.  Winnipeg Jets – Zachary Yuen; Vancouver, BC; Tri-City Americans

5^th Round
#125.  New York Islanders – John Persson; Mora SWE; Red Deer Rebels
#127.  New York Islanders – Brenden Kichton; Spruce Grove, AB; Spokane Chiefs
#134.  New York Rangers – Shane McColgan; Manhattan Beach, CA; Kelowna Rockets
#138.  Montreal Canadiens – Darren Dietz; Medicine Hat, AB; Saskatoon Blades
#141.  Phoenix Coyotes – Darren Dzuirzynski; Lloydminster, AB; Saskatoon Blades
#144.  Pittsburgh Penguins – Dominik Uher; Ostvava, CZE; Spokane Chiefs

6^th Round
#156.  Ottawa Senators – Darren Kramer; Peace River, AB; Spokane Chiefs
#159.  New Jersey Devils – Reece Scarlett; Sherwood Park, AB; Swift Current Broncos
#164.  Calgary Flames – Laurent Brossoit; Port Alberni, BC; Edmonton Oil Kings
#165.  Dallas Stars – Matej Stransky; Ostrava, CZE; Saskatoon Blades
#167.  Buffalo Sabres – Nathan Lieuwen; Abbotsford, BC; Kootenay Ice
#175.  Detroit Red Wings – Richard Nedomlel; Prague, CZE; Swift Current Broncos

7^th Round
#186.  Ottawa Senators – Jordan Fransoo; North Battleford, SK; Brandon Wheat Kings
#193.  Carolina Hurricanes – Brody Sutter; Calgary, AB; Lethbridge Hurricanes

Past WHL – NHL Draft Results
A total of 43 WHL players were selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, including seven in the 1^st round.
A total of 31 WHL players were selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, including five in the 1^st round.
A total of 37 WHL players were selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including nine in the 1^st round.
A total of 37 WHL players were selected in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, including nine in the 1^st round.
A total of 24 WHL players were selected in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft
A total of 43 WHL players were selected in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft