Blades sign top three 2008 Bantam picks

The Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce that the organization has signed Duncan Siemens, Brent Benson, and Dalton Thrower to Western Hockey League player contracts as members of the Saskatoon Blades family.
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rSiemens, from Sherwood Park, AB, was selected 3rd overall in the 1st Round of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. Siemens posted 14 goals, 22 assists and 54 PIM in 32 league games playing Bantam AAA with Sherwood Park last season.
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rThe 6’3 183 pound defenseman was the captain as he led his bantam team to the Western Bantam Championship Title.
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r“One of the things that really stood out with Duncan was the leadership and character he demonstrated this year,” commented Blades GM/Head Coach Lorne Molleken. “Duncan is a very poised and mature player for somebody at his age and we feel he has tremendous potential to become a top end player in the Western Hockey League.”
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rBenson, from Weyburn, SK, was selected 6th overall in the 1st Round of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. The powerful skating, two-way forward was on the Blades radar throughout 2007/08 thanks to his combination of grit and offensive prowess. The 5’11 169 pound center notched 37 goals, 37 assists and 39 PIM in 26 league games with the Bantam AA Weyburn Red Wings last season.
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r“We were extremely pleased that Brent was still available with the 6th overall pick,” commented Molleken. “Brent has tremendous offensive capabilities and is a player who competes extremely hard with and without the puck. Brent also captained his bantam team and has shown great leadership and character.”
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rThrower, from Squamish, BC, was selected 30th overall in the 2nd Round of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. The 5’11 161 pound blueliner had 9 goals, 17 assists and 79 PIM in 45 games with North Shore Winter Club (Bantam AAA) last season. An all around defenseman, Thrower has a blend of physicality and offensive upside with good puck skills.
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r“We were very happy to have selected a player of Dalton’s potential in the 2nd Round,” commented Molleken. “He plays a physical game and we liked the way he handles and moves the puck.”
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rExclusive interviews and highlight footage of Siemens and Benson from the May 23-25 Spring Camp is available online by visiting the Video Vault within saskatoonblades.com.
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