Five Richmond players were selected in Thursday’s WHL Bantam Draft including a trio from the Western Canadian and provincial champion Seafair Islanders.
The draft, for graduating Bantam age players, has been the launching pad for a number of homegrown talent who went on to enjoy stellar junior careers including Tyler Sandhu (2011, Portland) and Glenn Gawdin (2012, Swift Current). Typically at least a season follows at the Midget age level (15-to-17) as players are not eligible for junior until they are 16.
Heading the local contingent were Seafair linemates Michael Abgrall and Jaden Uy, both selected in the fourth round.
Abgrall went 67th overall to the Edmonton Oil Kings and Uy followed just six picks later to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Both put up big numbers on a Seafair team that made history with the association’s first ever B.C. Bantam title at the tier one level.
The pair combined on a huge tying goal in the Islanders’ thrilling win over Alberta champion Airdire Xtreme in the Western Canadian title game.
“Jaden is a very skilled forward. He skates well, he thinks the game well and we’re very happy to get him where we did,” said Lethbridge head scout Rob MacLachlan. “He had 150 points this year in his league. He can put the puck in the net, he can pass the puck, he’s a complete forward.”
Rounding out the Seafair selections was captain Josh Wessels going in the eighth round to the Kamloops Blazers. Ironically it was the Interior city where Seafair won the Western Canadian crown and Wessels was recognized as the tournament’s top defenceman.
“Josh was the captain of his team this season and led them to the Western Canada Bantam Championship. He is a solid two-way defender.” Said Blazers director of player personnel, Matt Recchi.
With the draft dominated by academy players, it’s a credit to the job Islanders head coach Steve Robinson did of running an elite minor hockey association based program.
Other Richmond players selected included Lethbridge taking St. George’s Academy defenceman Kayden Sadhra-King in the ninth round, 195th overall. The Saskatoon Blades selected Delta Hockey Academy forward Sammy May in the 11th round.
Listed at 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, Sadhra-King had 43 points in 26 games.
“He is a big defenseman. He skates well and his first pass is good,” added MacLachlan. “I have no idea why he was still there when we picked but we’re so happy to have him."
May had 21 points in 28 games playing on DHA’s top Bantam Prep team.
