A trio of talented young Maple Ridge hockey players were selected in the Western Hockey League Prospects Draft, which was held on May 6 and 7.
A first-round pick, 22nd overall, was Jacson Bradbeer who was chosen by the Swift Current Broncos.
The 5-9, 151 pound offensive defenceman posted a whopping 61 points (9 goals, 52 assists) in 29 regular season games for the Yale Hockey Academy U15 Prep team and added six points in three playoff games. He also played up with the U-17 team at Yale, and still produced – four assists in four games.
“It was an honour to be drafted to such a great city,” he told the Broncos. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about it, they get behind their team and I am just very excited for the future.”
Broncos head scout Chad Leslie is pleased with the addition of Bradbeer.
“He’s a highly offensive player, really intelligent, really evasive and really good puck skill,” he said. “He’s a guy that we think has some growth potential, and a guy who’s going to run our special teams down the road.”
Connor Baines was chosen in the fourth round, 71st overall, by the Red Deer Rebels. He played centre for Yale, posting 54 points (23 goals, 31 assists) in 27 games. Baines is listed at six feet tall and 160 pounds.
“From a really good team, he’s the straw that stirs the drink,” said Rebels scouting director Chase Fuchs.
“He can fly. We’re excited he ended up where he did.”
Wyatt Lowther was picked by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the ninth round 199th overall. The centre played for the Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep team, posting 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) in 30 games. He is listed at 5’9” and 140 pounds.
The club said he showed some offensive chops while playing an all-around game.
“Complete, just a complete guy,” enthused director of hockey operations Chris Moulton. “He can score, he can bring some offense, but he’s never afraid to go into traffic, never afraid to finish a check, never afraid to get in on defenceman on the forecheck.
“He played on a good team, he played in a good league, and one of those guys that maybe should’ve been a little bit higher. We were ecstatic to get him. Our basic premise of our group this year is we wanted guys that will compete every night and aren’t afraid to push back. He’s exactly that.”
There were more than 200 of the most talented 15-year-old hockey players in Western Canada selected, with 44 coming from B.C.