It stood to reason that one of the standout forwards from the Saskatoon Contacts would become the latest first-round pick for the Moose Jaw Warriors when the 2020 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft kicked off on Wednesday morning, and that's exactly what happened.
The Warriors selected Dundurn-born forward Brayden Yager with the third-overall pick in the Draft, moments after the Prince George Cougars selected Yager's teammate Riley Heidt with the second pick.
Yager – who alongside Heidt applied for exceptional player status from the WHL but wasn't accepted – scored 18 goals and 42 points in 44 games for Saskatoon in the Sask Midget AAA Hockey League this past season. Two seasons ago with Martensville in the Bantam AA ranks, Yager scored 35 goals and 103 points in only 31 games.
With their second round pick, the Warriors selected forward Ben Riche from the Balgonie-based Prairie Storm Bantam AA. Riche, who stands in at 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, had a stellar season with 34 goals and 71 points in 29 games.
The Warriors chose their lone goaltender of the draft with their third selection, Jackson Unger from the Calgary Bisons. A Calgary product, the 6-foot-0, 167-pound Unger put together a 2.45 goals against average and .927 save percentage over 20 games while playing in the Alberta Bantam AAA League.
That was the final pick the Warriors had until the seventh round, where the Tribe continued to hold their place on the All-Name Pantheon by selecting defenceman Cosmo Wilson, who played for the West Van Warriors Bantam Prep team. The 5-foot-10.5, 145-pound Vernon, B.C. product had four assists in 28 games and also played up with the Elite 15s for nine games, where he was held without a point.
The Warriors stayed close to home with their next two picks, selecting defenceman Gavin Sawatzky from Hague in the seventh round, 151st overall and defenceman Keelan Mansuy in the 8th round, 156th overall.
Sawatzky, brings some size at 6-foot-2 and 172 pounds. He scored 11 goals an 18 points in 29 games with Warman in the Sask Bantam AA League.
Mansuy comes in at 5-foot-10 and 140 pounds, having scored nine goals and 40 points in 31 games last season. He was also called up for two games with the Regina Pat Canadians Midget AAA squad.
With their ninth round selection, 178th overall, the Warriors added 5-foot-7, 128-pound centre Job Peters from the Eastman Selects of the Winnipeg Bantam Division I league. The Mitchell, Man. product scored 23 goals and 56 points in 36 games last season.
The Warriors continued their quest for diamonds in the rough with the selection of 6-foot-3, 177-pound forward Thomas Matte from Calgary in the 10th round, 200th overall. Matte scored 15 goals and 31 points in 32 games for the Calgary Flames Bantam AAA squad and added a goal in two Alberta AAA appearances.
The 11th round saw Moose Jaw land Pilot Butte's Harper Lolacher with the 222nd pick. Lolacher suited up for the Notre Dame Hounds Bantam Prep team last season, with the 5-foot-7, 136-pound forward putting up seven goals and 16 points in 27 games. He also played two games with the Elite 15 Hounds and suiting up for one game with the Midget AAA Hounds.
Be sure to check back soon for comments from general manager Alan Millar and much more!
