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Stay-Puft
05-04-2006, 08:59 AM
The Ams 1st pick in the WHL Bantam Draft for 2006 is Jason Gardiner (C/LW) from Winnipeg, MB.

According to the Winnipeg Minor Hockey website, he tallied 27 goals and 25 assists for 52 points in 30 games for the Sharks in Bantam 1.

Stay-Puft
05-04-2006, 09:54 AM
The Ams 2nd round pick in Adam Hughesman, also from Winnipeg, MB. Actually, teammates on the Winnipeg Sharks Bantam 1 team with the Ams 1st round pick. He posted 31 goals and 37 assists for 68 points, which lead the league, according to the Winnipeg Minor Hockey website.

Here's a theme. The Ams picked linemates last year as well, in Mestery and Schmidt, in the 1st 2 rounds. Do we scout any other teams or leagues during a draft? :)

Stay-Puft
05-04-2006, 01:05 PM
No pick in the 3rd Round. 4th round selection is Adam Wihak, c, from Regina, SK. next selection in 4th round is Brock Zimak, RW, from Winnipeg, MB. No pick in the 5th round. 6th round selection is Lane Werbowski, D, from Winnipeg, MB. Both Brock and Lane were on the same team in Winnipeg (Monarchs).

So far, 4 of our 5 picks are again from Manitoba, same league. And again, 2 sets of teammates.

Stay-Puft
05-04-2006, 03:43 PM
8th round pick:
Cody Musto, d, Burnaby, BC

10th round pick:
Jeff Weselake, d, Winnipeg, MB

11th round pick:
David Sabey, rw, Kelowna, BC

12th round pick:
Taylor Fraser, c, St Albert, AB

13th round pick:
Jordan Krankowsky, d, Fort Saskatchewan, AB

14th round pick:
Richard Ursulak, d, Ponoka, AB

That concludes the Ams draft day.

Stay-Puft
05-04-2006, 03:59 PM
Some stats on the draftees:

Jason Gardiner - 27 goals, 25 assists, 52 points in 30 games.
Adam Hughesman - 31 goals, 37 assists, 68 points in 29 games.
Brock Zimak - 15 goals, 28 assists, 43 points in 29 games.
Lane Werbowski - 6 goals, 12 assists, 18 points in 27 games.
Jeff Weselake - 3 goals, 10 assists, 13 points in 30 games. (teammate of Gardiner and Hughesman)

That's all the stats I can find. Looks like we went after scoring ability with the first 3 picks listed here.

Any scouting/info from those out there would be greatly appreciated.

Stay-Puft
05-04-2006, 04:09 PM
Press Box - from Ams website


2006 WHL Bantam Draft: Tri-City Americans draft Jason Gardiner in first round
May 04, 2006

CALGARY, AB - With the first overall selection in this morning’s WHL Bantam Draft the Tri-City Americans selected center/left wing Jason Gardiner of Winnipeg Manitoba. The 6'0", 173 pound forward played for the Winnipeg Sharks, who finished third in the 2006 Western Canadian Bantam AAA Hockey Championships . In 30 regular season games, Gardiner scored 27 goals, 52 points and added 66 penalty minutes. Last year, the Americans took defenseman Eric Mestry with their first round pick. In 2004, center/left wing and current American Joel Broda was the first round pick. To follow the the Tri-City Americans draft selections, click here.

Stay-Puft
05-05-2006, 11:57 AM
By Annie Fowler, Herald staff writer

The Winnipeg Sharks are migrating West.

For the second year in a row, Tri-City Americans general manager Bob Tory raided the Sharks talent pool, this time coming away with two high-scoring forwards in Jason Gardiner and Adam Hughesman on Thursday during the 17th annual Western Hockey League bantam draft.

"We wanted to concentrate on forwards because we had a strong defensive draft class last year," said Tory, who drafted defense-men Eric Mestery and Tyler Schmidt of the Sharks last year. "They are two of the top scorers in the Manitoba bantam league and we are happy to have them."

The Americans used their first pick, eighth overall, to select Gardiner, while Hughesman was taken in the second round, 28th overall. Tri-Cities further added to their collection of Sharks players when it drafted defenseman Jeff Weselake in the 10th round.

"Gardiner is a good center with playmaking capabilities," Tory said. "Hughesman is a good finisher and good on the penalty kill. He's a good hard-working power forward with good offensive skills."

The Spokane Chiefs had the first pick of the draft and took 6-foot-5, 200-pound defenseman Jared Cowen.

Gardiner, 14, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, scored 27 goals and had 25 assists for the Sharks, who won the provincial bantam championship in March. The 6-1, 180-pound center was his team's fourth leading scorer.

"I'm so happy right now. I didn't know what to expect," said Gardiner, who found out he was selected while monitoring the draft on the computer at John Gunn Middle School. "It was a big sigh of relief. This is a starting point for my career."

Gardiner, who scored five goals for the Sharks at the Western Canada Bantam AAA Tournament in Kelowna, British Columbia, last month, was named the tournament's top forward.

While some parents have reservations about their sons playing so far from home -- Cowen's adviser said Thursday his player would not play for Spokane -- Dave Gardiner does not.

"We are very excited for Jason," Dave said. "He's never had an issue of leaving home as long as someone feeds him. Jason has always been a free-wheeling kid."

And while Dave Gardiner never played in the WHL, his brother-in-law Dan Hart played for Winnipeg and Brandon from 1982-85.

Hughesman, 15, led the Sharks and the Winnipeg bantam league in scoring with 31 goals and 37 assists in 29 games. He also had a hat trick against Kelowna in the third-place game of the Western Canada Bantam AAA Tournament. The 5-11, 175-pound left winger finished the tournament with four goals and three assists.

"It's an honor to be drafted in the second round," said Hughesman, a freshman at Robert Andrews Middle School. "I can put the puck in the net, but I'm not the tallest or most physical guy and that may have dropped me in the draft."

In January, Hughesman was one of four bantam players selected to participate in the AHL all-star skills competition as part of the AHL All-Star Game in Manitoba.

"That was an adrenaline rush," Hughesman said. "Playing with those guys was an experience of a lifetime."

Gardiner and Hughesman plan to attend training camp in August, then hope to play for the Winnipeg Thrashers, who recently won the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League title with help from Mestery and Schmidt. Players drafted this year are not eligible to play more than five games for the Americans until the 2007-08 season.

The Americans drafted 10 players on the day, including Adam Wihak (C, 4th round), Lane Werbowski (D, 6th round), Cody Musto (D, 9th round), David Sabey (RW, 11th round), Taylor Fraser (RW, 12th round), Jordan Krankowsky (D, 13th round) and Richard Ursulak (D, 14th round).

"It was a good day for everyone," Tory said. "We got some good players with good character, which is just as important."

Stay-Puft
05-10-2006, 01:03 PM
May 09, 2006
KENNEWICK, WA - The Tri-City Americans were proud to make 5’11”, 165 pound center Adam Wihak a fourth round (70th overall) draft choice in last week’s 17th annual WHL Bantam Draft.

Adam is a native of Regina, Saskatchewan and had 39 goals, 89 points and 82 penalty minutes in 53 games last season for the Regina Kings Bantams.

“He is a very good skater with good size,” said Americans governor/general manager Bob Tory. “Adam is a playmaking center who put up some great numbers this year.”

Wihak will play next season for the Regina Pat Canadians AAA Midget club. He will attend training camp with the Americans in late August at Toyota Center.

Tomorrow the Americans will feature 6th round draft choice Lane Werbowski.

Stay-Puft
05-10-2006, 01:04 PM
May 08, 2006
KENNEWICK, WA - The Tri-City Americans were proud to make 5’9”, 160 pound Winnipeg, Manitoba native Brock Zimak a fourth round selection (78th overall) in last week’s 17th annual WHL Bantam Draft.

Brock was a member of the AAA Bantam Monarchs and had 15 goals, 43 points and 44 penalty minutes in 29 games in 2005-06. At the Directors Cup, he had an excellent showing with three goals, 13 points in four games.

“Brock is a highly skilled winger with good speed,” said Americans governor/general manager Bob Tory. “He’s a hard working forward with tremendous one-on-one skill that creates scoring opportunities every time he is on the ice.”

Zimak is one of the newest members of the Americans 50-player protected list and is expected to attend his first training camp with the hockey club in late August at Toyota center in Kennewick.

The Americans will feature Adam Wihak tomorrow on amshockey.com.

Stay-Puft
05-10-2006, 01:05 PM
May 10, 2006
KENNEWICK, WA - The Tri-City Americans were glad to add 6’0”, 165 pound defenseman Lane Werbowski to the family by making him the club’s 6th round selection (112th overall) in last week’s WHL Bantam Draft.

Lane makes his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba and played for the Winnipeg Monarchs where he was a teammate for fellow Americans draftee Brock Zimak. In 27 games this season for the Monarchs, Lane had six goals, 18 points.

“Lane is a skilled defenseman with good mobility and skating skills,” said Americans governor/general manager Bob Tory.

Werbowski will attend Americans training camp in late August at Toyota Center. He will play Midget AAA in Winnipeg for the upcoming 2006-07 season.

Tomorrow the Americans will feature draftee Jeff Weselake.

Stay-Puft
05-12-2006, 09:11 AM
May 11, 2006
KENNEWICK, WA - The Tri-City Americans were proud to draft Winnipeg, Manitoba native Jeff Weselake last week in the 10th round (196th overall) in the 17th annual WHL Bantam Draft.

The 5’11”, 175 pound defenseman toiled for the Winnipeg Sharks last season and had three goals, 13 points and 62 penalty minutes.

“Jeff is a skilled defenseman who plays with an edge to his game,” said Americans governor/general manager Bob Tory. “He’s a physical player who will join the rush and put up some good numbers this season.”

Weselake will play AAA Midget hockey in Winnipeg during the 2006-07 season. He will attend training camp with the Americans in late August at Toyota Center.

Tomorrow the Americans will feature 9th round draft pick Cody Musto.

Stay-Puft
05-12-2006, 01:53 PM
May 12, 2006
KENNEWICK, WA - The Tri-City Americans were happy to select 6’0”, 165 defenseman Cody Musto on the 9th round (175th overall) in last week’s 17th annual WHL Bantam Draft.

Musto makes his home in Burnaby, British Columbia where he played for his hometown Burnaby Winter Club. In 49 games he had three goals, 25 points and 42 penalty minutes.

“Musto is a stay-at-home defenseman who showed steady improvement throughout the season,” said Americans governor/general manager Bob Tory.

Monday the Americans will feature center Taylor Fraser.

Stay-Puft
05-15-2006, 01:57 PM
May 15, 2006
KENNEWICK, WA - The Tri-City Americans were pleased to select 6’0”, 170 pound center Taylor Fraser on the 12th round (238th overall) in the 17th annual WHL Bantam Draft held May 4th in Calgary, Alberta.

Taylor is a native of St. Albert, Alberta and played AAA Bantam in his hometown. He tallied 17 goals, 29 points and had 50 penalty minutes in 28 games last season.

“He is a skilled center with good speed,” said Americans governor/general manager Bob Tory. “Taylor led his team in scoring.”

Taylor is expected to play AAA Midget in the upcoming 2006-07 season for St. Albert. He will be attending Americans training camp at Toyota Center in late August.

Tomorrow the Americans will feature draft pick Jordan Krankowsky.