Oil Kings select 11

The Edmonton Oil Kings began the process of populating their roster at today's 2007 WHL Bantam Draft in Calgary today.

Sherwood Park’s Mark Pysyk was the Oil King’s first draft pick, selected third overall. The 15-year old defenceman from the Strathcona Warriors of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League (AMBHL) scored 15 goals and 33 assists this season, and recently played in the Alberta Cup Bantam hockey tournament. He measures 6’ tall, 165 pounds.

The Oil Kings traded the 23rd overall draft pick (1st pick, 2nd round) to the Regina Pats in exchange for the Pats 35th overall pick (2nd round), the Pats third round pick (57th overall), and a yet to be named player in the upcoming WHL expansion draft.

For the Oil Kings second pick (35th overall, 2nd round), they selected 14-year old T.J. Foster of Slave Lake, Alberta. The 5’10”, 140-pound center for the Spruce Grove PAC Timberwolves of the AMBHL scored 60 points (31 goals and 29 assists) in 33 games.

Colton Stephenson of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was the third player selected (57th overall, 3rd round). The 14-year old center measures 5’9”, 168 pounds, and accumulated 65 goals and 32 assists in 42 games with the Saskatoon Generals of the SBML.

Devin Balness, a 15-year old center from Beausejour, Manitoba, was the fourth Oil Kings draft pick (67th overall, 4th round). Weighing in at 5’10”, 165 pounds, Devin scored 153 points in 48 games (79 goals, 74 assists) with the Beausejour Northern Nights.

Braeden Laroque of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was the fifth draft pick (90th overall, 5th round). The 15-year old defenceman with the Saskatoon Stallions measures 5’9”, 147 pounds.

The Oil Kings selected 14-year old Goalie Cam Lannigan of Calgary, Alberta, as their sixth pick (111th overall, 6th round). The Southeast Calgary Hawks puck stopper is 5’11”, 160 pounds, and plays in the Calgary Bantam AAA League.

Eric Coulombe, a 15-year old left-winger from the Southwest Jets of St. Malo, Manitoba, was the team’s seventh pick (133rd overall, 7th round). He stands 5’9”, 165 pounds.

Defenceman Spencer Donaldson of Kamloops, B.C., was the Oil Kings eighth pick (155th overall, 8th round). The 5’11”, 150 pound, 14-year old plays Kamloops Bantam AAA.

Lacombe, Alberta’s Cameron Maclise was the ninth pick (177th overall, 9th round). A 5’11”, 150 pound right-winger with the Red Deer Bantam AAA Rebels, Maclise is 15 years old.

Philip Samuelsson, the 15-year old son of ex-New York Ranger Ulf Samuelsson, was the Oil Kings tenth pick (199th overall, 10th round). A 6’1”, 185 pound, defenceman, Philip plays for P.F. Chang’s Hockey in Phoenix, Arizona.

Defenceman Blake Leask was the Oil Kings final pick (221st overall, 11th round). The 5’7”, 130-pound native of Normal Wells, NWT, played for the Notre Dame Hounds Bantam AAA.

All bantam players drafted by the Edmonton Oil Kings will take part in a Developmental Camp, along with other selected invitees, on May 19-20th. Further details will be released at a later date.