From www.everettsilvertips.com

Posted : : 05/02/2005
Silvertips Ready to Bring In 2005 Draft Class
2005 WHL Bantam Draft Taking Place on Thursday

Everett, WA - The Everett Silvertips will be looking towards the future as they participate in their third WHL Bantam Draft on Thursday, May 5th in Calgary, Alberta. For the most updated draft information on the Silvertips selections log onto www.everettsilvertips.com.

The Silvertips will have the 10th pick overall in the first round of this year's draft and three selections in the Top 50 that feature all 1990 born players in Western Canada and the United States.

Already in their 2nd season in the Western Hockey League the Silvertips have reaped the benefits of the draft especially from their 2003 Bantam Draft Class. Overall eight players from the 2003 Silvertips bantam draft class made major contributions this season. Zach Hamill (1st Round/3rd Overall) played in 57 regular season games and all 11 playoff games this season. Hamill finished 8th in the WHL in rookie scoring and was the top 16 year old scorer in the league this year. The Port Coquitlam, B.C. native also was named the Silvertips Rookie of the Year.

Defenseman Taylor Ellington (3rd Round/41st Overall) played in 47 regular season games and 8 playoff games this season. The 6-1, 195 pound defenseman was named the Silvertips Most Improved Player at the end of the regular season. Brady Calla (4th Round/61st Overall) played in 68 regular season games and 11 playoff games. The Kelowna, B.C. native finished the season with 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists).

Goaltender Leland Irving (5th Round/81st Overall) was very solid between the pipes his rookie season playing in 23 games. Irving finished with a 1.81 Goals Against Average and a .931 Save Percentage. Graham Potuer (9th Round/161st Overall) played in 29 regular season games and 5 playoff games this season. The Red Deer, Alberta native finished with a goal and an assist in his first season on defense. Zach Sim (10th Round/181st Overall) started the season with Everett in January and played in 28 regular season games and 10 playoff games. Sim finished with 3 goals in his rookie season.

Arborg, Manitoba native Brennan Zasitko (11th Round/201st Overall) played in 28 regular season games and 7 playoff contests. Zasitko picked up 3 assists during the regular season. Jonathan Harty (12th Round/221st Overall) played in 58 games during the regular season and all 11 playoff games. Harty finished his rookie year with 11 points (2 goals and 9 assists) as a defenseman and forward. In total the Silvertips 16 year olds played a combined 338 games in the 2004-2005 regular season and 63 playoff contests.

The Silvertips 2004 Draft Class also looks very promising. Last May, the 2004 Western Conference Champions selected Calgary, Alberta defenseman Eric Doyle in the first round (13th overall) in last year's draft. Doyle last season posted 29 points (9 goals, 20 assists) in 34 games for the Calgary Buffaloes in the Alberta Midget Hockey League.

2nd Round selection (27th Overall) Keegan Bourelle tallied 4 goals and 6 assists in 38 games for the North Battleford Stars of the Saskatchewan Midget Triple-A Hockey League. Mitch Wall the Silvertips 5th Round (93rd Overall) selection added 3 goals and 8 assists in 36 games for the North Battleford Stars.

Once the Silvertips make a selection in the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft, you will find out in minutes on www.everettsilvertips.com.