2010 WHL Bantam Draft

[Malc]

The Spokane Chiefs selected 10 players through nine rounds in the 21st edition of the WHL Bantam Draft. Spokane took four defensemen, including Tyler King-Cunningham with the 17th overall selection, five forwards and one goaltender. The bantam draft is the first opportunity for WHL teams to add 1995 born players to their 50 player protected list.

“We’re real happy,” Chiefs Director of Player Personnel Christ Moulton said. “I think we drafted a well balanced group of skill, size and character. Our scouts did a great job.”

King-Cunningham scored 14 goals and 43 points in 25 games for the Notre Dame Bantam team in Saskatchewan last year. He added another five goals and 13 points in seven playoff games. King-Cunningham is 6’0”, 175 pounds and hails from Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan.

“He is a good sized kid that shows poise and character,” Moulton said. “He’s a good skater who is steady and responsible. He’s not afraid to jump up offensively and is very good in all three zones. He plays with confidence.

“We had Tyler rated higher than we selected him and we were excited to see him at 17. There were a lot of good players taken in the first round and we got someone who we are very comfortable with and happy to have in our organization,” Moulton finished.

King-Cunningham is the second defenseman in as many years and third in the last five to be taken with the Chiefs first round pick. Jared Cowen was selected first overall in 2006 and Reid Gow was taken 16th overall last year.

The Chiefs did not have a second round pick, traded to Medicine Hat in 2008 as a part of the deal that brought defenseman Trevor Glass to Spokane.

Spokane selected forward Riley Whittingham, a 6’0” right wing, with their third round selection. Whittingham led his Calgary Northstars in scoring and finished 11th in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League with 32 goals and 60 points in 33 games.

“Riley has good hands, gets involved physically and is a big powerful forward,” Moulton said. “He has a real hard, accurate shot.”

In the fourth round, the Chiefs took left wing Nakeh Lamothe a 6’0” forward from Edmonton. Lamothe finished tied for second on the Edmonton SSAC Bantam team with 19 goals and 43 points in 31 games. He also led the team with 73 penalty minutes.

“Nakeh has skill but also plays with some bite.

“We like the fact that both Riley and Nakeh combine size and skill”

Brett Lewchuck, a goaltender with the Saskatoon Frostbite, was Spokane’s fifth round pick. Lewchuck recently earned 2nd Team All-Star honors with the Frostbite at the Western Canadian Bantam Championships after leading Saskatoon to a Provincial title.

“Brett is a real competitor who battles for pucks and is technically sound,” Moulton said.

With their first of three picks in the sixth round Spokane took Bo Pellah, a 5’10” defenseman from Burnaby, BC. Pellah had three goals and four points in four games with the Burnaby Winter Club at the Western Canadian Bantam Hockey Championships.

“Bo is a smooth skating, smart defenseman who keeps his game simple and will make a lot of plays,” Moulton said.

Tyson Predinchuk, a 6’2” forward, was selected with the very next pick. Predinchuk led the Regina Hurricanes of the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League in scoring with 33 goals and 62 points in 25 games.

“Tyson has all the abilities of skill, size and strength and has a huge upside.”

Two picks later, 129th overall, the Chiefs nabbed defenseman Jeremy McIntosh, a 6’1” Calgary native. McIntosh had three goals and 13 points in 33 games with the Calgary Bronks of the AMBHL.

“Jeremy has the ability to skate himself out of trouble and make plays. He is a good sized kid who will play hard and also get involved physically.”

In the seventh round, Spokane selected Cade Owad from Calgary, a teammate for Whittingham with the Northstars. Owad, a 5’10” forward, scored 11 goals and 33 points in 33 regular season games.

“Cade is a tenacious puck hound who is known for his character and tenacity. His energy will create opportunities.”

Jason Fram, a 5’11” defenseman from South Delta, BC was Spokane’s eighth round pick, 171st overall. In 65 games with South Delta he had 12 goals, 34 points and was +25.

“Jason sees the ice real well and makes plays from the blueline,” Moulton said.

The Chiefs selected 5’9” forward Jakub Romo, “an effective forward who will take the puck to the net and sees the ice very well,” in the ninth round. Romo hails from Fullerton, California and played this last year with the California Stars Midget AAA club.

http://www.spokanechiefs.com/news/in...article_id=592

[LifelongChiefsFan]

Looks like the Chiefs decided to go big with this draft. It'll be interesting to see how these kids turn out. I haven't had much of a chance to research any of these kids, but I know the bantam rankings had King-Cunningham ranked in the top 10. Does anyone know if there are any reasons why he fell so far? Is he potentially college bound or does he have questionable character, etc? If anyone knows, I'd love to hear about it!

[SaskhockeyFan10]

No worries with the Cunningham kid. Excellent kid from a good family. Probably a bit surprising to see him still available at 17 but that would be due to a few of the other teams taking what may be considered some long shot projects.

In addition many of the Alberta D had good showings at the Alberta Cup on the weekend prior to the draft, Saskatchewan is the 1st province to hold their program so the last kids the scouts see are the Alberta kids. It is good positioning by Alberta and helps their kids immensely.

The Owad kid is an extremely hard working player and if he continues his play will be a good 3-4 line guy who can be used either on an energy or checking line as he provides both elements.

Lewchuck could be the steal of the draft in goal. Best goalie is Saskatchewan and was in many peoples minds the best goalie at the Bantam western Championships held last month.

Whittingham may prove to be an excellent power forward with great offensive upside.

Prednichuk is probably the most skilled of all the players drafted and is a big guy, however comes across as a little lazy but is suprisingly deceptive and does not miss many shots from inside the top of the circles. Played on a horrible team this year, has tremendous upside.