(submitted photo/WHL)

By Logan Lehmann

Leveling up

Handful of local talent selected in WHL bantam draft

May 11, 2023 | 5:09 PM

The northeast corner of the province was well represented at the 2023 WHL Draft.

In total, five players were selected, all of whom were drafted from the Humboldt Broncos U15 AA team. Two of the players went in the first round while the others went in rounds three, four, and five.

See below the players selected as well as where they went to:

Dayne Beuker – Rnd 1, Pk 14 to Lethbridge Hurricanes

Beuker was the first off the board going 14^th overall to the Hurricanes after an incredible season with the U15 Broncos. The Humboldt product posted 47 goals and 56 assists, 103 points, in just 30 games this past season while adding 28 more points (11g, 17a) in nine playoff appearances. The centreman also spent a short amount of time with the Warman Wildcats of the SMAAAHL, scoring a singular goal in three games.

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“We’re really excited to get him at fourteen,” said Hurricanes Head Scout Rob MacLachlan. “He does everything at a high speed, his skating is phenomenal, his skill set is very good. It shows by the points that he’s dropped this year and he’s a game-changer, he can get on the ice and change the game in one shift. We’re very to pick him where we did and we’re looking forward to him coming to Lethbridge.”

Beckett Hamilton – Rnd 1, Pk 18 to Red Deer Rebels

Hamilton went off the board just a few picks behind his teammate at 18^th overall to the Rebels. The Saskatoon-born center finished second in scoring, behind Beuker, with 83 points (39g, 44a) in 29 games. He also led the team in the points department during the postseason, scoring 21 goals and 12 assists in nine games. Additionally, Hamilton has also spent time with the U18AAA Wildcats posting an assist in three appearances.

“He’s been the highest-producing forward both in points and in goals in the playoffs,” said Rebels Associate GM Shaun Sutter. “We think he’s a guy that can really score and also make plays and we think that’s high-end. He can be a driver out there with also a little bit of hardness which is obviously what we try to have in our top players and we think he could be a really good player for us. We’re really happy to select him and welcome his family to Red Deer.”

Cohen Harris – Rnd 3, Pk 47 to Spokane Chiefs

Harris heard his name called in round three of the draft, going 47^th overall to the Chiefs. The Humboldt product rounded out the top three scorers for the U15 Broncos team, finishing the season with 38 goals and 41 assists in 30 games while tagging another eight goals and 17 assists in the playoffs. Like his teammates, the right winger also saw the ice at the U18AAA level, appearing in three games with the Prince Albert Mintos this past season.

Cameron Jacobson – Rnd 4, Pk 80 to Portland Winterhawks

Jacobson was the only defenseman out of this Broncos group to hear his name called in the draft, going 80^th overall to the Winterhawks. Hailing from Wakaw, the blueliner tallied eight goals and 33 assists in 29 games while scoring another two goals and nine assists in the postseason. Jacobson joined Beuker and Hamilton on the Wildcats in the SMAAAHL, scoring three assists in four games with the club.

Ethan Hamilton – Rnd 5, Pk 103 to Prince George Cougars

The fifth and final player from the U15 Broncos group, Hamilton was taken off the board 103^rd overall to the Cougars in the fifth round. The left winger from Lanigan ended last season with 14 goals and 13 assists in 21 regular season games. In the playoffs, Hamilton added five goals in six games. He also made an appearance at the U18AAA level, suiting up for a game with the Prince Albert Mintos.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann