Connor Hvidston (middle) participated in some Sask First Camps this season. He was drafted 133rd overall in the WHL Bantam Draft (submitted photo/Brad Hvidston)

By Mat Barrett

WHL Bantam Draft

Four North Central players taken in 2019 WHL Bantam Draft

May 2, 2019 | 5:01 PM

The Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft took place on Thursday, May 2 in Red Deer where 228 players were selected.

Thirty players taken in this year’s draft were born in Saskatchewan. One coach in the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League (SBAAHL), Shaun Priel of the Martensville Marauders said sometimes players from this province don’t quite get the credit they deserve.

“Sometimes they are overlooked because of the number of sport schools that are out there,” Priel told northeastNOW. “But there’s some good talent in Saskatchewan and the guys that are out there evaluating these players. They do a good job identifying them.”

Meanwhile, the Head Coach of the Warman Wildcats in the SBAAHL, Ryan McDonald said even though it was a light year for Saskatchewan, the draft is always a neat day.

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“It’s always fun to see the kids that you either coached or coached against,” McDonald said. “You’re kind of always rooting for them, and looking through the ticker and hoping to see some of those names called.”

Four local players were drafted this year.

Kalem Parker – Clavet, Sask. – Martensville Marauders

Parker was the second Marauder taken in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. After putting up six goals and 30 assists in 30 regular season games this year, the Victoria Royals decided to take the defenceman in the second round, 32^nd overall. His coach Shaun Priel said Parker’s best asset comes off the ice.

“They get a fantastic kid first of all,” Priel said. “That’s one of the things that a lot the guys, when they contacted me would ask, ‘What type of kid is he’, and he is a great kid. That’s first and foremost.”

Priel added Parker has an excellent skill set, and is an excellent skater who is a defence first defenceman.

He is committed to play for the Saskatoon Blazers next year in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL).

Parker Lalonde – Aberdeen, Sask. – Warman Wildcats

Lalonde spent the 2018/2019 season with the Warman Wildcats of the SBAAHL, tallying 24 goals and 26 assists in 31 regular season games. He added 10 more points in five playoff games. Those numbers allowed the Red Deer Rebels to take the forward in the sixth round, 114^th overall. His coach Ryan McDonald said the Rebels are getting an excellent player.

“Parker is a very, very smart hockey player,” McDonald said. “His hockey IQ is exceptional. I think he is a very good skater and skates well in traffic and plays with the puck. You’re going to get a high offensive guy from him.”

Lalonde also tallied 30 points in 31 games for the Wildcats in his first year of Bantam hockey.

Connor Hvidston – Tisdale, Sask. – Northeast Wolfpack

In the seventh round of the draft, the Swift Current Broncos elected to take Connor Hvidston who played this past season for the Northeast Wolfpack in the SBAAHL. Hvidston led the Wolfpack in scoring with 27 goals and 30 assists in 30 games this year. When the Wolfpack played the Wildcats this season, McDonald said it was tough to stop Hvidston.

“I know every time we played them this year, that was kind of our mandate, was to shut him and his line down,” he said. “So, when you have to make a game plan against a player, you know he’s a pretty special player.”

Hvidston’s coach with the Wolfpack, Robb Misskey said he was very happy to see Connor be drafted.

“Huge hockey sense and skill,” Misskey told northeastNOW. “Connor is the complete package. He’s like everybody else. You got to work on a few things, but that’s what these guys do — force you to work on the things you need help with. Other than that, he’s got a ton of upside to him.”

Hvidston committed earlier this year to play for the Tisdale Trojans in the SMAAAHL for next season with his brother Drayton.

Kylynn Olafson – Lanigan, Sask. – Humboldt Broncos

The captain of the Humboldt Broncos in the SBAAHL this year tallied 17 goals and 19 assists in 26 games this season, leading Kylynn Olafson to be drafted by the Edmonton Oil Kings’ 150^th overall. Olafson also dressed for eight games with the Broncos Midget AA squad tallying two points in those games.

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Even with 228 players taken in the WHL Bantam Draft, there are still lots of talented players left out there according to Ryan McDonald.

“I think there’s a lot of quality hockey players within Saskatchewan,” McDonald said. “Now they just kind of get to choose where they want to go, so the skies kind of the limit for them as well.”

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6