Mustangs draft seven players, auto-protect one at SJHL Draft

The Mustangs drafted seven players, and auto-protected another local player at the end of the draft.

Round One – Ninth Overall – Connor Hvidston (Tisdale, Sask.)

The Melfort Mustangs used their first draft pick on local player, Connor Hvidston. In 60 career games with the Northeast Wolfpack in the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League (SBAAHL), Hvidston notched 47 goals and 40 assists, including a team high 57 points this season. Oakes said even with Hvidston being a WHL pick as well, they felt it was worth the risk.

“He competes hard, and just a good solid player, and it would be great to have him in Melfort at some point,” Oakes said.

Hvidston was taken in the seventh round by the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL Draft.

Round Two – 22nd Overall – Tyrus Flory (Saskatoon, Sask.)

With their second round pick, the Mustangs decided to take another forward in Tyrus Flory. Flory had a breakout year with the Saskatoon Maniacs in the SBAAHL, as he tallied 30 goals and 42 assists for 72 points in 31 games. That was after a 14 points year in his first bantam season. Oakes said theres some work to do with him, but they’re high on Flory.

“He knows he has to do some work on his skating,” Oakes told northeastNOW. “But he’s a very smart player, he goes to the right areas, he’s got some grit.”

Oakes added that Flory knows how to score.

Round Three – 27th Overall – Noah Newman (Regina, Sask.)

In the third round, the Mustangs decided to take Noah Newman, a defenceman who played for the Regina Aces program in SBAAHL. On an Aces team that finished second in the South Division, Newman tallied 22 points in 30 games. Oakes said he’s a good all-around defenceman.

“Just a good steady guy,” Oakes said. “He plays with some grit, competes hard. He’s a strong kid for his size, he’s very responsible in all three zones and just a good steady guy, a good contributor to his team every night, and some good leadership skills.”

Round Four – 42nd Overall – Tyson Herron (Regina, Sask.)

The Mustangs dipped back into the Regina Aces blueline with their fourth round pick this year, taking Tyson Heron. Herron led the Aces in defenceman scoring, just one point ahead of Newman. His 23 points were counted with five goals and 18 assists in 31 games. Oakes said his style of play is a bit different than his teammate who was taken a bit earlier.

“He’s a big tall lanky kid, he’s very good in the offensive zone,” Oakes said. “Skates well, and he’s a right shot defenceman, they’re a little tough to find at times.”

Herron and Newman were the only defencemen on the Aces squad to tally 20 or more points on the season.

Round Four – 46th Overall – Hunter Kannok-Leipert (Regina, Sask.)

Melfort took their third Regina Ace of the draft with their second fourth round pick. This time it was a forward by the name of Hunter Kannok Leipert who tallied 15 goals and 16 assists, in 30 games, good for fourth on the Aces in scoring. Oakes said Kannok-Leipert is another player they were happy to draft.

“Big motor, and just works hard every shift,” Oakes told northeastNOW. “He competes every shift and works hard. He’s a good skater, got some offensive skill.”

Oakes added the bloodline is there as Hunter’s brother Alex Kannok-Leipert is currently playing with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, and is a sixth round pick of the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

Round Five – 58th Overall – Bryton Erickson (Saskatoon, Sask.)

After taking Saskatoon Maniac Tyrus Flory in the second round, the Mustangs went back to the Maniacs for their fifth round pick and took defenceman Bryton Erickson. He posted 11 points in 31 games on the Maniac blue line, and Oakes said they were happily surprised when Erickson was available where he was.

“Plays hard every shift,” Oakes said. “Good strong kid that knows the game and has good hockey sense, and we think he’s got lots of upside to him.”

Round Six – 65th Overall – Rhett Dekowny (Swift Current, Sask.)

With their final pick in the 2019 SJHL Bantam Draft, the Mustangs went to the southwest portion of the province to take Rhett Dekowny who played this past season with the Swift Current Broncos in the SBAAHL. He tallied nine goals to go along with 20 assists in 31 games. Oakes said Dekowny is a player that Head Coach Trevor Blevins is looking for in the room.

“Rhett came to our spring camp, and even though he was one of the smaller guys, he definitely made an impression,” Oakes said. “Never give up, and never back down from the big guys.”

Oakes added even though he was almost averaging a point per game in the SBAAHL, there may be some more untapped offence, too.

Auto-Protect – Zackery Somers (Melfort, Sask.)

After the draft concluded, the Mustangs were able to auto-protect Zackery Somers, a local who played with Connor Hvidston on the Northeast Wolfpack this past season. In 31 games this year, he tallied 24 goals and 19 assists to finish second on the team in scoring, right behind Hvidston. Somers was also over a point per game in his first year of Bantam. Oakes said it would be great to have him play in his hometown.

“Zack’s a little bit smaller, he’s got some growing to do,” Oakes said. “But offensively he’s a very good player, has great hockey sense, and we think he’s got the potential to be a very good Junior A player down the road.”

Seventy players were taken in the draft this year.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6

by Mat Barrett

Mustangs draft seven players, auto-protect one at SJHL Draft

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