Thursday, May 2, 2013

Rebels: WHL Bantam Draft

Even when it's finally nice outside it's fun to talk hockey.

The 2013 WHL Bantam Draft took place today in Calgary.  Here's who the Rebels selected...

Player                         Selected                                  POS    Birthdate        Hometown    

Jeff de Wit                   1st round, 14th overall              C          Mar. 14, 1998  Red Deer, AB
Joshua Mahura             2nd round, 36th overall              D         May 6, 1998    St. Albert, AB
Caleb Riess                  4th round, 70th overall              RW      Aug. 20, 1998  Rocanville, SK
Nick Darling                6th round, 113th overall            D         Feb. 12, 1998  Saskatoon, SK
Cale Chalifoux             6th round, 124th overall            D         May 15, 1998  Edmonton, AB
Joshua Logel                7th round, 137th overall            C          Apr. 17, 1998  Calgary, AB
Max Salpeter                8th round, 168th overall            D         Apr. 2, 1998    St. Albert, AB
Tyler Kirkup                9th round, 190th overall            C          Apr. 3, 1998    Virden, MB
Kyle Sargent                9th round, 195th overall            D         Mar. 2, 1998    Carlyle, SK
Here is what International Scouting Service had to say about de Wit, whom they had ranked #24 in their Top 50 Prospects for today's draft...

24. JEFFREY DE WIT
Position: Center/Left Wing
Born: March 14/98
Height: 6’02” Weight: 175
Team: Red Deer Rebels Black

Report Card:   
  Skating Good
  Shot/Scoring Very Good
  Puckhandling Good
  Hockey Sense Good

Scouting Report: A big dominant and at times mean power forward, de Wit is an absolute animal on the ice. He powers his way into space but also possesses good quick edge control which makes him a danger to cut into lanes. Add to that a very good shot and you get an understanding for just how difficult it can be for opposing coaches to come up with an answer for this kid. He went down to injury in the 2nd half of the season and Red Deer was not the same club without him.

W
eaknesses: Durability and how strong will he bounce back from injuries.



WHL Potential: Top 6 Forward who can push the physical tempo of games.

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Among the other local players drafted today...

Tyler Steenbergen was selected 12 overall by the Swift Current Broncos. Here's what ISS had to say about him...

18. TYLER STEENBERGEN
Position: Center
Born: Jan 7/98
Height: 5’09” Weight: 157
Team: Red Deer White
Report Card
  Skating Excellent
  Shot/Scoring Excellent
  Puckhandling Very Good
  Hockey Sense Very Good

Scouting Report:
A very talented and intelligent offensive playmaker, Steenbergen was a 3 year Bantam AAA player in Alberta, something that does not happen often. He has great hands, is strong and explosively quick skater and always seems to be able to find the right place to be at the right time. He was Mr. Everything for his team this year and was often their only shot at winning the game. Works well in both directions.

Weaknesses: Physicality is an area he needs to focus on, as is overall power.

WHL Potential: Top line player who should evolve into a great junior producer.

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Also selected in today's draft...

Parker Smyth went 44th overall to Saskatoon

TJ Brown went 69th overall to Brandon

Luke Coleman went 104th overall to Spokane

Matt Krawiec went 119th overall to Kootenay




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