Local Chosen In 1st Round of WHL Draft; Rockets Make Splash

A Greater Vernon product was taken in the first round of the Western Hockey League’s 2019 Bantam Draft for players born in 2004.

Defenceman Layton Feist of Coldstream, who played for the North Zone Bantam AAA Kings last season, was selected 17th overall by the Regina Pats.

In 20 games, Feist had 8 goals and 14 assists, with 14 penalty minutes.

Three other Coldstream residents from the Kings were also taken in the draft: defenceman Jace Weir in Round 2 to the Red Deer Rebels, forward Austin Roest in the third round by the Everett Silvertips and forward Jarred Feist in the ninth round by the Calgary Hitmen.

The Winnipeg Ice used the first pick to take forward Matthew Savoie from St. Albert, Alberta, out of Northern Alberta Xtreme Bantam Prep.

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The Ice also had the second pick, selecting forward Conor Geekie from Strathclair, Manitoba.

In total, 228 players were selected in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft, with 129 forwards, 77 defencemen and 22 goaltenders.

Alberta led all provincial branches with 68 players selected, with 60 from British Columbia, 33 from Manitoba, 30 from Saskatchewan, and 37 from the USA.

The Kelowna Rockets, who are hosting next year’s Memorial Cup Tournament, acquired 2000 born defenceman Sean Comrie‘s rights and the 10th overall pick from the Brandon Wheat Kings, in return for the Rockets 5th overall pick in the 2019 Draft.

A second trade saw the Rockets acquire defenceman Jake Lee, forward Dillon Hamaliuk and goaltender Cole Schwebius from the Seattle Thunderbirds.

In return, the Thunderbirds got the Rockets 10th overall pick in the 2019 Draft, the Rockets 2nd round pick in 2021, and first-round pick in the 2022 Draft and Conner Bruggen-Cate.

“This trade will have a big impact on our team,” said Rockets President/General Manager, Bruce Hamilton. “Lee is a strong defenceman. He always has an influence when he is on the ice. He is a top prospect that will hear his name called alongside fellow Rockets defencemen Kaedan Korczak and Lassi Thomson at the NHL draft.”

“Hamaliuk is another top player, he was having a great start to the season before an injury ended it. Schwebius is a Kelowna product, he will give us the insurance that we need in net moving forward,” says Hamilton.