The Western Hockey Leagues Bantam Draft goes this Thursday in Calgary, with the Brandon Wheat Kings holding down the 8th overall pick. Things have been relatively quiet since the Wheat Kings were eliminated back on March the 30th, so we here at bdnmb.ca thought we would try to provide a little insight into who the Wheat Kings might target with their 1st round pick. Topping the list would have to be Winnipeg's Seth Jarvis, a 5'8”, 148 lb forward who played this season for the Rink Hockey Academy out of Winnipeg. Seth put up 66 points in 30 games, including 42 goals. He is ranked as the 5th rated prospect heading into Thursdays draft by Western Elite Hockey Prospects. Their latest newsletter suggests Seth may drop some from his top 5 ranking due to not yet having committed to the WHL, citing the Wheat King organization as having the ability to get him to select the WHL route. Seth Jarvis – Rink Hockey Academy - Elite offensive abilities, elite skill, elite competitiveness, understands the game exceptionally well and is a competitor. Seth is a student of the game who really listens to input and is constantly learning and incorporating new things in to his game. Seth could use his team-mates more and work on his play away from the puck.   Local product Daemon Hunt also has to be high on the Wheaties wish list. An offensive defensemen he registered 60 points in 38 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings, of the Winnipeg AAA Bantam Hockey League. He has been described as being both very big (6'0”, 190 lbs) and very steady. Ranked 13th overall by Western Elite Hockey Prospects, many wouldn't be surprised if the Wheat Kings jumped at the chance to land another local skater. Daemon Hunt – Brandon Wheat Kings – WPG AAA - Daemon is a big defensemen who is very patient and steady. Very solid defensively and can contribute offensively. Had a fantastic year playing in the Winnipeg AAA league by far leading all defensemen in scoring and finishing near the top overall in scoring. The thought is Brandon may select Daemon within the top 10 picks. One of the top offensive defensemen available. Other candidates for consideration in the first round could include: Joel Sexsmith, a defensemen from Edmonton, who was teammates with Seth Jarvis at the Rink Hockey Academy this season. Kyle Crnkovic, a high scoring (79 pts, 30 gms) forward out of the Pursuit of Excellence in British Columbia. Jake Neighbours, another gifted offensive forward (68pts, 30 gms) out of the Pursuit of Excellence program in BC. Manitoban's to watch in later rounds include: Ty Thorpe, forward, Brandon Jakob Brook, forward, Roblin Evan Herman, forward, Oakville, Carter Loney, forward, Winnipeg Nolan Ritchie, forward, Brandon, Landon Roberts, forward, Southwest Cougars Reese Richmond, defensemen, Forrest Bray Rookes, defensemen, Elkhorn Previous First Round Selections 2016 – D – Braden Schneider – 12th overall 2015 - F - Caiden Daley - 22nd overall 2014 – F – Stelio Mattheos – 1st overall 2013 – F – Nolan Patrick – 4th overall 2012 – F – Brayon Shmyr – 12th overall Previous 11 Bantam Drafts Average Selection – 12th overall Highest Selection – 1st in 2014 -Stelio Mattheos 8 forwards, 4 defence, 1 goalie BC – 1, AB – 5, SK – 4, MB – 4 Players eligible for the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft will be 2002 born players who reside in Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

B.O.B.Blazers captured the division 1 title in the WWHL with a 4-1 victory over the Double Decker Celtics. Offensively the Blazers were led by power forward Jordan Kaspick who had 2 goals, and Joey Timmer who chipped in with 2 assists. Haden Johnson was the only skater to lite the lamp for the Celtics. Zack Munn picked up the win for the Blazers, who were 23-4 in the regular season. Former Wheat King Brett Kitt, a member of the Blazers championship team, was named the leagues regular season MVP. Over in the Division 3 final, Joe Beeverz received goals from five different goal scorers to topple the Central Autobody Lumberjacks 5-1. David Manns, Matt McCorrister, Kyle Hildebrant, Jordan Foote, and David Buekert scored for Joe Beeverz, while Marty Kauk scored the lone Lumberjack goal. Tyler Unger mustered 3 assists in the win. Each team registered 23 shots on goal in the chippy affair, with Brenden Reimer picking up the win for Joe Beeverz.    

It was a busy night of hockey action in Brandon as champions were decided, in two of four divisions, in the Wendy's Winter Hockey League. Over at the Sportsplex, the Smitty's Wings needed overtime to topple West-Fit 2-1, in the second game of their best of three series. With the victory the Wings captured the Division 4 title winning the series 2-0. Glen Haney opened the scoring for Smitty's in the first period before Devin Vaughn tied the game with his marker in the second. There was no scoring in the 3rd period, so off to overtime the game went. Both teams had great scoring chances in overtime before Smitty's Jordon Old broke in all alone from center ice and beat Terrance Twist, giving Smittys the title. Jeff Moore picked up the win for Smitty's making 31 saves in the process, including a breakaway attempt in the early stages of OT. Over at the Enns Brothers arena, the Sioux Valley Domino's team upended Inventors Group 7-3 to lay claim to the Division 2 title. Investors Group actually held a 3-2 lead in the 3rd period before Sioux Valley stormed back scoring 5 unanswered goals to secure the victory. Zane Tacan picked up the hat-trick for Sioux Valley while McKenna Wombadiska chipped in with 2 markers. Pat Leask had 4 assists. Brodie Workman picked up 3 points (2g,1a) for Investors Group in the loss. Sioux Valley peppered Investors Group goalie, Josh Murray, with 39 shots. Divisions 1 & 3 will be decided in games played on Friday night.

It was an extremely busy Sunday afternoon, as week 1 of the AAA Source for Sports Hockey Challenge ended, with champions being decided in 6-different age divisions. At the conclusion of the tournament each player received tournament t-shirts, while players on winning teams also received championship medals. Wheat Kings spotted taking in the action included Tyler Coulter and James Shearer, while Winnipeg Jet draft choice Jordy Stallard was present as well. 2010 Champion: Ice Kings The Ice Kings had an easy time of as they rolled over a team from Parkland 15-1, in the youngest age group in the tournament. Talon Scinocca lead all scorers with 6 goals and an assist in the final. Austin Hargraves and Brayden Hamm had big afternoons as well, both chipping in with 2 goals and 2 assists. Cooper Dryden made 10 saves in picking up the win. Dylan Anderson scored the lone Parkland goal. Earlier in the day Parkland had defeated the Central Plains Capitals to advance to the championship final, while the Ice Kings reached double digits in goals in each of their 5-games played over the weekend. 2009 Champion: Legacy Legacy captured the 2009 division upending the MB Steel 4-3 in a hotly contested battle. Trea Peterson scored with just under 8 minutes left to secure the win. Jorey Reichmuth scored twice in the contest for Legacy, who had earlier lost to the Steel 9-1 in round robin action. Aubrey Cuvelier, Asher Gingras, and Karter Hermenagildo each registered 1goal & 1 assist in a losing cause. Gingras also lead the division in scoring racking up an impressive 22 points in 5 games. 2008 Champion: Yellowhead The team from Yellowhead received 3 goals from Cole Hunter to upset East Central in an exciting game played at Westman Place. East Central was favoured heading into the afternoons final having defeated Yellowhead 9-3 earlier in the tournament. Dexen Routledge also scored twice for Yellowhead while Kaleb Sheesby & Ben Bowtell dented the twice for East Central. Cole Hunter was outstanding all weekend ending up with 14 goals in 5 games. 2007 Champion: Surge The 2007 Champion Surge received 2 goals each from Tyce Penrod and Cooper Flath in dispensing of the Southwest Jets 8-1. The Surge were met with little resistance all weekend long as they won all 5 of their games, outscoring their opponents 53-4 in the process. Ten different Surge skaters picked up points in the final, while the two teams combined for 28 penalty minutes. Ty Tosh was the lone goal scorer for the Jets to beat Surge goalie Corben Schnurr. 2006 Champion: MB Hawks The 2006 final had a little bit of everything including a massive comeback, a fan ejection, huge momentum changes and a shoot out to determine a champion. Eventually the MB Hawks received a shootout goal from Marlen Edwards to beat the Southwest Jets, 7-6. The Hawks had jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, only to see their lead disappear in a wild 3rd period. The Jets, down 6-3, rallied to score three late 3rd period goals to tie the game at 6. A five minute 3 on 3 overtime period settled nothing, so a shootout was required to decide a winner. 2005 Champion: Bakken Oilers Olan Endres scored at 18:45 of the 3rd period as the Bakken Oilers upended the Punishes in the 2005 finale. The Punishers actually held a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd period before a strong Oiler offense came alive, scoring all 3 of their goals in the final frame. Brock Jones and Carson Skarperud also scored for Bakken, who did not lose a game all weekend. Calder Crossin and Parker Ewart scored 2nd period goals for the Punishers. The game featured only 4 minor penalties.

Basketball Manitoba JIM BULLOCH COACHING AWARD The Jim Bulloch Award annually recognizes a basketball coach with financial support to allow them to upgrade his or her knowledge and expertise in basketball which will directly impact on player and program development including sponsorship to a major coaching clinic outside of Manitoba). Jeremy Wielenga - Brandon, Manitoba AAA Boys Coach of the Year: Don Thomson - Neelin High School Carey Lasiuk - Neelin High School 1st Team Alexa Hammond - Boissevain School Georgia Rae Maxwell - Elton School 2nd Team Tanja Gohl - Souris School A/AA/AAA Male All-Manitoba Teams: 1st Team Riley Paul - Neelin High School 2nd Team Dayton Black - Neelin High School AA Female Player of the Year: Aly Kowalchuk - Souris School