The 2022 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft has come and gone with the Brandon Wheat Kings selecting a total of eleven players, including three from Manitoba, three from Saskatchewan, one from Alberta and four from British Colombia.
After a few years of multiple first round picks acquired via trades, the Wheat Kings entered the day with just their own first round pick at 12th overall and used it to select Joby Baumuller of Wilcox SK.
As a member of the Notre Dame Hounds U-15 Prep team he scored 26 points in 20 games and 5 points in 3 playoff games. He joined the U-18 AAA Hounds for their playoffs and scored 5 points in 6 games including 4 goals.
“He’s just the complete package” says Brandon’s Director of Player Personnel Chris Moulton. “he’s a strong guy that creates offense by attacking and being strong on pucks – his release and his shot is pro-like”
The Wheat Kings went local in round 2 and selected Easton Odut from Brandon Wheat Kings u-15 AAA. Easton put up 75 points in 31 games during the regular season and another 14 points in 11 games during a Manitoba Provincial AAA Championship win.
Draft day couldn’t of gone any better according to Chris Moulton.
“There were players that we got today that we didn’t think we were gonna get. Our first rounder we had a lot higher than 12th and after that we knew we had lots of tough decisions, but we got some great local players and some with Wheat King roots. I’m ecstatic about the work my group did and I’m ecstatic about the players we chose.”
Chris Moulton and staff won’t have to wait long before seeing some of the players in action as Wheat Kings spring camp is scheduled for the end of May.
