The 2023 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft took place earlier today and Brandon’s Jaxon Jacobson was the top Manitoban selected in the draft, going fifth overall to the Wheat Kings. Several members of the Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAA roster were also drafted Thursday including Nolan Saunderson, Jonah Lemoine, and Gradey Taylor.
Lemoine, pictured above, was selected in the 9th round, 178th overall by the Prince Albert Raiders. A forward, he put up strong offensive numbers in 2022-23 racking up 80 points in just 33 regular season games. He also led the team in scoring and finished 4th overall in league scoring.
The Spokane Chiefs used the 90th overall (5th round) to select blueliner Nolan Saunderson. Saunderson, pictured below, picked up 28 points in 31 games this past season with the Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAA squad. Nolan has been described as “a smart, smooth two-way defenseman. He defends well and makes an accurate first pass up the ice.”
Gradey Taylor, also a defensemen, appeared in 30 regular season games with the Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAA team where he collected 14 points (8g-6a) with 39 penalty minutes. He was selected in the 12th round, 178 overall by the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
