Newest Raider draft pick Jamison Sluys cracks a smile. (Submitted photo/Garrett James)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Born in the USA

Raiders select Sluys and Stewart from States in first U.S. Prospects’ Draft

Mar 25, 2020 | 3:59 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders selected Jamison Sluys and Declan Stewart in the inaugural WHL U.S. Prospects’ Draft on Wednesday.

The Raiders used the fifth overall pick to select Sluys, who is technically American, but he’s as close to Canadian as you can be hailing from Point Roberts, Wash., just south of the B.C. border.

Sluys also played his bantam hockey in Canada, scoring 33 points in 27 games for the Delta Hockey Academy Bantam Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.

“He’s has a physical element to his game, but he can also be an offensive threat. With those two things in combination, I think he’s going to be a great Raider,” Raiders director of player personnel Curt Brownlee said.

Despite finishing the regular season in first place with Delta Green team in the CSSHL Bantam Prep league, Sluys was able to climb up Delta’s strong depth chart and become an important player.

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“Jamison basically worked his way up in the lineup this season on a top-ranked team. I think that speaks a lot about his character and his willingness to thrive,” Brownlee said. “He does have an insight into the western league being in Canada and surrounded by kids that strive to be in the western league. That helps us.”

Sluys also comes from a very athletic family. His uncle is Jed Ortmeyer, a former NHL player who’s currently the director of player development for the New York Rangers. Sluys’ parents were both NCAA Div. 1 athletes, playing in volleyball and baseball.

Brownlee added he’s confident Sluys will report to the Raiders’ training camp.

With Declan Stewart picked in the second round at 40^th overall, the Raiders will look at him to add a little more grit and attention to detail. The Hawthorne, Calif., player is listed at 5-11, 133 pounds and scored six goals and 18 points in 51 games with the Los Angeles 14U Jr. Kings.

“Declan is another guy we saw early as a staff. He caught our eye with his compete and his 200-foot game. And then he just progressed throughout the year,” Brownlee said. “He elevated himself on our list when we saw him again in Kent. He was standing out for those small things in the defensive zone that we like, hard to play against, just a guy that we project to continually get better.”

Wednesday’s draft was the first of its kind. Those not selected will go back into the pool and be eligible for the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, scheduled for April 22.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW