From the first round to the last, there were plenty of Prince Albert players drafted into the SJHL today. (Submitted Photo/Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League)

By Rob Mahon

Bantam Draft Recap

Six Prince Albert players picked in SJHL dual drafts

Jun 10, 2022 | 2:17 PM

Not quite a month after the WHL held its prospects draft, the SJHL held its bantam draft Friday, selecting players from the 2006 and 2007 birth years.

As was the case in the WHL, it turned out to be a great day for several minor hockey players from Prince Albert.

A total of six players from Prince Albert heard their names called through the eight rounds of the SJHL draft. The draft was structured differently this season, with six rounds of 2006-born players as is tradition, and two rounds of players born in 2007.

Leading things off was defenseman Dayne Henry, the 12^th overall pick and final selection of the first round of 2006-born players by the Battlefords North Stars. Henry isn’t going far from his minor hockey home, as he played with the Battlefords AAA Stars this season, amassing nine points in 42 games.

The next name from Prince Albert came only two picks later, when the Nipawin Hawks selected Prince Albert Mintos forward Van Taylor 14^th overall. Taylor played his first season of AAA hockey this year and posted 15 points in 39 games.

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Fast forward to the fourth round and it was the Yorkton Terriers dipping their ladle in the waters of Prince Albert Minor Hockey. Defenseman Luc Bourdon, who played with the Tisdale Trojans last year, was the 43^rd overall pick. He posted eight points in 44 games for Tisdale.

The final Prince Albert player picked among the 2006-born players was a 5^th round pick, 58^th overall by the Melfort Mustangs. Scott McLean played his AA hockey for the Northeast Wolf Pack, but played with the Mintos last year, tallying four points in 44 games in his rookie campaign.

From there it was the 2007-born players up for the draft, and the second round saw two Prince Albert products taken. First was Kelan Simmonds, a forward with the Prince Albert Pirates who went to the Kindersley Klippers. Simmonds had 40 points in 31 games with the Pirates and made his AAA debut with the Mintos last season.

Rounding out the day for Prince Albert hockey players was forward Owen Nelson, taken with the 94^th pick by the Melfort Mustangs. Nelson led the Prince Albert Pirates AA squad in goals with 36 and points with 68 and also got in one game with the Mintos. He was also selected in the WHL prospects draft by the Regina Pats in the eighth round.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP