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Six AAA Rebels selected at WHL Bantam Draft

May 3, 2018 | 2:36 PM

Six members of the Red Deer Bantam AAA Rebels had their names called at Thursday’s WHL Bantam Draft in Red Deer.

“I’m extremely proud of all of them,” Rebels head coach Justin Jarmolicz said. “We had a good year [as a team] which brought the scouts out to view all these guys. It’s a feather in their cap to be selected in the draft today.”

Defenceman Charlie Wright, who is from Olds, went to the Saskatoon Blades in round four, 70th overall. Over the past two seasons, Wright racked up 35 points and 24 penalty minutes in 72 games. He also played for Team Central at the 2018 Alberta Cup.

Goaltender Colby Knight was selected in the fifth round, 92nd overall, by the Edmonton Oil Kings. Knight had an 8-5-5 record with the Rebels last season, posting a 2.68 GAA and .895 save percentage with one shutout.

The Oil Kings selected another bantam Rebels player in round seven, 133rd overall, going with forward Jayden Henderson. The Sylvan Lake native had 29 points and 26 penalty minutes in 36 games last season. He was also a member of Team Central at the Alberta Cup.

In round eight, 162nd overall, the Lethbridge Hurricanes selected defenceman Bosten Lajeunesse, who had 18 points in 35 regular season games.

Blackfalds native Myles Hillman went in the ninth round, 185th overall, to the Prince Albert Raiders. The 5’8” forward had 39 points in 34 games last season.

Also in round nine, 195th overall, Eckville native Zachery Burns was selected by the Spokane Chiefs. Burns finished with 16 points in 33 games last season.

Jarmolicz says days like today make the long hours put in by he and his coaching staff well worth it. The common trait among his drafted players is a strong work ethic.

“We didn’t have any first, second or third rounders and we were still very successful in our league and tournament play. We might not have had high-end skill, but we had work ethic to compete with anybody and that’s something for all those boys to be proud of.”

The only Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League team that had more players drafted than Red Deer was the Airdrie Xtreme with seven.

One other Central Alberta player was selected at Thursday’s draft as goaltender Drew Sim of Tees went to the Vancouver Giants in round three, 46th overall.

In the 2017-18 season with OHA Edmonton Bantam Prep, Sim posted a 2.05 goals against average and 9.16 save percentage in 16 games. He previously played Bantam AAA with the Camrose Red Wings. Sim also backstopped Team Central to the gold medal at the recent 2018 Alberta Cup.