Penguins pick Addison

HURRICANES DEFENCEMAN SELECTED IN SECOND ROUND, 53RD OVERALL IN NHL DRAFT

The Lethbridge Hurricanes two highest bantam draft picks in franchise history are now property of the same NHL team.

Hurricanes defenceman Calen Addison was selected in the second round and 53rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the National Hockey League Entry Draft Saturday in Dallas.

Addison joins Hurricanes teammate and forward Jordy Bellerive on the list of Penguins prospects after Bellerive signed a three-year, entry-level deal with Pittsburgh last September.

Addison was selected second overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. Bellerive went second overall in 2015.

The defenceman from Brandon also becomes the highest selected Hurricanes’ player in the NHL Draft since 2009 when Carter Ashton was taken in the first round and 29th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He also becomes the 15th player in Canes history to be selected in the first or second round of the NHL Draft.

Addison, who stands at five-foot-11 and 178 pounds, scored 11 goals and 65 points in 68 games in his second year with the Hurricanes to lead the defencemen and finish third in team scoring.

Addison added seven goals and 19 points in 16 playoff games, helping the Hurricanes reach the Eastern Conference final for the second time in as many years.

In his WHL career, Addison has 98 points in 135 regular season games to go along with 21 points — seven goals and 14 assists — in 32 postseason games.