Saskatoon’s McNarland the Broncos’ first choice in SJHL Bantam Draft
Saskatoon’s Karter McNarland had just landed in Kamloops on Friday when he found out the Humboldt Broncos made him their No. 1 pick in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Bantam Draft.
The Broncos are rebuilding after the April 6 bus crash that claimed 16 lives, including 10 players.
“It’d be an honour to represent the organization and the community of Humboldt after the terrible tragedy that happened,” said McNarland, who played for the Saskatoon Bantam AA Generals this season. “It’s just an amazing organization. I’m just really happy about it.”
McNarland, a slick playmaking centre, had 24 goals and 41 assists for 65 points for the Generals in 23 games during the regular season.
He was also taken in last month’s Western Hockey League Bantam Draft by the Kamloops Blazers, and is in Kamloops this weekend attending the Blazers’ spring camp for 2002 and 2003 prospects.
“I would just love to represent (the Broncos) ... and I have some great buddies that were drafted there, too,” noted McNarland, who grew up playing in Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association’s Wild zone.
Defenceman Rylan Jockims and forward Logan Olson, both from the Saskatoon Bantam AA Stallions, along with Saskatoon Bantam AA Outlaws goalie Brett Mirwald, were also chosen by the Broncos in Friday’s draft.
In total, 18 players from Saskatoon were selected in the fourth annual SJHL Bantam Draft. Others included:
Alex Bernauer (Melfort Mustangs) Adam McNutt
(La Ronge Ice Wolves) Liam Bell (Nipawin Hawks) Matt Hodson
(Melville Millionaires) Hunter Weber (Battlefords North Stars) Jacob Visentini (La Ronge) Hunter Larocque
(Flin Flon Bombers) Boston Buckberger (La Ronge) Curren Wintonyk-Pilot
(La Ronge)
Hunter Prokopchuk (Notre Dame Hounds) Braxton Buckberger (Nipawin) Grayson Chell (Flin Flon) Riley Girod (Battlefords) Jacob Hoffrogge (Kindersley Klippers) Swift Current’s Cash Arntsen was chosen No. 1 overall by the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Others selected from the Greater Saskatoon area included: Warman’s Daylan Weigal (Notre Dame) Martensville’s Holden Doell (Battlefords) Warman’s Keenan Allan (Battlefords) Martensville’s Ryan Redekopp (Kindersley) Warman’s Brodie Guenther (Melfort Mustangs) Ethan Scriven (Battlefords) Dundurn’s Connor Yager (Flin Flon)