Rockets return to Southwest for Shaunavon's Lind

Shaunavon’s Kole Lind was the only Southwest player selected in the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft last week.

The 5’10’’, 150-pound forward was selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the fourth round, 87th overall.

“I hear they are a great organization,” said Lind of the Rockets, who have had plenty of success with Southwest products such as Marty Flichel, Ryan Cuthbert, Travis Moen, Colton Heffley, and MacKenzie Johnston. “I am just so excited,” he added.

He was watching the draft online Thursday morning.

“It was long hour that I waited for that. I started looking and it felt like it took forever.”

A broken wrist slowed his offensive production early last season.

Lind said he was very nervous that the injury would hurt his draft stock or continue to plague his season.

Lind overcame the injury and finished with the third highest points per game average in the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League this season after posting 22 goals and 24 assists in 20 regular season games with the Swift Current Kabos Raiders.

He helped the Raiders finish second in the South Division with a 15-7-5 record.

He continued to produce in the playoffs with nine goals and two assists in five playoffs games.

“I thought it was pretty good,” he said of his second season with the Raiders.

“In the second half we Shaunavon’s Kole Lind (left) was drafted by the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets after an outstanding season with the Swift Current Kabos Bantam Raiders. played really good. It was awesome.”

Lind said that being drafted by Kelowna has brought him one step closer to fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing in the WHL. He expressed his gratitude to his parents, his coach Kent Woods, his trainer, and his family and friends for helping him get to this point.

Lind will suit up for the Saskatoon Contacts next season in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.