Senators tab Vees star in NHL Entry Draft
Penticton Vees’ Jonny Tychonick was joined by a good friend and a fellow defenceman after both were taken by the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas on the weekend.
Tychonick, 18, was the first B.C. Hockey League player selected in the draft, taken in the second round, 48th overall by the Senators.
The Calgary native watched as his friend Jacob Bernard-Docker (Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta league) was picked in the first round, 26th overall by the Senators.
“He was excited to be taken by Ottawa and to be going to the same organization as (BernardDocker),” said Vees president, GM and head coach Fred Harbinson.
Also, in the seventh round, 194th, the Senators took Vees recruit Luke Loheit. The right-winger from Minnesota will join the Vees this coming season. “He’s a big, strong winger and who won a Minnesota State championship and is committed to Minnesota-Duluth,” said Harbinson, noting Loheit was also drafted by Fargo of the USHL.
Tychonick becomes the 32nd player to be drafted to the NHL directly from the Vees franchise and the first player in Vees history to be drafted by the Senators.
Tychonick recorded nine goals and 47 points in 48 games during the 201718. In the playoffs, Tychonick took his game to another level by recording at least one point in each of the Vees’ 11 games, finishing with three goals and 17 points.
The 6’, 174-pounder also represented Canada on the International stage twice this past season. He was named an assistant captain for Team Canada West at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia and scored a goal and an assist in five games to help Canada West claim gold.
In May Tychonick was named to Team Canada for the World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Russia where he recorded two assists and was a plus-5 rating in five games.
Tychonick will be attending the University of North Dakota for the upcoming season where he will be joined by Vees teammates from last season Adam Scheel and Jackson Keane.
Meanwhile, a league-record-tying seven BCHL players were selected at the NHL draft.
After Tychonick, it was Trail Smoke Eaters defenceman Seth Barton (3rd round, 81st overall by Detroit Red Wings), Wenatchee Wild defenceman Slava Demin (4th round, 99th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights), Wenatchee forward Jasper Weatherby (4th round, 102nd overall to the San Jose Sharks) .
Langley Rivermen forward Angus Crookshank (5th round, 126th overall by Ottawa), Vernon Vipers forward Brett Stapley (7th round, 190th overall by Montreal Canadiens) and Vipers goalie Ty Taylor (7th round, 214th overall by Tampa Bay Lightning).