SELKIRK, MB – The 2016 Manitoba Junior Hockey League Bantam Draft took place Sunday morning in Selkirk.
The Dauphin Kings had five picks, starting with the third overall selection.
With their first pick the Kings took forward Jayden McCarthy. The Morris product spent last season with the Pembina Valley Bantam AAA Hawks, finishing second on the team in scoring with 44 points (28G, 16A).
Kings Head Coach and General Manager Marc Berry says McCarthy is a skilled forward with some size (5’10, 175lbs) and has a very good finishing ability. Berry adds the club was very happy that McCarthy was still available for the third overall pick.
Dauphin’s second selection (14th overall) saw the team fall back to the blue line where the picked Brandon MacKenzie-Kochen (6’0, 170lbs) who hails from Oakville. The D-man picked up seven goals and 10 assists in 32 contests last season with the Central Plains Capitals.
“Brandon is solid two way defenceman with a very high ceiling and he knows how to make good decisions on the ice” says Berry.
For their third pick (25th overall) in the 2016 MJHL Draft the Kings snagged Mitchell Joss (5’6, 140lbs), a forward that put up 45 points (18G, 27A) in 30 games with the Winnipeg Monarchs.
“We love Mitchell’s compete and skill level and he has a great motor” noted Berry.
The Kings’ picked up another defenceman with their fourth selection (36th overall). Dauphin grabbed East St. Paul’s Evan Michaels (6’0, 160lbs). Michaels had a goal and seven assists for the Winnipeg Sharks on the blue line last season.
“Evan has good size and strong mobility with a good development curve” Berry says.
Dauphin didn’t have a pick in the fifth round of the MJHL Bantam Draft, so they went on to the sixth round (58th overall) where they took their third D-man of the day in Brandon’s Jared Twerdoclib. The Wheat King stands at 5’8 and 138lbs.
“Jared has a good upside. The fact that he’ll be able to grow and develop inside the Brandon AAA Wheat Kings Midget organization is something that we took into consideration as well.”
Below is a recap of the draft with Kings Head Scout & Director of Player Personnel, Mitchell Kirkup…
During the weekend the Kings also completed their regular season schedule for the 2016-17 campaign. The schedule will be finalized over the next couple of weeks and then released.
Don’t forget, early bird ticket sales continue until the end of this month (June 30th)! You can grab your tickets at the Parkland Rec Complex during the week from 9am to 4pm.
For more details on tickets CLICK HERE!
After June 30th all seats will become available, so if you’re a current season ticket holder and want the same seats for next year, get in on the action now and secure your seat for 2016-17!
See you this Saturday for the Kings Par 3 Extravaganza at the Gilbert Plains Country Club. In case you missed it the event is completely SOLD OUT!
The Kings thank you for the awesome support!