Some answers to trivia questions in the future were created Wednesday.
The first-ever pick in the W-H-L’s new U-S Prospects Draft format was right-shot forward Gracyn Sawchyn by Red Deer from Minneapolis and Shattuck St. Mary’s.
The first choice made by the Saskatoon Blades was the 22nd and final one of the first round…defenceman Ze’ev Buium of Laguna Niguel, California who just played his Bantam season with Minnesota-based Shattuck St. Mary’s. The Blades then had the first pick in the two-round, “snake” draft format, 23rd overall…and selected centre Brenden Fields. He’s from Ladera Ranch, California and played this past season with the Los Angeles Junior Kings 14-and-under squad. Following is the news release from the W-H-L…
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE COMPLETES 2020 WHL U.S. PROSPECTS DRAFT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League completed the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft today. WHL member Clubs selected 44 players throughout the two-round draft. After obtaining the first-overall selection, the Red Deer Rebels chose forward Gracyn Sawchyn (Minneapolis, Minn. / Shattuck-St. Mary’s Sabres 14U). With the second-overall selection, the Tri-City Americans chose forward Shaun Rios (San Jose, Calif. / San Jose Junior Sharks 14U). The Edmonton Oil Kings selected forward Alexios Georgaklis (San Diego, Calif. / San Diego Saints 14U AA) to round out the top-three selections. Of the 44 players chosen, 20 participated in the inaugural WHL U.S. Challenge Cup in Kent, Wash. in February. From the participating teams at the event, the Los Angeles Junior Kings led the way with seven players selected. The Dallas Stars Elite had six players chosen while the San Jose Junior Sharks and San Diego Saints each had four players chosen. A single player from the Delta Hockey Academy was chosen. In total, nine different states had players chosen at the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft, led by 18 California-born players. Minnesota was next with 12 players selected while Texas was third with five. Complete results from the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft are available at whl.ca/draft. 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft Round One 1. Red Deer Rebels: Gracyn Sawchyn (F) – Minneapolis, Minn. – 5’8″ / 130 lbs. – January 19, 2005 2. Tri-City Americans: Shaun Rios (F) – San Jose, Calif. – 5’9″ / 145 lbs. – November 12, 2005 3. Edmonton Oil Kings: Alexios Georgaklis (F) – San Diego, Calif. – 6’1″ / 175 lbs. – January 9, 2005 4. Everett Silvertips: Miles Roberts (G) – Costa Mesa, Calif. – 6’0″ / 170 lbs. – February 4, 2005 5. Prince Albert Raiders: Jamison Sluys (F) – Point Roberts, Wash. – 5’7″ / 145 lbs. – September 3, 2005 6. Winnipeg ICE: Jayson Shaugabay (F) – Warroad, Minn. – 5’9″ / 158 lbs. – April 5, 2005 7. Vancouver Giants: Philippe Blais-Savoie (D) – San Jose, Calif. – 5’10” / 150 lbs. – June 10, 2005 8. Seattle Thunderbirds: Landon Dauner (F) – Fargo, N.D. – 5’11” / 175 lbs. – February 6, 2005 9. Swift Current Broncos: Austin Moline (D) – Las Vegas, Nev. – 6’1″ / 145 lbs. – November 21, 2005 10. Lethbridge Hurricanes: Nathan Tobey (D) – Oklahoma City, Okla. – 5’11” / 137 lbs. – January 2, 2005 11. Calgary Hitmen: Hunter Anderson (F) – Hermosa Beach, Calif. – 5’7″ / 158 lbs. – April 28, 2005 12. Medicine Hat Tigers: Oliver Moore (F) – Mounds View, Minn. – 5’9″ / 146 lbs. – January 22, 2005 13. Spokane Chiefs: Anthony McIntosh-Asgard (D) – Minot, N.D. – 5’11” / 165 lbs. – January 5, 2005 14. Kamloops Blazers: Drew Stewart (F) – Minnetonka, Minn. – 5’5″ / 135 lbs. – November 3, 2005 15. Kelowna Rockets: Wyatt Olson (F) – Maple Grove, Minn. – 6’0″ / 161 lbs. – May 24, 2005 16. Portland Winterhawks: Alex Weiermair (F) – Los Angeles, Calif. – 5’11” / 168 lbs. – May 10, 2005 17. Brandon Wheat Kings: Zach Nehring (F) – Minot, N.D. – 6’1″ / 140 lbs. – March 7, 2005 18. Regina Pats: Matteo Michels (F) – Colleyville, Texas – 5’7″ / 115 lbs. – June 29, 2005 19. Prince George Cougars: Zephyr Tangri (D) – View Park-Windsor Hill, Calif. – 6’1″ / 183 lbs. – January 12, 2005 20. Moose Jaw Warriors: Cameron McEwan (F) – Coppell, Texas – 5’10” / 158 lbs. – February 13, 2005 21. Victoria Royals: Alexander Young (D) – Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. – 5’9″ / 147 lbs. – November 23, 2005 22. Saskatoon Blades: Ze’ev Buium (D) – Laguna Niguel, Calif. – 5’5″ / 125 lbs. – December 7, 2005 Round Two 23. Saskatoon Blades: Brenden Fields (F) – Ladera Ranch, Calif. – 5’6″ / 124 lbs. – January 9, 2005 24. Victoria Royals: Jackson Foddrill (F) – Colleyville, Texas – 5’8″ / 151 lbs. – October 13, 2005 25. Moose Jaw Warriors: Joshua Halliday (F) – Santa Clarita, Calif. – 5’9″ / 140 lbs. – February 15, 2005 26. Prince George Cougars: Dylan Johnson (G) – Dallas, Texas – 5’10” / 149 lbs. – March 30, 2005 27. Regina Pats: Brogan Young (D) – Burbank, Wash. – 6’1″ / 153 lbs. – February 2, 2005 28. Brandon Wheat Kings: Ty Henricks (F) – Woodbury, Minn. – 6’1″ / 170 lbs. – June 28, 2005 29. Portland Winterhawks: Jason Zaccari (D) – Santa Ana, Calif. – 5’9″ / 145 lbs. – June 2, 2005 30. Kelowna Rockets: Finn Brink (F) – Maple Grove, Minn. – 5’8″ / 150 lbs. – April 6, 2005 31. Kamloops Blazers: Calvin Vachon (G) – Redondo Beach, Calif. – 5’9″ / 128 lbs. – July 19, 2005 32. Spokane Chiefs: Liam Hupka (D) – Eden Prairie, Minn. – 5’10” / 130 lbs. – June 27, 2005 33. Medicine Hat Tigers: Josh Erickson (F) – Danville, Calif. – 5’11” / 142 lbs. – March 23, 2005 34. Calgary Hitmen: Briggs Orr (D) – San Jose, Calif. – 5’8″ / 137 lbs. – March 28, 2005 35. Lethbridge Hurricanes: Riley Bassen (F) – Frisco, Texas – 5’6″ / 115 lbs. – April 26, 2005 36. Swift Current Broncos: Owen Crudale (G) – San Diego, Calif. – 5’9″ / 150 lbs. – May 26, 2005 37. Seattle Thunderbirds: Drew Mackie (D) – Anchorage, Alaska – 5’9″ / 135 lbs. – June 17, 2005 38. Vancouver Giants: Duncan Shin (F) – Chandler, Ariz. – 5’10” / 155 lbs. – January 14, 2005 39. Winnipeg ICE: Beckett Hendrickson (F) – Minnetonka, Minn. – 6’0″ / 150 lbs. – June 24, 2005 40. Prince Albert Raiders: Declan Stewart (F) – Hawthorne, Calif. – 5’10” / 133 lbs. – September 10, 2005 41. Everett Silvertips: Gavin Reed (D) – Dayton, Minn. – 5’10” / 155 lbs. – May 31, 2005 42. Edmonton Oil Kings: John Novak (D) – Apple Valley, Minn. – 5’9″ / 174 lbs. – April 7, 2005 43. Tri-City Americans: Ben Picard (F) – Oakland, Calif. – 6’0″ / 165 lbs. – January 21, 2005 44. Red Deer Rebels: Aidan Willis (F) – Farmington, Minn. – 5’10” / 168 lbs. – January 11, 2005














