With summer in full swing coaches, managers and scouts from each of the 12 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League teams were still hard at work as they recently completed the 2017 SJHL bantam draft.
The Nipawin Hawks played host to the draft on June 2, and added seven players to their roster.
Heading into the draft, Doug Johnson, the Hawks’ head coach and general manager, noted they were really focused on making sure they drafted the right players at the right time.
“For the most part we drafted the best player available at every spot... we took into account if we thought they were going to play in the Western League or not... But overall we just stuck to the plan of best player available at the time.”
Despite being buyers at the deadline and being one of the better teams in the league, the Hawks were loaded with draft picks, including five in the three rounds.
Johnson noted that despite having so many picks early, their approach to the draft did not change, saying it was just an added benefit.
“It’s very beneficial as far as taking higher end players according to our draft rankings... so we just tried to take advantage of having some high picks with getting some high quality upside players.”
Kalen Ukrainetz
The Hawks kicked off their draft taking forward Kalen Ukrainetz with the tenth overall selection.
The Wynyard native is a ninth round pick of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips.
“There’s a high skill level there and a very high compete level. We really liked the way he battled and competed and his hockey intelligence,” noted Johnson.
Ukrainetz spent last season playing for the Humboldt Broncos in the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League, where he put up 26 goals and 50 points in 30 regular season games and added two goals and five points in five playoff games.
One of the biggest selling points for Johnson and the Hawks organization was that Ukrainetz was one of the bantam-aged players who participated in the Hawks Spring camp earlier this year.
“That may have set him apart from some of the other guys that have a very similar skill set, very similar compete level. When you know a guy’s already been in locker rooms and played on your rink, it does set him apart a little bit in my mind.”
Tyson Wouters
The Hawks did not have to wait long to make their next pick as they drafted forward Tyson Wouters in the second round, 16th overall, with a pick that originally belonged to the Kindersley Klippers.
The Saskatoon native went undrafted in the WHL draft despite putting up gaudy numbers in the SBAAHL with the Saskatoon Outlaws.
“He’s a young man that I’ve not seen myself, I’ve heard a lot of good things about him,” said Johnson.
Wouters finished the season with 26 goals and 46 points in 30 regular season games, adding one assist in four playoff games.
It was Wouters’ size and skill that was a big selling point to the Hawks, said Johnson.
“He brings a high level skill set and he has a nice size too... he has a big frame that should really improve in the future.”
Jaxsen Wiebe
With their own second round pick the Hawks selected forward Jaxsen Wiebe 22nd overall.
The Moose Jaw native is a seventh round pick of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels.
“He’s just a very solid all-around player,” said Johnson, “and we just like the all-around ability that he has. He’s the whole package.”
Wiebe spent last season playing with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the SBAAHL, where he scored 21 goals and 40 points in 27 regular season games, adding one goal and three points in three playoff games.
Wiebe played on a Warriors team devoid of high end talent, noted Johnson, saying that was a big selling point for the Hawks.
“He played on a team that didn’t necessarily have a lot of pieces to promote him, to help him... So he did a lot on his own and did very well for himself.”
Ethan Ironside
With their first of two third round picks, the Hawks selected forward Ethan Ironside 28th overall, with a pick that originally belonged to the Klippers.
The Prince Albert native is an eighth round pick of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.
Ironside is a throwback player, said Johnson, who plays with a style fit for the 1980’s.
“When he’s going to hit you, he’s going to hit you to hurt you, plays a little bit on the edge if not over the edge.”
Ironside spent last season playing with the Prince Albert Venice House Pirates, where he scored 10 goals and 24 points in 32 regular season and playoff games.
Being able to select Ironside was nice because players of his style are very important and are not readily available, noted Johnson.
“You have to have guys that play with that edge that take that extra foot if you give it to them because it does put the other teams on the defensive.”
Johnson notes his skating and skill are really good as well.
Forward heavy
Through two and a half rounds, and four picks of the draft the Hawks selected four forwards, which was calculated, noted Johnson, who said leading into the draft he felt taking defensemen would be a risk.
“We just thought it was a year where the defensemen that got drafted in the Western League are really going to have an opportunity to play in the Western League so there was some risk involved with taking the d-men.”
Moving to the back end
The Hawks finally did dive in to the defense pool taking a pair of defensemen with their next two picks, selecting Evan Bortis in the third round, 34th overall, and Ethan Bulitzdell in the fourth round, 46th overall.
“They were high-end defensemen that put up points, helped out on each teams’ power play... We knew the d-men were risky that were drafted so we looked at some other options and I’m very happy with what we’ve got,” said Johnson.
Bortis spent last season playing for the Regina Aces, where he scored three goals and 18 points in 25 regular season and playoff games, while Bulitzdell played for the Saskatoon Maniacs scoring five goals and 22 points in 37 regular season and playoff games.
Rounding out the draft
With the Hawks’ fifth round pick they moved back to forward, selecting Blake Duquette.
Duquette played for the Regina Aces last season, scoring 21 goals and 43 points in 32 games.
Hawks lose Thompson
The draft was not the only player movement taking place for the Hawks last week as they were forced to wave goodbye to 20-year-old forward Tanner Thompson, who was sent to the Klippers to complete the Josh Bly trade.
Johnson notes Thompson will leave a big hole, not only on the ice, but off of it as well, calling Thompson a tremendous young man, who was great in the locker room, always had a smile on his face, and was great in the community.
His on-ice contributions will be missed as well, said Johnson, who notes he brings a unique skill set.
“He’s a big kid that’s very strong on his skates. When he got a guy on the wall, defensemen could barely slow him down, he kept his feet moving, very deceptive speed and a great release so he’s an extremely exceptional player.”
Johnson admitted he does not think he will be able to replace Thompson and said that is the price you pay for acquiring a high-end talent.
“We needed a guy like Josh Bly so we were fortunate enough that Kindersley let us keep Tanner last year until the end of the year and we wish Tanner nothing but the best in the future.”
