Battlefords North Stars general manager and head coach Nate Bedford will have a brand new experience Friday in Nipawin.
That’s when he’ll be taking part in his first player draft as the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League holds their bantam draft as part of the annual league meetings.
“I’ve never been part of the draft process so I’m not sure what to expect,” Bedford said. “We have a number of scouts that have helped us in the past that are with us again this year, so that makes my job a bit easier.
“I won’t be too nervous as I’ll have them to show the way.”
The North Stars will have five picks in the six round draft, but they won’t be able to pick a player until the third round.
Their first round pick (12th overall) was dealt to the La Ronge Ice Wolves at the trade deadline in January along with prospects Austin Shumanski, MacKenzie Donovan, Shane Hounsell and a player development fee.
Jared Blaquiere and Zach Nedelec were acquired by the North Stars as they strengthed up the roster on their way to the Canatla Cup championship.
The North Stars second round pick (24th overall) was dealt to the Weyburn Red Wings at last year’s draft for a third round pick in 2016 that originally belonged to the Melfort Mustangs.
Weyburn had orginally acquired that pick in a trade for forward Colton Adam, who has spent the last two seasons with the Assiniboia Southern Rebels in the Prairie Junior Hockey League and has yet to play a SJHL game.
With that third round pick, which ended up being the 31st overall selection last year, the North Stars drafted forward Aaron Toews.
The Swift Current product had 18 points in 18 games last season for the Swift Current Midget AA Hurricanes.
The North Stars will have two selections in the third round.
In addition to their own pick (36th overall), they also have the 32nd overall pick that originally belonged to the Humboldt Broncos.
That pick was acquired in January’s trade deadline along with prospect Mathew Fletcher and a player development fee in exchange for forward Brett Horn.
The North Stars will also have the final picks (48th, 60th and 72nd overall) in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.
“We don’t have a ton of picks compared to everyone else, but we’ll make sure that they are good ones,” Bedford said.
When it comes to this year’s draft class, which consists of players born in 2002 that are from Saskatchewan, Bedford likes what he has seen so far.
“Between myself and a couple of our scouts, I think we’ve seen pretty much every kid,” Bedford said.
“Although we don’t pick very early, there’s a large group of players around the middle of the draft that I think can help us out in the future.”
Those selected Friday won’t be eligible to play in the SJHL until the 2018-19 campaign.
A total of 41 players were selected from Saskatchewan in the Western Hockey League bantam draft earlier this month, with the highest pick being Humboldt forward Kaden Kohle who was taken by the Tri-City Americans with the 12th overall pick.
