In the inaugural Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Draft, the Humboldt Broncos got their man in the first round – and then continued to add promising prospects.
The Broncos first ever bantam draft pick – with the fifth overall selection – was Saskatoon product Matthew Smith. Last winter he was a standout defenceman for the Saskatoon Maniacs.
“He was a guy that we targeted … We were hoping to grab him at No. 5, which we were able to do,” Broncos head coach and general manager Ryan Smith said.
In total, Humboldt selected three defenceman and a forward at the draft, which was held June 4 in Nipawin. An indicator of the talent they targeted is that three of those players were tabbed earlier this spring in the major junior Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Smith said the Broncos were pleased with their selections. The players selected are, of course, at least a year or two away from playing at the Junior A level.
Matthew Smith
The 5-foot-10, 145-pound Matthew Smith tallied 29 points and 13 goals in 31 games last season. He was third on the Maniacs in scoring. Matthew Smith was picked in the seventh round, 145th overall, in the WHL Draft by the Victoria Royals.
“He likes to have the puck on his stick and he likes to control the game,” Maniacs head coach Mark Peterson said.
While Matthew Smith has a definite offensive upside, his bantam AA bench boss said he is strong defensively as well.
“He can play physical,” Peterson said. “He can finish checks.”
The coach also said that Matthew Smith, who was the team’s captain, “is very coachable. He makes very good decisions on and off the ice.”
Carson Denomie
In the second round, 17th overall, the Broncos grabbed Carson Denomie of the Regina Pat Blues. The Queen City product led his team in points (59) and goals (36). The 5-foot-11, 179-pound forward also had 84 penalty minutes in 30 games.
“He is an offensive player who likes to put the puck in the back of the net and make plays,” said Smith, who described Denomie as a “very high end skilled forward.”
Denomie was selected 100th overall in the fifth round of the WHL draft by the Kamloops Blazers.
Chase Zurowski
In the fourth round, the Broncos selected Chase Zurowski with the 41st pick overall. The Southey defenceman is an interesting prospect. Last winter, he started the season with the Melville bantam AA team, where he had a goal and three points. He then joined the Southey Marlins bantam A squad.
Zurowski impressed the Broncos at the Sask First Bantam Tournament. Smith said the defenceman is hard to play against.
“What impressed me the most this past winter is how he has grown to become a better team player and his ability to inspire his teammates to try harder when the game gets tough,” wrote Southey Marlins coach Scott Macknak in an email interview. “His best attribute has got to be his physical strength and the way he plays the body to control the defensive end of the game.
“Chase is fun to watch with his smooth, powerful skating style and will be an asset to any team.”
Layne Matechuk
With their final pick, the Broncos selected someone they know well - Layne Matechuk. The defenceman from Colonsay has played hockey in Humboldt for the past three seasons. Last winter he had 38 points with 16 goals and 26 penalty minutes in 31 games for the Hunboldt bantam AA squad.
Matechuk was picked in the fifth round, 53rd overall, by the Broncos. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound defenceman was also selected 40th overall in the WHL Draft by the Medicine Hat Tigers. Smith acknowledged there is some risk in taking a second round WHL draft pick, but the Broncos felt it was worth taking a flier on the talented young prospect.
“For us, from Humboldt, we’d sure hate to play against him,” Smith said.
Draft Notes
In addition to the draft, last week the Broncos picked up 17-year-old goaltender Isaac Labelle of Saskatoon. Last season the netminder was 10-5 with a 3.17 goals against average and a .905 save percentage for the Saskatoon Contacts midget AAA squad.
Humboldt had traded away its third round pick in a deal with Weyburn that netted them Jon Brunwell and Colton Laroque last season. The Broncos had two sixth round picks, but passed on them. In other junior leagues with drafts, it is not unusual for teams to pass on picks in the final round. SJHL teams have a 50 player protected list and in order to add players, including draft picks, there must be space. That means that a team might have to drop a player to make room. Smith emphasized the Broncos are happy with their draft selections, their list, and the players they are signing this offseason.
Yorkton selected White City’s Austen Flaman of the Prairie Storm with the first overall pick.
