Swift Current’s Cash Arntsen may have been passed over in the Western Hockey League Draft, but he was the first overall selection in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Bantam Draft today.
The rugged forward was chosen first overall by the La Ronge Ice Wolves, who are coached by Swift Current’s Evan Vossen. Arntsen tied for the team lead with 54 points in 31 Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League games with the Swift Current Kabos Broncos.
Central Butte’s Hayden Wilm was the first pick of the second round, 13th overall. He was also drafted by the Ice Wolves after finishing with 54 points in 30 games. Wilm was a fifth round pick of the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL Bantam Draft and has signed to play with the Saskatoon Midget AAA Blazers next season.
Defenseman Ryan McCleary was selected by the Yorkton Terriers in the fourth round, 38th overall. McCleary was a fifth round pick of the Portland Winterhawks last month after registering 41 points in 31 games with the Bantam Broncos.
Forward Noah Wills was selected in the fourth round, 42nd overall, by the Weyburn Red Wings. Wills tallied 45 points in 31 regular season games last season.
Two more Southwest skaters were selected in the fifth round. Defenseman Wyatt Wilson was taken 55th overall by the Kindersley Klippers. The Swift Current product skated for the Yale Bantam Prep team last season and was drafted 116th by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL Bantam Draft.
The Humboldt Broncos followed up by taking Wymark’s Keagon Little with the 56th overall pick. The 5’5’’ forward posted 26 points in 15 games during an injury shortened regular season. He added 12 points in six playoff games with the Kabos Broncos.
Blake Heward, the son of Swift Current Broncos Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development, Jamie Heward, was drafted in the fourth round by the Estevan Bruins. The Regina product was a seventh round pick of the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL Bantam Draft.
