Forwards Rowan Calvert and Liam Fitzpatrick both saw their names called during the event – Calvert by the Nipawin Hawks, Fitzpatrick the Estevan Bruins -- which was held online on Friday afternoon
For Calvert, it marked the second time he’s been drafted this off-season, after being selected in the ninth round, 187th overall by the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL Bantam Draft. He didn’t have to wait quite as long this time around, with the Hawks waiting only 28 picks to land Calvert in the third round.
Standing in at 5-foot-9, 170-pounds, Calvert led the U15 AA Warriors in scoring this past season woith 24 goals and 45 points in 31 games.
Right behind him among the Warriors offensive leaders was Fitzpatrick, who picked up 20 goals and 44 points in 30 games. The 5-foot-6, 135-pound forward also played four games as a U18 AA Warriors call-up, scoring twice and putting up three points in four appearances.
The Bruins landed Fitzpatrick in the sixth round, 67th overall.
A pair of prospects who recently signed with the U18 AAA Warriors were also picked up in the SJHL Draft.
Blake Ekren-Bratton – who signed with the AAAs on May 2 – was selected in the fifth round, 56th overall by the La Ronge Ice Wolves. The Porcupine Plain defenceman scored 19 goals and 37 points in only 27 games with the North East Wolfpack U15 AA squad, and also suited up for three games with the U18 AAA Tisdale Trojans, but didn’t have a point.
Ekren-Bratton was also a high pick by the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, where he was selected in the third round, 61st overall.
Swift Current product Anthony Wilson – also a signee of the AAA Warriors back on May 2 – was selected in the sixth round, 64th overall by the Kindersley Klippers. Playing with Northern Alberta Bantam Prep last season, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound forward scored nine goals and 27 in 29 games and added another goal and four points in their two playoff appearances.
The Moose Jaw Warriors also saw one of their prospects picked up. Defenceman Keelan Mansuy went in the fourth round, 38th overall to Estevan after the Tribe had selected him in the eighth round, 156th overall in the WHL Bantam Draft earlier this spring.
The Regina product scored nine goals and 40 points in 31 games for the U15 AA Monarchs and added four assists in the playoffs. Mansuy also played two games with the Pat Canadians but was held scoreless.
Overtime… Three of the five players have older siblings who were standouts for the AAA Warriors – Atley Calvert finished second in team scoring, Caelan Fitzpatrick one point behind him and Wyatt Wilson was the team’s highest-scoring defenceman.
