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Warriors Korczak, Jordan, Rysavy and Wanner selected in NHL Entry Draft

Draft day bonanza sees most members of local Western Hockey League franchise selected since 2000

If Moose Jaw Warriors fans weren't excited for the 2021-22 season already, they most definitely should be now.

The Warriors will have four new National Hockey League prospects in their line-up when the new Western Hockey League season begins after forward Ryder Korczak, defenceman Cole Jordan, forward Martin Rysavy and defenceman Maximus Wanner were all selected in the NHL Entry Draft on Saturday afternoon.

Korczak was picked in the third round, 75th overall by the New York Rangers followed by Jordan in the fifth round, 141st overall by the Calgary Flames, 2020 Import Draft pick Rysavy in the seventh round, 197th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Wanner in the seventh round, 212th overall, by the Edmonton Oilers.

Korczak had three goals and 16 points in 17 games for the Warriors in the Regina hub this past season, missing seven games after suffering a jaw injury. That hurt his draft stock, as Korczak was projected to go in the first round of the draft based on his performance in the 2019-20 season -- a campaign where he put up 18 goals and 67 points in 62 games and led the Western Hockey League in scoring for the first week of the season.

Jordan went into the Draft as the 88th-ranked North American prospect after putting together a solid season on the blueline for the Warriors in the 2019-20 season and following up with three goals and 10 points in 23 games in the Regina hub. Beyond that, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound rearguard showed exceptional defensive prowess, with scouts especially impressed with his skating ability and ability to move the puck.

Rysavy, was expected to join the team for the 2020-21 campaign before the ongoing pandemic prevented him from travelling over.  He’d end up playing 19 games for HC Prerov in the Czech Republic First League, scoring three goals and nine points, before putting together an impressive showing at the World Under-18 Championship and leading the team in scoring.

Wanner, who hails from Estevan but has since moved to Moose Jaw, was one of the longest of long shots to be drafted after being ranked 223rd on the final CSB list. No matter, as his meteoric rise in the hockey world continued on Saturday. The Warriors' rookie played 17 games while battling an injury in the East Division hub and picked up four assists while finishing the season as one of only four Warriors with a positive plus-minus at plus-two.

It's the first time since 2000 that the Warriors have had four players selected in the Draft, the last being in 2000 when Brian Sutherby (26th), Ben Knopp (69th), Sean O'Connor (81st), Deryk Engelland (194th) and Steven Crampton (248th) were all chosen.

The Warriors also saw a pair of former prospects selected in the first round.

Swedish goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, the Warriors first pick in the 2019 Entry Draft who was traded to Portland earlier this summer, was selected 20th overall by the Minnesota Wild.

AJHL Brooks defenceman Corson Ceulemans, the Warriors fifth-round pick in the 2019 Prospect Draft, was selected 25th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has committed to the University of Wisconsin.

Warriors forward Eric Alarie was ranked 51st heading into the Draft but wasn't selected.

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