The Warriors used the 16th overall selection to land Calgary’s Marek Howell, a 6-foot-3, 187-pound defenceman who currently plays for the Calgary Royals in the Alberta Elite Hockey League U18 division.
Howell had a short but productive season in 2020-21, scoring once and putting up nine points in five games with the Royals U15 AAA program during the pandemic shortened campaign.
Playing against players two years his senior, Howell has four goals and six points in 18 games so far for the Royals.
Howell also suited up to Team Alberta at the WHL Cup this past fall, scoring the overtime winner against Saskatchewan in the round robin. The goal was his only point for Alberta’s silver-medal winning crew.
Howell also brings a solid hockey pedigree to the Warriors -- his father Mark Howell is the head coach of the University of Calgary Dinos.
As expected, the Spokane Chiefs made Saskatoon's Berkly Catton the first overall pick in the 2021 Draft. The high-scoring forward has 11 goals and 23 points in 15 games with Shattuck St. Marys's and is slated to join the Saskatoon Contacts of the Sask Male AAA Hockey League in the near future.
The WHL Prospects Draft continues with the remaining rounds this afternoon, and you can follow along with all the picks at whl.ca, plus check back for more on moosejawtoday.com later.
