The Western Hockey Leagues Bantam Draft took place last week, and it featured tons of Saskatchewan talent. Four of the top ten picks in the draft hailed from Saskatchewan, including the 2nd and 3rd overall picks both out of Dundurn, SK.

Karson Blanchette was the only west central product selected in the draft, going 69th overall to the Seattle Thunderbirds in the fourth round. Blanchette played two seasons with the West Central AA Bantam Wheat Kings, and broke out this season with 20 goals and 48 points in 26 games.

“Karson is good sized, honest player that plays the game fast and hard,” said Thunderbirds Director of Player Personnel Cal Filson.

At the conclusion of the draft, fifty-three 2005 born Saskatchewan players were selected in total, in comparison to last years draft where thirty players from the province were selected.

Fifteen of the Saskatchewan players were selected by Saskatchewan WHL teams, and the Regina Pats had the first overall pick.

The Pats had the luxury of drafting consensus first pick Connor Bedard, who is the first WHL player in history to be granted exceptional status. This means he will be able to enter the league a year earlier than his fellow draft class, and will have a chance to make an immediate impact.

Other "exceptional status" players that have made it to the NHL include Connor McDavid, John Tavares and Aaron Ekblad. McDavid has lived up to his potential, that introduced great expectations for his career. The other two have had success in their careers, being the #1 overall pick in their respective entry drafts, but have left some to be desired considering their hockey prodigy status. Defensman Sean Day is an example of a player who received exceptional status, but was only drafted fourth in the OHL draft, and is currently stuck in the ECHL after being a fourth round NHL pick.

Getting picked in the Bantam Draft does not assure anything, but the high volume of Saskatchewan talent selected this year certainly bodes well for hockey in the province.