Just like last year, the Okanagan Hockey Academy had 12 players selected in the 2015 Western Hockey League bantam draft May 7.
Surrey’s Tyler Popowich of the bantam prep team became the highest OHA product chosen at third overall by the Vancouver Giants. In 19 regular season and playoff games in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League (CSSHL), Popowich, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, scored 11 goals and added 12 assists to go with 27 penalty minutes.
“Tyler is a big centre with tons of upside,” said Giants general manager Scott Bonner on the club’s website. “He competes, scores and makes plays. The last big centre we had as an organization was James Wright, and that draft class of players born in 1990 was highly successful. We’re excited to welcome Tyler to the hockey club.”
The feeling was mutual for Popowich.
“I’m excited to play for the Giants and play in the WHL,” said the 15-year-old. “Going to Vancouver is special because I grew up watching the Giants.”
Following Popowich was Kelowna’s Mitchell Prowse selected by the Victoria Royals at 35th overall.
“Mitchell has pro potential,” said Royals assistant general manager and of player personnel Grant Armstrong on the club’s website. “He is a very good defender with solid offensive instincts. We believe he is going to be a tremendous fit for our program.”
In 22 CSSHL games, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound blue liner had one goal and 10 points with 30 penalty minutes. In the CSSHL championship, he had a goal and three points in four games.
Revelstoke’s Seth Bafaro was taken by the Tri-City Americans at 49th. At 70th overall was Kamloops product Ty Kolle to the Portland Winterhawks; Quesnel’s Brandon Peacock went to the Brandon Wheat Kings at 88th; West Kelowna’s Kelti Jeri-Leon went to the Americans at 93rd; Kelvin Hair of North Vancouver was chosen by the Kelowna Rockets 113th overall, then two Dawson Creek products in Riley Krane and Tanner Bahm went 168th and 180th overall to the Regina Pats and Kamloops Blazers, respectively. The Prince George Cougars selected Kitimat’s Zach Minaker at 183rd, then the Winterhawks nabbed Aldergrove’s Jonathan Rees at 193. The last OHA product selected was Manning, Alta’s., Adam Evanoff by the Moose Jaw Warriors at 219th overall.
