Update –
The Kamloops Blazers picked nine players at the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft, held in Red Deer today.
It was the first time in franchise history that the team drafted two players in the first round – taking defenceman Mats Lindgren seventh overall, and forward Connor Levis with the 20th overall pick.
General Manager Matt Bardsley says he is not concerned that both players have verbal commitments with the University of Michigan
“We need to get the best players to come, but I’m confident that these players will be Kamloops Blazers,” he said. “We certainly have a lot of work to do but at the end of the day, you need the best players. That’s what we were going for.”
Lindgren’s father, also named Mats, is a former Vancouver Canuck.
Also of note, the Blazers took forward Nash Bamford in the seventh round. He’s the son of country singer Gord Bamford.
Kamloops took the first goalie in the draft – Dylan Ernst with the 28th overall pick.
Rounds three and four saw the Blazers pick three forwards – Tye Spencer in the third round, while Fraser Mitten and Cameron Johnson were fourth round picks.
In the fifth round, the Blazers selected defenceman Jamie Weller from Calgary, and with their sixth round pick, they chose forward Vaughn Watterodt.
“What we want our team to be going forward as we continue to evolve is, we want our defenceman to be activating into the rush to be a threat,” Bardsley added. “We have our forwards that are threats but we want our defencemen to be threats as well.”
In all, the Blazers drafted six forwards, two defensemen, and one goaltender, with five players are from B.C., and two each from Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Our family is so proud of this kid! Honored for Nash to be selected by @blazerhockey today, incredible organization and incredible opportunity! pic.twitter.com/Nml4Gfr5S9
— Gord Bamford (@gordbamford) May 2, 2019
Blazer GM Matt Bardsley following nine selections in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.
WATCH: 🎥 pic.twitter.com/d7svc0FegA— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) May 2, 2019
Original –
The Kamloops Blazers held on to their seventh overall pick at the WHL draft today, selecting defenceman Mats Lindgren from North Vancouver.
Lindgren had 26 points in 27 games last season with the Burnaby Winter Club Bantam Prep ‘A’ in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
GM Matt Bardsley says they picked Lindgren because he’s a “very dynamic skater.”
“In, today’s game, the defencemen have to get up into the play. We want them joining the attack, how we want to play in Kamloops,” he said after the draft.
“We want defencemen activating and we feel that Mats is an elite skater, loves to join the rush. He can lead, join it, and distribute the puck as well.”
Moments later, with the 20th overall pick, the Blazers took centre Connor Levis from Vancouver.
“Well he’s got great size, he’s a young player with an October birth date,” Bardsley said.
“We think the upside is just huge and at this pick, it’s just too hard to pass up on a player like that. We think he has great upside in our league, and potentially even an upside in the next league too.”
Levis played with the St. George’s School Bantam Prep, where he put up 62 points in 26 games.
Both Lindgren and Levis have verbally committed to playing NCAA hockey at the University of Michigan.
The Winnipeg Ice had the first overall pick in this year’s draft and they took centre Matthew Savoie.
7th overall…. Blazers get their guy… D Mats Lindgren, son of former Canuck. I believe this is who they really wanted.
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) May 2, 2019
Should be noted Lindgren has a verbal commitment to Michigan. That may have steered other teams ahead of the Blazers away.
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) May 2, 2019
Also a pre-draft college commit to Michigan. This also had teams shying away. Heard he’s a top 10 selection otherwise. https://t.co/MJ1x4mjb7o
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) May 2, 2019
