Daylan Kuefler, Mats Lindgren, Fraser Minten and Matt Seminoff were all picked during the 2022 NHL Draft. (Photo via Kamloops Blazers)
Four Kamloops Blazers heard their names called on day two of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, held in Montreal.
Fraser Minten was first off the board, going 38th overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“It was amazing, [my family is] the reason why I’m here and for this moment,” he told NL Sports. “Being able to give them a hug and say thank-you and see them smile and say they’re proud of me was amazing.”
Ranked 28th among North American skaters, the 18-year-old Vancouver native had 55 points (20 goals and 35 assists) in 67 regular season games for the Blazers last season. Minten then followed that up with 16 points (six goals and 10 assists) in 17 playoff games.
“I pretty much ran the media gauntlet, up in the spotlight moments after being drafted with 20 microphones on you right away and people bombarding you with questions,” Minten said. “It was pretty cool to get to that and awesome to be in a market like Toronto.
Welcome to Toronto, Fraser 🍁#NHLDraft | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/iQZt7nsixP
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 8, 2022
The Buffalo Sabres then took defenceman Mats Lindgren in the fourth round, 106th overall.
Lindgren was ranked 47th among North American skaters and had 44 points (five goals and 39 assists) in 68 regular season games with Kamloops. The 17-year-old blueliner had seven assists in the playoffs.
With our 106th overall pick, we have selected defenseman Mats Lindgren.
Welcome to Buffalo, Mats!#LetsGoBuffalo | @SenecaBuffalo pic.twitter.com/S65qwtEnHK
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 8, 2022
Forward Daylan Kuefler, who was passed over in the last two drafts, was the third Blazer taken, going to the New York Islanders with the 174th pick.
The 20-year-old Stettler native had 59 points (38 goals and 21 assists) in 65 games and followed it up with 17 (10 goals and seven assists) in 17 playoff games.
With the 174th selection of the 2022 #NHLDraft the #Isles select Daylan Kuefler.#LGI | @Jackpocket pic.twitter.com/cAyeYX5wTl
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) July 8, 2022
The Dallas Stars then took forward Matthew Seminoff with the 179th pick. The 18-year-old had 57 points (26 goals and 31 assists) in 64 games and followed it up with nine points (six goals and three assists) in the playoffs.
“I was actually sitting on the couch with family and we were following along throughout the morning,” Seminoff told NL Sports. “I got a couple of texts before I saw my name on the TV so it was a little confusing at first but then I got a call from Dallas. It was awesome.”
“It will be so cool to go to an NHL camp and try to prove myself.”
The Coquitlam native is the fifth Kamloops Blazer chosen by the Stars since the team was bought by Tom Gaglardi in 2011, with Logan Stankoven in 2021 the most notable.
“This is a step in the road but its something every kid dreams about,” Seminoff added. “It is pretty surreal. Even if you don’t go on the stage in the first round, it is still a cool experience. It is so humbling and so motivating. I don’t know what to say, I’m just super excited.”
Welcome to #TexasHockey, Matthew Seminoff!@ATT | #NHLDraft | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/99y0nbChYE
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 8, 2022
Blazers goaltender Dylan Ernst did not hear his name called Friday.
The Weyburn, Sask. native was ranked 30th among North American goaltenders. The 18-year-old went 14-8-2 in 24 regular season games posting a .900 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average.
The Blazers have had at least one player drafted in each of the past 11 years going back to 2012 – the longest steak in the WHL.
The last time at least four Blazers were chosen in a single draft was back in 2004, when five were picked – Devan Dubnyk, Roman Tesliuk, Kris Hogg, Moises Gutierrez, and Max Gordichuk.
West Kelowna Warriors defenceman – and Blazers prospect – Tyson Jugnauth was also taken in the fourth round, 100th overall by the Seattle Kraken.
The Toronto-born, Kelowna-raised 18-year-old had 50 points (nine goals and 41 assists) in 52 games in his second BC Hockey League season. Jugnauth is set to play for the University of Wisconsin this fall.
You’ll find a list of all NHL draft picks here.
– With files from Jon Keen
That’s four Blazers selected so far today, the most since 2004 (5) – Dubnyk, Tesliuk, Hogg, Guitierrez, Gordichuk. Now seven picks in the last two years. #Kamloops
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) July 8, 2022
