It was a big weekend for the Western Hockey League at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa.

    It all started on Friday Night when Steven Stamkos of the OHL's Sarnia Sting was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and ended with 210 more picks over two days.

    37 players from the WHL were selected in the draft, including four from the Swift Current Broncos, who were tied with the Kelowna Rockets for the most picks coming from a single WHL team.

    Forward Zack Smith was the first Bronco drafted going to the Ottawa Senators 79th Overall. He said he was surprised that a team would take him that early, and hopes to really show what he's made of in the team's training camp later this year.

    A few picks later, winger Geordie Wudrick was selected 88th overall by the Los Angeles Kings. Wudrick, who was in attendance at Scotiabank Place, said the selection was the greatest feeling of his life, and admits the purple and silver colours of the Los Angeles sweater looks good on him.

    The two other Broncos selected were forward Dale Weise, who went 111th overall to the New York Rangers, and the Dallas Stars picked forward Matt Tassone at 176th overall.

    Notable WHL players selected were Kelowna's Luke Schenn, who was the highest-drafted WHLer at 5th overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pats skaters Colten Teubert and Jordan Eberle, first round selections for LA and Edmonton respectively, defenseman Travis Hamonic from the Moose Jaw Warriors was picked by the Islanders in the second round, and Saskatoon goalie Braden Holtby went to the Washington Capitals 93rd overall.