The future of the Western Hockey League is up for grabs Thursday as they hold their annual bantam draft.
The Swift Current Broncos pick 10th in the first round of what they see as a weaker draft year depth-wise.
“We've seen better classes,” said Broncos assistant general manager Jamie Porter. “I'm not sure this is the deepest one. The front end of it is pretty good, but we'll have to see as it goes along.”
While the class overall isn't as strong he is optimistic they will find a strong player in the first round.
“I think there's probably a solid group in the first round,” Porter said. “It might be as many as 15-20.”
“We're picking 10 and I think we have a group of 15 we'd be quite happy with. There's probably a group of about 8 that we'd be very, very excited to grab one of those guys.”
The Broncos are hoping one of the players on their list will slip a couple of spots.
“There's always something going on ahead of you,” Porter said. “Some teams will be picking by position, some teams have a particular player in mind that may not fit our philosophy but will fit theirs... we've got some of that going on I think a little bit that will allow us to maybe have one of those players fall back to us.”
Swift Current's prospect depth is strongest on the blue line. That doesn't mean they intend on nabbing a forward with their first pick.
“We've always talked about picking the best prospect available,” Porter said. “Here we do like the group of forwards that is in front of us. If one of them is there that might be our preference, but if it gets to a point where those guys are gone and there's a couple of really good D here then that's a conversation for us at the table.”
In 2011 the Broncos went through a re-evaluation of their scouting and drafting process. That led them to a new definition of players they feel fit the mold of a Bronco.
“We need a guy with a high compete level,” Porter said. “We need a guy that is going to be a 200 foot player. Mark is all about being character driven and having good hockey sense. We always have to keep in mind that playing in the smallest market in the CHL would a player fit in that environment. Have they come from an environment that would have prepared them for that?”
Defenceman Ty Smith is the favourite to go first overall to the Spokane Chiefs.
"I'd describe myself as a good teammate who is a hard worker and a good leader," Smith said. "I see my strengths being my vision and my passing ability. Probably the ability to play against the other team's best players."
The draft begins at 8:30am on Thursday in Calgary. You can watch the first round on the official WHL website. Check Swift Current Online for details on the Broncos picks as they happen.
Fri, Apr 26, 7:00 PM
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