The Western Hockey League's annual Bantam draft will be held tomorrow in Edmonton.

 

     The Swift Current Broncos will pick 15th overall in the opening round, which is a higher pick than they've had over the past few years.

     Broncos Head Coach/GM Dean Chynoweth is confident they can get an impact player with the late first round pick.  "We won't be drafting by position with the pick; we will look for the best player available at 15.  Being in the back half of the draft is new in my time here, which is a good thing in a standpoint of the organization moving forward.  As of right now, we have our list and have identified players, and it will depend what happens ahead of us."

     Chynoweth says a trade up or down in the first round isn't out of the question.  "We would always entertain moving up.  Generally the cost of that is a third round pick.  Those are pretty steep prices for us, especially since we don't have a third round pick this year.  To maybe get another (3rd round pick) back is something we would consider."

     Locally, it's expected two to three Bantam players from the southwest could be selected.

     The first overall pick belongs to the Portland Winterhawks.