The 2023 SJHL Draft began at 1 p.m. on Thursday, as the 12 teams across the league looked to choose their player(s) of the future, and the hundreds of kids across the province hoped to hear their name called.
The draft featured six rounds of 2007-born players and two rounds of 2008-born players, with the Melfort Mustangs walking away with nine players total.
The club had four selections in the first two rounds of 07 players, which included two picks in the top nine.
2007-born – Round 1: Tao Flory from the U18 AAA Battlefords Stars went fifth overall (trade from Weyburn) to the Mustangs.
The six-foot, 181-pound defenceman from Saskatoon had six assists for six points in 41 games played last season.
Meanwhile, Melfort also took Jaxson Kehrig in the first round, ninth overall.
The six-foot, 165-pound forward from Tisdale had eight goals and 10 assists with his hometown U18 AAA Trojans, in 29 games played last season.
Round 2: As for round two, Trey Markus went number one in the second round (13th overall from Melville Millionaires) to the Stangs.
The five-foot-ten, 168-pound forward from Warman played last season with the U18 AA Warman Wildcats, registering 17 goals and assists, good for 34 points, in 31 games played.
Melfort then added a five-foot-eight, 141-pound forward Kale Johns with the 21st overall selection.
In 34 games played last season with the Lumsden/Bethune Lions U18 AA squad, the Lumsden product produced 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points.
Round 3: Melfort did not have a third-round selection (traded to the Kindersley Klippers).
Round 4: Melfort selected Blake Girard with the 41st pick thanks to a trade with the Weyburn Red Wings (Eastend product, 5’8″/134lbs forward, 19gp, 2G, 1A – Tisdale Trojans U18AAA), Lincoln Rodgers with the 45th pick (Prince Albert product, 5’9″/157lbs forward, 32gp, 11G, 15A – Prince Albert Vulcans U18AA) and Josh Henrey with the 46th pick after being traded from the Flin Flon Bombers to the Nipawin Hawks before being sent to the blue and green (Prince Albert product, 6’4″/190lbs goalie, 17gp, 14-2-1, 1.85/.943, 3SO – Prince Albert Vulcans U18AA).
Round 5: Melfort did not have a fifth-round selection (traded to the Yorkton Terriers).
Round 6: The Mustangs passed on their selection, and the 2007 portion of the draft concluded.
The SJHL draft then moved to the 08 player portion.
2008-born – Round 1: Melfort selected Ethan Hamilton (5’9″/141lbs forward) with the ninth overall pick of the 2008-born portion of the 2023 SJHL Draft.
The Lanigan product spent last season with the U15 AA Humboldt Broncos posting 14 goals and 13 assists in 21 games.
2008-born – Round 2: The Stangs then picked their final player of this year’s draft, taking Eric Grandberg with the 21st overall selection.
The 6’/170lbs d-man, spent this past season with the U15 AA Saskatoon Outlaws. In 30 games played, the Saskatoon product racked up 15 points and 33 assists.
Northeast Locals: Other northeast representation included Ty Dauvin, who is from Bruno and was selected in the third round (35th overall) to the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Eric Han, a member of the Tisdale Trojans, was taken by the Flin Flon Bombers in the fourth round (38th overall).
Cameron Jacobson, a Wakaw product and member of the Humboldt Broncos U15 AA club, was selected in the first round of the 2008-born portion of the draft (eight overall) to the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
And, Rory Dewar, another member of the U15 AA Humboldt Broncos, was taken in round two of the 2008-born draft (20th overall), also to the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
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