The Chilliwack Bruins WHL Franchise

Character, Speed and Vision Highlight Bruins 2008 Draft Selections

May 1st 2008

The 2008 WHL Bantam Draft was held in Calgary today, allowing Western Hockey League franchises to stock their teams for the future with 1993 born players from throughout Western Canada and the Western United States. The Chilliwack Bruins are taking part in their 3rd Draft in franchise history, and are looking to add quality players to their squad of the future to compliment recent draft picks Ryan Howse (2006 – First Round), Scott Ramsay (2006 – Fourth Round) and Kevin Sundher (2007 – First Round).

Garry Pochipinski, the Bruins Director of Scouting, led the Bruins into this year’s draft and is excited by the player’s that the Bruins have been able to pick up. ‘I am excited by the amount of speed and vision that we have acquired in this draft, ‘ comments Pochipinski. ‘To be able to have skills at this level is one thing, to be able to do it at top speed is an immeasurable asset for the Bruins. Eight of these players are also current captains of their respective teams, which also bodes well for the leadership of our club in the future. I look forward to seeing our draftees in our training camp in August and then joining us in the future to be key pieces to our franchise.’

Pochipinski is also quick to hand off accolades to others involved. ‘I cannot thank our scouting staff enough for the countless hours that they have spent scouring rinks to help us make our decisions. Our GM Darrell May is our leader of the Bruins and I appreciate his guidance throughout the season leading to this exciting day for our franchise.’

The Chilliwack Bruins have selected defenseman Mitch Topping with their first round selection (8th overall) in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. Topping, a Red Deer AB native, played last season as the captain of the Red Deer Rebels of the Alberta Bantam Minor Hockey League. The 6'1 165 pound rearguard posted 14 goals and 26 assists to go with 100 penalty minutes in 33 games.

Here is a complete list of players selected by the Bruins today with comments from Bruins Director of Scouting Garry Pochipinski:

Mitch Topping - 1st Round - 8th overall

Defence

Hometown: Red Deer, AB

Date of Birth: February 19th, 1993

Height: 6'1

Weight: 165

'Mitch is an outstanding skater with tremendous vision, he reads the play very well and has a great shot. We believe that Mitch is a complete player both on and off the ice and look forward to seeing him patrol the Bruins blueline in the future.'

	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
06-07: Red Deer Chiefs (AMBHL AAA bantam)	32	7	13	20	35
06-07: Red Deer Chiefs - Playoffs	5	3	3	6	4
07-08: Red Deer Rebels White (AMBHL AAA bantam)	33	14	26	40	100
07-08: Red Deer Rebels White - Playoffs	3	4	1	5	4
07-08: Central Thrashers (Alberta Cup)	5	3	1	4	34

Cole Holowenko - 2nd Round - 28th overall

Goaltender

Hometown - Penticton, BC

Date of Birth - January 5th, 1993

Height: 6'2

Weight: 185

"Great skater, very mobile. A big goaltender that that challenges the shooter. Very Quick. Plays the puck extremely well."

Tim Traber - 3rd Round - 51st overall

Right Wing

Hometown: Quesnel, BC

Date of Birth: January 26th, 1993

Height: 6'0

Weight: 165

"Outstanding skater. Big and plays a physical style of game. Hard worker with great character. Has good finish but also shares the puck well."

Brent Wold - 4th Round - 73rd overall

Center

Hometown: Lac Du Bonnet, MB

Date of Birth: February 10th, 1993

Height: 5'10

Weight: 160

"Also an outstanding skater. Has very good skills with good finish. Plays the body. A dynamic player."

07/08: Pinawa Northern Knights Bantam AA	GP	G	A	P	PIM
07/08: Pinawa Northern Knights Bantam AA	41	63	37	100	44

Kale Derkson - 5th Round - 95th Overall

Defence

Hometown: Regina, SK

Date of Birth: January 22, 1993

Height: 5'6

Weight: 157

"Smart player who plays a physical brand of hockey. Good passer, the type of player that can quarterback a powerplay."

	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
07-08: Regina Oilers - SSMHL AA Bantam	25	6	11	17	50
07-08: Regina Avalanche - SSMHL AA Midget	2	0	0	0	2

Derek Falloon - 6th Round - 117th Overall

Right Wing

Hometown: Russell, MB

February 2nd, 1993

Height: 5'7

Weight: 141

"Good skater with a good offensive finish to his game. Strong character player."

	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
07-08: Russell Rams AA Bantam	36	92	45	137	18

Marcus Houck - 7th Round - 135th Overall

Center

Hometown: North Vancouver, BC

Date of Birth: April 4th, 1993

"Captain of his bantam team. Hard working player with strong leadership ability. An all around solid player."

Shay Folden - 7th Round - 139th Overall

Center

Hometown: St.Brieux, SK

Date of Birth: March 3, 1993

"Plays with an edge. Strong skater, very quick off the mark. Has good offensive finish."

Brett Wietzel - 8th Round - 161st Overall

Defence

Hometown: St.Albert, AB

Date of Birth: May 18th, 1993

"Was captain of his bantam team. Smart player that moves well. Understands how to play in the defensive zone. Makes a very good first pass."

Curtis Houlden - 8th Round - 173rd Overall

Defence

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

Date of Birth: January 22nd, 1993

"Was captain of his bantam team. Strong skater that plays a solid positional game. Makes a very good first pass.."

Chilliwack Bruins 2006 Bantam Draft Selections
Pick #	Player Selected	Position	Hometown
3	Ryan Howse	F	Prince George, BC
22	Drew Shore	F	Englewood, Colorado
43	Zak MacDonald-Miller	D	Surrey, BC
64	Scott Ramsay	D	Abbotsford, BC
73	Ryan Hankin	F	Surrey, BC
85	Brett Adnum	D	Steinbach, Manitoba
106	Hudson Stremmel	G	Reno, Nevada
127	Cole Gelly	D	Vancouver, BC
148	James Kellington	F	Victoria, BC

Chilliwack Bruins 2006 US Player Draft Selections
Pick #	Player Selected	Position	Hometown
1	Jon Parker	F	Solana Beach, CA

Chilliwack Bruins 2007 Bantam Draft Selections
Pick #	Player Selected	Position	Hometown
7	Kevin Sundher	C	Surrey, BC
26	Carter Berg	D	Saskatoon, SK
48	Dylan McKinlay	RW	Langley, BC
70	Tyler Stahl	D	Drumheller, AB
77	Chris Collins	C	Calgary, AB
136	Luke Siemens	G	Delta, BC
148	Blair Wentworth	LW	Calgary, AB
158	Troy Murray	D	Regina, SK
179	Dylan MacNab	RW	Saskatoon, SK
198	Josh Roach	D	Saskatoon, SK

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