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Summary:

CALGARY HITMEN SELECT 10 PLAYERS IN 2011 WHL BANTAM DRAFT

Left Winger Jake Virtanen taken first overall

Calgary, AB - The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club drafted 10 players today in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft including six forwards, three defencemen and a goalie. 

With the team’s first pick, 1st overall, the Hitmen selected left winger Jake Virtanen (vir-TAN-in) from the AAA Bantam Abbotsford Hawks.  Virtanen had 117 points (68g 49a) in 59 games this season.  He also had five goals in five games at the 2011 BC Cup.

“Jake is a dynamic offensive player, a tremendous skater who also plays with a physical edge,” says Hitmen Assistant General Manger and Head Scout Brad Whelen.

Virtanen becomes just the second Hitmen to be selected first overall joining Chris Nielsen who was the taken with the top pick in the 1995 WHL Bantam Draft.

The following is a summary of players selected by the Hitmen in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft:

For a complete list of all players taken in the 2011 Bantam Draft Picks go to www.whl.ca

First Overall Pick:

Calgary, AB - The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is pleased to announce the selection of Jake Virtanen (vir-TAN-in) with the first overall pick in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.

Virtanen is a 5’11” 164lbs. 15-year-old right handed left winger from Abbotsford, BC.  He played AAA Bantam this past season with the Abbotsford Hawks collecting 117 points (68g 49a) in 59 games.  He also had 128 penalty minutes while posting a +42 rating.

“Jake is a dynamic offensive player, a tremendous skater who also plays with a physical edge,” says Hitmen Assistant General Manger and Head Scout Brad Whelen.

Virtanen becomes just the second Hitmen to be selected first overall joining Chris Nielsen who was the taken with the top pick in the 1995 WHL Bantam Draft.

The Bantam draft continues throughout the day at the BMO Centre in Calgary. 

2nd Round Summary:

CALGARY HITMEN SELECT JOSH THROWER IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE 2011 WHL BANTAM DRAFT
For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 5, 2011

Calgary, AB - The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is pleased to announce the selection of Josh Thrower in the second round (23rd overall) of the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.

Thrower is a 6’0” 177lbs. 15-year-old right defenceman from Squamish, BC.  He played this past season with the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, BC where he totaled 23 points (8g 15a) in 46 games.  He also had 59 penalty minutes.

“Josh is a complete defenceman,” says Hitmen Assistant General Manger and Head Scout Brad Whelen.  “He has offensive skills but is also a hard guy to play against who matches up well against the other team’s best players.”

Josh is the younger brother of Saskatoon Blades defenceman Dalton Thrower.

The Hitmen hold two picks in the third round, selections 45 and 60.

The Bantam draft continues throughout the day at the BMO Centre in Calgary. 

Follow it the Hitmen picks live at www.hitmenhockey.com or at www.whl.ca

3rd Round Summary:

CALGARY HITMEN SELECT BEN THOMAS AND BRADEN OLEKSYN IN THE THIRD ROUND OF THE 2011 WHL BANTAM DRAFT
For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 5, 2011

Calgary, AB - The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is pleased to announce the selections of Ben Thomas and Braden Oleksyn in the third round of the 2011 WHL Bantam draft.

Thomas, taken 45th overall, is a 6’1” 160lbs. defenceman who played this past season with the Calgary Northstar Sabres.  He collected 11 points (1g 10a) in 32 games.  Thomas was also an Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League All-Star and played in the 2011 Alberta Cup.

Oleksyn, taken 60th overall, is a 5’10” 170lbs. left winger who played AAA Midget in Saskatchewan this past season as a 14-year-old with the Beardy’s Blackhawks.  He picked up 41 points (19g 22a) in 43 games.

The Hitmen don’t have a pick in the fourth round but will make two selections in the fifth round at 89th and 93rd overall.

The Bantam draft continues throughout the day at the BMO Centre in Calgary. 

Follow it the Hitmen picks live at www.hitmenhockey.com or at www.whl.ca

5th Round Summary:

CALGARY HITMEN SELECT CHASE LANG AND LOGAN FRANZ IN THE FIFTH ROUND OF THE 2011 WHL BANTAM DRAFT
For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 5, 2011

Calgary, AB - The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is pleased to announce the selections of Chase Lang and Logan Franz in the fifth round of the 2011 WHL Bantam draft.

Lang, taken 89th overall, is a 5’11” 150lbs. centre/left winger from Nanaimo, BC who played this past season with the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, BC.  There he totaled 80 points (32g 48a) in 53 games.  He also had 50 penalty minutes.

Franz, taken 93rd overall, is a 6’0” 170lbs. right handed centre from Medicine Hat, AB who played this past season with Shattuck St. Mary’s in Boys Bantam Tier 1.  He picked up 69 points (29g 40a) in 56 games while also accumulating 70 penalty minutes.

The Hitmen will next pick 111th overall to lead the sixth round.

The Bantam draft continues throughout the day at the BMO Centre in Calgary. 

Follow it the Hitmen picks live at www.hitmenhockey.com or at www.whl.ca

6th Round Summary:

CALGARY HITMEN SELECT RYAN DURET IN THE SIXTH ROUND OF THE 2011 WHL BANTAM DRAFT
For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 5, 2011

Calgary, AB - The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is pleased to announce the selection of Ryan Duret in the sixth round of the 2011 WHL Bantam draft.

Duret, taken 111th overall, is a 5’8” 155lbs. centre from Prince Albert, SK who played this past season with his hometown AA Venice House Pirates. 

Duret put up monster numbers racking up 109 points (53g 56a) in just 24 games to lead not only the Pirates in scoring but the nine team Centre Four Hockey League as well.  He was also the Pirates captain.

The Hitmen will next pick 177th overall to lead the ninth round.

The Bantam draft continues throughout the day at the BMO Centre in Calgary. 

Follow it the Hitmen picks live at www.hitmenhockey.com or at www.whl.ca