DuPont goes first overall, Calgary Hitmen choose Hamilton in WHL draft

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Silvertips get exceptional-status participant in annual pick-em peppered with native ability

Printed Would possibly 09, 2024  •  Utmost up to date 4 mins in the past  •  3 slight learn

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The 2024 WHL Possibilities Draft used to be layered with quite a lot of native flavour, proper from the manage unwell.

Calgary’s Landon DuPont used to be tabbed the manage participant Thursday, era the Calgary Hitmen made defenceman Calder Hamilton their manage selection with the sixth-overall decide.

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To no person’s awe, the Everett Silvertips took defenceman DuPont at Deny. 1 general within the draft.

The 14-year-old Edge Faculty Below-18 phenom is the primary blue-liner to be granted distinctive reputation by means of the WHL.

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“WE GOT HIM!” the Silvertips posted on X.

“I’m super excited and honoured to be picked,” mentioned DuPont in a commentary. “I can’t wait to get things going … It’s an amazing organization that’s ran really well.”

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Hailing from Martensville, Sask., unutilized Hitmen ability Hamilton performed with the Martensville Below-15 AA Marauders closing season.

The 15-year-old superstar completed the yr with 86 issues — together with 35 objectives — in 28 video games, clinching the report of maximum issues by means of a defenceman in one season within the SAAHL U15. The former report used to be held by means of Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Reilly, with 84 issues.

“Calder is a really exciting player that we’re thrilled to add to our group,” mentioned Hitmen director of scouting Gary Michalick. “He is mobile and one of the smoothest skaters in the draft. He impacts all areas of the game. He’s a competitive player who defends extremely well and has great instincts with the puck. We believe he is a complete defenceman.”

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Edge Faculty under-15 defenceman Aden Bouchard, of Airdrie, went 3rd general to the Tri-Town American citizens.

Every other section blue-liner in Owen Hayden, a 6-foot-6 superstar with the Calgary NW Below-15 AAA Flames, used to be decided on 9th general by means of the Kelowna Rockets.

The WHL Possibilities Draft is for 2009-born avid gamers from the 4 western provinces and choose U.S states.

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Amongst alternative native merchandise drafted:

At Deny. 11, Airdrie’s Brock England — a centre with the Edge Faculty’s U15 prep staff — used to be plucked by means of the Seattle Thunderbirds.

At Deny. 20, Edge U15 centre Jordin St. Louis, additionally of Airdrie, used to be taken by means of the Portland Winterhawks.

To start out the second one spherical at Deny. 23, Cochrane’s Matthew Hilderman — an Edge U15 winger — used to be a Thunderbirds’ draft-pick.

At Deny. 26, Calgary’s Joaguin Geras — an Edge U15 defenceman — used to be decided on by means of the Kamloops Blazers.

At Deny. 27, Cochrane’s Jensen Marsh — a winger with the Airdrie U15 AAA Xtreme — used to be selected by means of the Edmonton Oil Kings.

At Deny. 33, Airdrie’s Nathan Cole — an Edge U15 winger — used to be selected by means of the Rockets.

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The Hitmen had back-to-back alternatives in the second one spherical, drafting Winnipeg’s Antonio Correia, who looked in at centre with the Winnipeg U15 Cloudy Bruins, at Deny. 28 and Cochrane’s Kale McCann, who manned the blue-line for the U15 Xtreme, at Deny. 29.

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They after made winger Shaun Hildebrandt, a winger from Langley, B.C., with the Yale Hockey Academy U15 prep staff, the forty third decide general.

The Hitmen had every other prepared of back-to-back alternatives within the fourth spherical, the place they took centres Adam Halat and Jack Poole at Nos. 72 and 73 respectively. Chestermere’s Halat performed with the Edge U15 squad, era Vancouver’s Poole covered up for St. George’s Faculty U15 prep staff.

The Calgary membership’s two alternatives in Spherical 5 have been defenceman Connor Feeney — at Deny. 91 — and winger Dominik Silbernagel — at. Deny. 95. Feeney, of Prince George, B.C., is a celeb with the Cariboo U15 AAA Cougars, era Silbernagel, of Coldstream, B.C., performs for the Rink Kelowna U15 prep facet.

Within the 6th spherical, the Hitmen took centre Nathan Gardiner — a local of Gainsborough, Sask. — of the Estevan U15 AA Bruins.

Within the 7th, they picked goaltender Kaleb Web page — a Sask East U15 AA Oilers ability from Whitewood, Sask.

And North West U15 AA Stars centre Dawson Gamble used to be taken by means of the Hitmen within the 8th spherical. He’s a local of North Battleford, Sask.

— with information from Postmedia information services and products

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM

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