Bantam 08-09 Season almost underway

After an outstanding draft class in the 07-08 WHL Bantam Draft we now shift our attention to the 08-09 crop. During the up coming months, I'll profile some of the top players available for the draft next May. Myself and many other scouts are in agreement that although this years draft won't have as many top end guys like Benson, Rattie, Nugent-Hopkins, St. Croix, Murray and Siemens it does have good depth through the first round and should rank as one of the better bantam drafts from the past 6-8 years or so. Later today I'll include a preliminary Top 20 for the 1994 age group...stay tuned.

Ty Rattie-Top 10 Selection very likely

Summer will be busy for hockey whiz
Scott Mitchell Echo ReporterWednesday April 16, 2008
UPWARD AND ONWARD: Airdrie Xtreme forward Ty Rattie is looking forward to new challenges.
Scott Mitchell photoAirdrie Echo — The Airdrie Xtreme has wrapped up things on the ice for another year, but for Ty Rattie, the work has just begun. Immediately after winning bronze with the host team at the Western Canadian Bantam Championships – where he was named the tournament’s top forward – Rattie packed up his gear and headed off to Coaldale to lock up a spot on the Alberta Cup South Zone team, which will take the ice in Lloydminster April 27-28. Then it will be off to the WHL (Western Hockey League) bantam draft at the Calgary Roundup Centre May 1, where he is expected to be a top 10 selection. It’s safe to say it has been a whirlwind year for the Grade 9 student at Bert Church High School. Coming off a season in which he broke the AMBHL (Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League) record for goals scored in a single season with 75 tallies, Rattie’s stock is sky high heading into the draft. But coming into the season, expectations weren’t quite as lofty. "We knew Ty was going to be an offensive leader. We didn’t expect the huge numbers that he put up, but he did," team manager and proud papa Rob Rattie said of a player he addresses simply as ‘Rattie’. After winning the rookie of the year award last season, Ty added league MVP and top forward honours to his resume this season. His goals coming into this season were team-oriented. "Last year, winning rookie of the year, my expectations grew a little bit, but I just wanted to lead the team and lead by example," he said. It only took three games for Ty to realize he might be on the verge of something special in the 33-game season.
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"It was the third game of the season and I had a five-goal game and a nine-point night," he said. "Someone told me about the record and I thought I’d have a chance of breaking it after that game."Teammate Jason Swyripa was his closest competitor, finishing with 37 goals and 107 points, 24 points behind Rattie’s 131. The Rattie-Swyripa combo was dominant all season long. "It felt great," Ty said of breaking the record. "It was one of the better feelings of my hockey career, for sure."I definitely wouldn’t have believed them if they would have said I would have this many points in so few games," he added.The teenager recognizes that he had a lot of help. "Obviously, no one can do anything without teammates and they were the greatest help I could have every game," he added. Ty has a lot to focus on this spring and summer, with the Alberta Cup, the WHL draft and just being a kid and a student. After his first WHL camp in September, Rattie is hoping to suit up for the UFA midget Bisons in Strathmore. Which WHL camp he will be at, however, is a different story. "Personally, I want to go top five, hopefully," he said. "It doesn’t matter what team I go to. It would be an amazing league to play in."Ty can’t really narrow it down to which team might select him May 1, because all of them are interested. "I can honestly say that we’ve talked to all of the (WHL) teams and junior A teams have called us, as well," his father said. "I’d be lying if I didn’t say he was very excited about the draft."He’s just very excited about midget triple A and his first (WHL) camp," Rob added.While he can only suit up for five games next season as a 15-year-old, Ty can’t wait to play in a league he has been a fan of since day one. "Ever since I’ve watched the Hitmen it’s just been a league that I love," he said. The Ratties have employed a personal trainer to add strength to Ty’s six-foot, 160-pound frame this summer, but the teen wants to focus on a different game for a while at Woodside Golf Course. "I’m still a kid, so I want to have fun with my friends and go golfing, but definitely work out every day," he said. The Red Deer Rebels hold the first selection in the WHL bantam draft, results of which can be followed online at: www.whl.ca

Brent Benson- Saskatoon Bound?

It is no secret that Weyburn hockey phenom Brent Benson is highly coveted for the up coming WHL draft on May 1st. He has all the talent in the world in what can be considered as the best bantam draft in the past 6 years atleast. Here is a look at Brent and his view on the draft http://www.weyburnthisweek.com/Archive/March%2014%20archive/March14%20p14.pdf

Ryan Murray likely 1st Rounder

Here is a look at Ryan Murray from Balgonie who is will here his name called in the first round of the WHL Bantam Draft. I will profile a player each day who will be a first round selection on May 1st.

Ryan Murray is an outstanding hockey player. He will continue to be a D-man predominantly. He in my view is in the top 3 players in the South Sask. He is a late birth date (Sept), has grown 5 inches in the last year 5'4-5'9, and continues to get bigger and stronger. Compare that to some of the other elite players, who have not grown in the past 2 years and ask yourself, "Who has a better upside?" We played Notre Dame in a pre-season game and tied them 4-4. Notre Dame in my opinion does not have a D-man with his skill set. They are bigger, stronger (Sefton, Thompson,Lee) but Murray skates better and sees the ice better. He has incredible mobility, and rarely gets beat in his own end. He is always squared up, and has great body and stick position. He does get caught up ice, and takes too much risk. But that is by design. I do not want to harness him in and stifle his development. Furthermore, his over-aggressive rushing of the puck may cost us a goal a game but he generally will create 4 or 5 scoring opportunities.Denin has had a great year this far. He has great puck skills, still needs work in his own end and stick position etc, but is a great player. Other than the Notre Dame d-man, he and Murray are the top scoring d-man in the South Sask. He has great offensive skills. Could play tougher.Tyler Giebel, is a player with great skills. His puck handling and shot are incredible. He is a powerful skater, and he too does a lot of the little things right. He angles the puck carrier great, etc. Tyler needs to work on being more consistent and be a great player every shift every game. He needs to be mentally tough, and not let things bother him. He needs to take the puck into the difficult areas.We have other players that are outstanding players also. We had some players that were injured and a few that were sick. When we are healthy and playing well there is only a handful of team in the province that can compete with us.Barry NychukCoach Bantam AA Prarie Storm

Top Bantam Prospect- Brent Benson Profile

Brent Benson is expected by many across the scouting community to be a high selection and the first player selected in the WHL Bantam Draft on May 1st. I did an interview with his coach and father Murray Benson a little while ago and he had these comments. Here is a look at some of Brent Benson's highlights over the past couple seasons.

Thank you for your interest in Brent Benson. I, Murray Benson, have coached him for many years, on many Weyburn winter hockey teams, and the Saskatchewan Wheatland AAA spring 93 hockey team for 6 seasons. I have also coached him for several years in soccer and football. He has consistently been a dominant player, a real leader on and off the ice, a top student, and a pleasure to work with and watch. He has passion for the game, a great work ethic, and a strong commitment to developing to be the best he can be, and to making those around him better. He is a gifted hockey player who now (October, 2007) is 14 1/2 years old, 5 ft 11, 170 pounds, and has not yet finished growing. He is a power forward, and a strong skater, who has incredible vision and puck control, especially along the boards, in corners and behind the net. He is also a very unselfish player, setting up many passes and scoring chances. He is a big, strong physical player who loves to hit, but plays a very disciplined, clean and level-headed game, showing great composure even when being shadowed and targeted. He scores highlight reel goals time after time, especially in crunch situations. He was an AP Affiliate Player with the Weyburn AA Midget team last year as a 13 year old in a 15-17 year old South Sask. League, and PPG of 1.33 was third in the league. This year, he is an AP with the Moose Jaw Midget AAA Warriors, (although volleyball and Bantam commitments have limited his availability with them so far this fall), and is practising when possible with the SJHL Junior A Weyburn Red Wings. He also excels academically with marks in the mid 90’s, is involved in school volleyball, cross-country, track, choir and SRC, and has excellent references from his teachers. Spring / Summer Hilights 2007In April of 2007, Brent was invited to be part of Team Western Canada to compete in the Detroit Showcase coached by Todd Harkness from Vancouver and Assistant Coach Murray Benson from Weyburn. His teammates were Tyler Borstmeyer, Reid Jackson, Ryan Murray, Dayton Reinboldt, Nate Ferris from Sask, Jordan Baillie, Jason Swyripa, Ty Rattie from Alberta and Laurent Broissort, Drew Graham and Daniel Lee from BC. Played against top 93’s such as Ben Thomson, Rocco Grimaldi, Colin Jacobs, Cason Hohmann. Brent was scouted as a dominant player by The Scouting News Invited to Western Prospects Showcase in Regina, Sask. and run by Coordinator Mike Rooney. He was chosen as team leader and Captain by his Gold teammates. His team went undefeated in the 5 days, and he was chosen to play in the Top Forty game, which his team won with Brent scoring the overtime shootout goal to win. Chosen as Top Prospect (with Hurley and Hohmann also named to the Top Three) by the over 40 WHL, SJHL, and SMAAA team scouts in attendance Invited by Travis Howe and Joe Templin of the East Coast Selects to be a member of a World Select 93 team to compete in the 92 Toronto Prospects Tournament in April of 2008. Roster to date includes 7 of the top players in the U.S, 3 Canadians, 2 from Sweden and 2 from Finland.Brent attended the fall camp of the SJHL Junior A Weyburn Red Wings coached by Dwight MacMillan. Brent is currently practicing with the team on his free days. Brent also attended the spring and fall camps of the Moose Jaw Midget AAA Warriors coached by Ray Wareham. He was selected to the team but the Benson family decided Brent would remain in Weyburn for his last Bantam year.Brent was recruited by the Notre Dame Hounds by Director of Hockey Operations Dale Derkatch and Coach Del Pedrick for the 2007-2008 season.He is ranked in The Scouting News as either the #1 or #2 player in North America. I have coached Wheatland AAA hockey for 6 years, and helped coach the Western Canadian team in Detroit last April, so have seen most of the top players in North American several times over the last few years. To this point, Brent has consistently been a dominant player in this very gifted 93 age group. His hockey ability, athletic excellence, team work, leadership, attitude, academic ability and work ethic combine to make him an all-round player of great potential.I have indepth knowledge of the top 1993 born players in western Canada.2007-2008 Grade 9 Weyburn Junior High SchoolHonour Roll Student- 94 % averageLeader and member of Student Activity CouncilVolleyball Boys’ A team and team captainCross Country Running (unable to compete in Districts or Provincials)Grade 9 ChoirTrack and FieldHOCKEYWeyburn Bantam AA Crescent Point Wings, CaptainAfter 7 games, Brent leads the South Sask Hockey League in scoring with 13 goals and 9 assists for 22 points.Moose Jaw Midget AAA Warriors, AP Weyburn Red Wings of the Junior A SJHL, Brent practices with the team2006-2007 Grade 8 Weyburn Junior High SchoolHonour Roll Student-93% averageMember of Student Activities CouncilCross-Country Running - District Gold Medal Oct. 6/07 2 km. 8:06Volleyball Boys’ A teamGrade 8 Band - Alto Sax and Grade 8 ChoirHOCKEYWeyburn AA Bantam Mission Oil Wings, Assistant Captain-Leading scorer in Regina AA Bantam Challenge Nov. 10-13-Tournament All-Star Forward, Regina AA Bantam Challenge -Final Game MVP, Regina AA Bantam Challenge -Tournament All-Star at the Saskatoon Knights Tournament, Jan 5-7, 2007South Sask Hockey League 24 games 32 goals + 33 assists = 65 pointsLeague finalist to Notre Dame, fourth in playoff scoring with 10 games, 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points behind J Weal, J Schwartz and Macek of Notre Dame. Weyburn AA Midget Encana Wings-played as a first year Bantam A.P. for 9 games 8 goals + 5 assists = 13 points , scored OT playoff winner against Caronport. Invited to play as an AP with Moose Jaw AAA Midget Warriors (declined), but practised with their team when possible-Invited to play with a western Canadian all-star team in the Czech Republic April 2007-Invited to play with the East Coast Selects, (eastern U.S. based all-star AAA team), and invited to their summer Elite Prospects Camp (top 50 North American players) at Rochester-Selected to play on Team Western Canada in Detroit at the Elite Prospects Showcase, April 20-22, 2007 -Selected to play with the STARS AND STRIPES April 27-29, an East Coast based all-star team, at the AAA Minnesota Meltdown Tournament in Minneapolis. Won Silver Medal and was leading scorer on the teamSaskatchewan Wheatland AAA Stars 2007Assistant Captain and Leading Scorer 16 Games 25 Goals + 27 Assists = 52 pointsBest in the West Tournament in Calgary/Aidrie May 11-13, 2007Toronto Prospects Tournament May 25-27, 2007 A semi-finalistsWinnipeg North American Hockey Classic June 14-17, 2007 Silver MedalistsSeason Totals 96 games 116 goals + 126 assists = 242 points 156 PIM2005-2006 Grade 7 Weyburn Junior High SchoolOutstanding Academic Achievement Award for 93% averageRunner up for overall top Grade Seven Student, General ProficiencyGrade 7 Band – Alto SaxCross-country running-District Gold MedalFootball- All-star running back, team MVP Award- - Five year Veteran Award Volleyball Boys’ B team Hockey Weyburn PeeWee AA Youngfellows , Assistant Captain and Team MVPSouth Sask. Hockey League ChampionsSask. Provincial PeeWee AA Champions South Sask. League leading scorer 20 games 64 goals + 41 assists = 106 pointsLeading Playoff Scorer 4 games 10 goals + 4 assists = 14 pointsRegina Coke Classic AA Pee Wee Tournament Champs- Tournament MVP and Tournament All-Star (1st time in the 15 year history of this tournament a player has been named to the all-star team two years in a row)Medicine Hat AA Tournament ChampionsSaskatoon Knights Tournament ChampionsCalgary Crowchild Tournament Champions, Final Game MVPSaskatchewan Wheatland AAA Stars 2006 15 wins, 2 lossesAssistant Captain and Leading Scorer 17 games 22 goals + 24 assists = 48 points The Stars were Silver Medalists at the Best in the West Challenge in Calgary and Aidrie, and were Gold Medalists at the Winnipeg Champions Cup and the North American Hockey Classic in Winnipeg.Final Game MVP at both Winnipeg tournaments-Also an invited guest with Team Stars and Stripes (an all-star team of players from New York, Detroit, and Eastern USA etc.)-Gold Medalist at the Minnesota Meltdown, and Tournament leading scorer and MVP Recruited by Shattuck St. Mary and Director of Hockey Operations J P Parise-Played with Boston AAA Icemen at the Toronto Prospects AAA Tournament A semi-finalists2005-2006 Season Totals 91games 196 goals + 175 assists = 371 points2004-2005 Grade 6 Haig Elementary SchoolHonour Role Award Above 90% AveragePhys.Ed. AwardHershey Track and Field District Gold in 400 meter, 1500 and Ball ThrowFootball Quarterback, volleyball, basketball, track, hockeyHockey:Weyburn Pee Wee Youngfellows AA Hockey TeamAssistant Captain, 2nd in league scoring South Sask. League ChampsSask PeeWee AA Provincial FinalistsRegina Coke Classic Champions, Tournament All-StarSaskatoon Knights Tournament Champions, Medicine Hat Tournament Champs,Medicine Hat 3 on 3 Tournament ChampionsSaskatchewan Wheatland AAA Hockey 17 wins, 4 losses, 1 tieAssistant Captain and Leading Scorer 22 games 18 goals + 20 assists = 36 pointsGold Medal champions at the Saskatchewan Wheatland AAA Classic, the Winnipeg Champions Cup and the North American Hockey Classic in Winnipeg Silver Medalists at the Huskies Prospect CupFinal Game MVP at both Winnipeg tournamentsAlso invited to play at the Prospect Tournament in Toronto with the Boston AAA Icemen, Gold Medalists. Played with Hohman, Krotz, M McLeod, Chevrier, MorrisAlso invited to play with Western Canadian Blackwatch at Las Vegas AAA Showcase, Gold Medalist, leading scorer in tournament, final game MVP. Other players included Hurley, Baillie, Murray, Sefton and Belter.2004-2005 Season Totals 87 games 197 goals + 157 assists = 354 points


There is no doubt Brent will hear his name called in the Top 10 and most likely Top 5 next Thursday. Stay tuned for more prospect profiles to come.

Saskatoon Blades fortunate in deep Bantam Draft

Blades fortunate in a deep draft year
By Tyler Neisz

With the Saskatoon Blades holding 2 selections in the Western Hockey Leagues Bantam Draft this season, they find themselves in an enviable position from other teams as May 1st approaches.

Many scouts are in agreement that this year’s edition of the Bantam Draft is the deepest in recent memory. The contingent is led by elite forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins from Burnaby, Ty Rattie from Airdrie, Brent Benson from Weyburn and Michael St. Croix from Winnipeg. It remains to be seen who the Red Deer Rebels will select first overall but each of the four forwards has something a bit different to offer its potential suitor.

With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins you get a player with incredible imagination and creativity with the puck and also a player who puts up points and loves to shoot. Ryan recently was named MVP at the Western Bantam Championships in Airdrie recording 10 goals and 14 points in five games collecting MVP honors along the way. Ryan plays a similar style to Jason Spezza of the Senators.

Brent Benson is perhaps the most complete player in the draft as he combines a good two-way game with an ability to hit and score. He compares his style of play to San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau. Brent scored 37 goals and 74 points in 26 league games to lead the South Sask Bantam League in scoring.



Ty Rattie is a prolific scorer who smashed the AMBHL league scoring record with a whopping 75 goals this season. He is perhaps the top pure sniper in the draft. Ty also broke the AMBHL point scoring record with 131 points. He didn’t slow down in the playoffs either scoring 12-11-23 points in 10 games, leading the league in playoff scoring. At Westerns Ty rounded out his very impressive season with 7-5-12 in just 5 games.


Rounding out the top four forwards is Winnipeg scoring star Michael St. Croix. Michael is a very smart player who is heads and shoulders the top talent coming out of Manitoba this season. Michael won the Winnipeg Bantam scoring race by 25 points over team mate Zach Franko.


The talent doesn’t end there though, if a team is looking for a franchise style defenseman, there are a couple to be had in Sherwood Parks Duncan Siemens and Red Deer defenseman Mitch Topping. With Duncan Siemens, he brings a very complete package which includes a big strong 6’2” 183lb frame and a nasty edge. Duncan is the most complete defenseman in the draft in that he includes size, strength, toughness and a good point shot. Duncan is likely to be gone by the time the Blades selection roles around.

Mitch Topping is a bit more offensive than Duncan is. Mitch has a very good shot and makes a tremendous first pass out of his zone, likely the best I’ve seen this season in the age group. Mitch captains his team in Red Deer is a great leader and definitely someone to build a franchise around. He will make for a good power play quarterback for a WHL squad in the future.

The draft is very deep this season especially in the province of Alberta. I expect between 8-10 first round selections from the province. The contingent is led by forwards Mark McNeill, Klarc Wilson, Brendan Hurley who should all be first round selections. All three players combine goal scoring and grit.

The well hasn’t gone completely dry in perennial hockey powerhouse Saskatchewan. However it is getting close. After just having 3 Saskatchewan names called out in the first round last season and just 6 in the top two rounds it doesn’t look any better this season. After Brent Benson’s name is called early on, it is quite possible that he could be the only first round Saskatchewan born selection unless Jesse Forsberg, Beau Stewart (Warman), Tyler Borstmayer (Tisdale) or Ryan Murray (Balgonie) sneak into the first round. It looks as though it will be the second consecutive sub par draft for Saskatchewan in terms of players in the top two rounds. This recent drought coming after a 2006 draft which saw 6 Saskatchewan first round selections which included Jared Cowen(1st overall), Jimmy Bubnick(5th), Carter Ashton(7th), Brayden Schenn(9th), Brett Miller(14th) and Saskatoon Blade draft pick Mitch Berg(15th).

Saskatoon born players looking to get a look this season will likely have to wait a while on draft day. The city boasts several strong defenseman led by Logan Sproule, Drew Burko and Matt Pufahl. Forward, Boston Leier who scored 47 goals this season should hear his name called as well.




It remains to be seen who the Saskatoon Blades will select on May 1st but one thing is for certain, they will have a pair of players to build around which will be cornerstones of the future for the hockey club.


As the Bantam Draft draws nearer, I will take a more in depth look at some of the top prospects including a list of the Top 100 and more. I will be posting interviews with prospects all through the summer months and immediately after the bantam draft. Stay tuned for information on the players your team selected as well.