Battlefords North Stars general manager and head coach Nate Bedford will have a brand new experience Friday in Nipawin.
That鈥檚 when he鈥檒l be taking part in his first player draft as the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League holds their bantam draft as part of the annual league meetings.聽
鈥淚鈥檝e never been part of the draft process so I鈥檓 not sure what to expect,鈥� Bedford said. 鈥淲e have a number of scouts that have helped us in the past that are with us again this year, so that makes my job a bit easier.
鈥淚 won鈥檛 be too nervous as I鈥檒l have them to show the way.鈥�
The North Stars will have five picks in the six round draft, but they won鈥檛 be able to pick a player until the third round.
Their first round pick (12th overall) was dealt to the La Ronge Ice Wolves at the trade deadline in January along with prospects Austin Shumanski, MacKenzie Donovan, Shane Hounsell and a player development fee.
Jared Blaquiere and Zach Nedelec were acquired by the North Stars as they strengthed up the roster on their way to the Canatla Cup championship.
The North Stars second round pick (24th overall) was dealt to the Weyburn Red Wings at last year鈥檚 draft for a third round pick in 2016 that originally belonged to the Melfort Mustangs.
Weyburn had orginally acquired that pick in a trade for forward Colton Adam, who has spent the last two seasons with the Assiniboia 麻豆视频ern Rebels in the Prairie Junior Hockey League and has yet to play a SJHL game.
With that third round pick, which ended up being the 31st overall selection last year, the North Stars drafted forward Aaron Toews.
The Swift Current product had 18 points in 18 games last season for the Swift Current Midget AA Hurricanes.
The North Stars will have two selections in the third round.
In addition to their own pick (36th overall), they also have the 32nd overall pick that originally belonged to the Humboldt Broncos.
That pick was acquired in January鈥檚 trade deadline along with prospect Mathew Fletcher and a player development fee in exchange for forward Brett Horn.
The North Stars will also have the final picks (48th, 60th and 72nd overall) in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have a ton of picks compared to everyone else, but we鈥檒l make sure that they are good ones,鈥� Bedford said.
When it comes to this year鈥檚 draft class, which consists of players born in 2002 that are from Saskatchewan, Bedford likes what he has seen so far.
鈥淏etween myself and a couple of our scouts, I think we鈥檝e seen pretty much every kid,鈥� Bedford said.
鈥淎lthough we don鈥檛 pick very early, there鈥檚 a large group of players around the middle of the draft that I think can help us out in the future.鈥�
Those selected Friday won鈥檛 be eligible to play in the SJHL until the 2018-19 campaign.
A total of 41 players were selected from Saskatchewan in the Western Hockey League bantam draft earlier this month, with the highest pick being Humboldt forward Kaden Kohle who was taken by the Tri-City Americans with the 12th overall pick. 聽聽
