Post by David on May 4, 2017 21:15:19 GMT -8
5.4.17 -
CALGARY, AB - Holding the 6th overall pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, the Spokane Chiefs began their draft with the selection of F Jack Finley.
The Bantam Draft, which was conducted on Thursday in Calgary, Alberta, consists of players who were born in 2002 and played for midget hockey leagues in eligible Canadian provinces and American states. All 22 WHL clubs were able to participate in adding young blood to their organizations to not only improve their club's fortunes, but to elevate the players to their ultimate goal: professional hockey, specifically the NHL.
The selection of Finley at #6 marked the 14th time in the Chiefs' 30+ seasons that it held Top 10 pick in the Bantam Draft. Last season, the Chiefs held the 8th overall pick and selected LW Luke Toporowski.
Standing at 6'3'' and 184 lbs, Finley is what the Chiefs describe as the definition of "power forward." The scouting report of Finley describes him as a right shooting forward with a big body and with "a scoring touch and offensive instincts."
According to Chris Moulton, the Chiefs' Assistant General Manager of Hockey Operations, Finley plays "hard and smart and produces." He also described Finley that has invaluable skills to play in any situation, making it easy to not pass on him.
F Jack Finley (image credit: Jack Finley / Twitter)
The 14-year-old native from Kelowna, B.C. spent the 2016-17 season with the Pursuit of Excellence Bantam Prep team, which is part of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). In 27 games, Finley scored 23 goals, notched 25 assists, and accumulated 48 total on-ice points. During the John Reid Memorial Tournament, he recorded 1 goal and 5 assists. The POE finished the season as champions of the CSSHL.
Hockey runs in the Finley family; his father, Jeff, was a Defenceman who played his junior hockey career with the Portland Winter Hawks. He was selected in 3rd Round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. He would play in 708 games from 1987-2006, playing with the Islanders (1987-1992), Philadelphia Flyers (1993-1994), Winnipeg Jets (1994-1995), Phoenix Coyotes (1995-1996), New York Rangers (1997-1999) and St. Louis Blues (1999-2004). He finished his career with 13 goals, 70 assists and 83 total points.
Including Finley, Spokane made a total of 11 selections in the 2017 Bantam Draft. In all, the Chiefs selected 5 Forwards, 5 Defencemen, and 1 Goaltender. The complete draft results are as follows:
1st Round
(6th Overall) Jack Finley; F, 6'3'', 184 lbs - Kelowna, BC (Pursuit of Excellence Bantam Prep)
2016-17 stats: 27 games, 23 goals, 25 assists, 48 points
PLAYOFFS: 5 games, 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points
2nd Round
(28th Overall) Campbell Arnold; G, 5'11'', 155 lbs - Nanaimo, BC (Shawnigan Lake School Bantam Prep)
2016-17 stats: 17 games, 4.40 GAA, .877 SV%, 3 shutouts
3rd Round
(50th Overall) Mac Gross; D, 6'1 1/2'', 160 lbs - Swift Current, SK (Swift current Raiders Bantam AA)
2016-17 stats: 19 games, 7 goals, 12 assists, 19 points.
- PLAYOFFS: 13 games, 2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points
4th Round
(80th Overall) Zac Robins; D, 5'9 1/2'', 160 lbs - Yorkton, SK (Weyburn Wings Bantam AA)
2016-17 stats: 26 games, 8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points
- PLAYOFFS: 5 games, 2 goals, 2 points
5th Round
(94th Overall) Erik Atchison; F, 5'10'', 174 lbs - Las Vegas, NV (Arizona Bobcats 14U)
2016-17 stats: 60 games, 40 goals, 26 assists, 66 points, 81 Penalty Minutes
6th Round
(115th Overall) Reed Jacobson; F, 5'7 1/2'', 151 lbs - Swift Current, SK (Swift Current Broncos Bantam AA)
2016-17 stats: 29 games, 39 goals, 31 assists, 70 points, 41 penalty minutes
- PLAYOFFS: 9 games, 9 goals, 5 assists, 14 points
(116th Overall) Alex Von Sprecken; D, 5'9'', 165 lbs - Estevan, SK (Notre Dame Hounds Bantam Prep)
2016-17 stats: 30 games, 3 assists, 3 points, 42 penalty minutes
- PLAYOFFS: 6 games, 6 penalty minutes
(119th Overall) Ryan Popowich; F, 5'10'', 170 lbs - Surrey, BC (Okanagan Hockey Academy Bantam Prep)
2016-17 stats: 26 games, 6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points, 100 penalty minutes
- PLAYOFFS: 2 games, 1 goal, 1 point, 4 penalty minutes
7th Round
(138th Overall) Hendrik de Klerk; D, 5'6 1/2'', 135 lbs - Swift Current, SK (Swift Current Broncos Bantam AA)
2016-17 stats: 30 games, 7 goals, 30 assists, 37 points
- PLAYOFFS: 10 games, 4 assists, 4 points
8th Round
(160th Overall) Hunter Hastings; F, 5'11', 185 lbs - Scottsdale, AZ (Arizona Bobcats 14U)
2016-17 stats: Stats Unavailable
9th Round
(179th Overall) Kurt Hoogendoorn; D, 6'0'', 178 lbs - North Vancouver, BC (Vancouver NW Giants)
2016-17 stats: 3 games
- DKH
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