By Western Hockey League

EDMONTON, Alta. — With the first overall selection in the ’09 WHL Bantam Draft the Portland Winter Hawks selected Derrick Pouliot of Weyburn, Saskatchewan.

Pouliot played for Weyburn in the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League last season. In 26 regular season games Pouliot registered 25 goals and a team-high 38 assists for 63 total points, second on his team and sixth in the league. In five playoff games, Pouliot added a team-high five goals and an assist for a team-high six points.

“In all of our meetings Derrick was the consensus number one pick, it’s why we stayed with our pick. We’re excited to get a defenseman who can handle the puck, move the puck and skate like he does,” said Portland Winter Hawks General Manager and Head Coach Mike Johnston. “Derrick will be a great addition to the young core of defensemen we’re assembling with the Portland Winter Hawks.”

Pouliot was named the tournament MVP in the Bantam AA Challenge Tournament in Regina, Saskatchewan in November. In addition, at the Western Canadian Bantam Championships in Weyburn, Pouliot was named to the tournament all-star team, and was the recipient of the tournament’s top defenseman award.

This marks the second time the Winter Hawks have held the first overall pick in the WHL’s Bantam Draft since 1990. The previous occasion, in 2000, the team selected another defenseman, Braydon Coburn, now playing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL.

A total of 233 players were selected in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft with Alberta leading the way havin 74 players selected, British Columbia was second with 56 picks, Saskatchewan was close behind with 45, followed by Manitoba’s 34 and then rounded out with 24 players selected from the United States.

2009 WHL Bantam Draft
Selections in Thursday’s WHL bantam draft of 1994-born players (with position and hometown):

1st Round

1. Portland, Derrick Pouliot, D, Weyburn, SK; 2. Moose Jaw, Morgan Rielly, D, W. Vancouver, B.C.; 3. Edmonton (from Chilliwack), Griffin Reinhart, D, W. Vancouver, B.C.; 4. Red Deer, Matt Dumba, D, Calgary, AB; 5. Regina, Chandler Stephenson, C, Saskatoon, SK; 6. Prince Albert, Mike Winther, C, Trochu, AB; 7. Tri-City (from Prince George), Connor Rankin, C, N. Vancouver, B.C.; 8. Everett, Nicolas Walters, D, St. Albert, AB; 9. Chilliwack (from Edmonton), Stephen Hodges, C, South Delta, B.C.; 10. Kamloops, Brady Gaudet, D, Redvers, SK; 11. Everett (from Lethbridge), Seth Jones, D, Dallas, TX; 12. Seattle, Brandon Troock, RW, Edmonton, AB; 13. Kootenay, Colby Cave, C, N. Battleford, SK; 14. Medicine Hat, Hunter Shinkaruk, C, Calgary, AB; 15. Swift Current, Evan Richardson, C, Nanaimo, B.C.; 16. Spokane, Reid Gow, D, Killarney, MB; 17. Kelowna, Jason Siebert, RW, Abbotsford, B.C.; 18. Brandon, Eric Roy, D, Beauval, SK; 19. Prince George (from Tri-City), Joshua Smith, D, Rimbey, AB; 20. Saskatoon, Ryan Olsen, C, Delta, B.C.; 21. Vancouver, Dalton Sward, C, Abbotsford, B.C.; 22. Calgary, Chase Clayton, C, Abbotsford, B.C.

2nd Round

23. Moose Jaw, Andrew Johnson, C, Saskatoon, SK; 24. Portland, Taylor Leier, RW, Saskatoon, SK; 25. Chilliwack, Kade Pilton, D, Parksville, B.C.; 26. Prince George, Troy Bourke, C, Spruce Grove, AB; 27. Red Deer, Mason Burr, RW, Airdrie, AB; 28. Regina, Taylor Balog, LW, Weyburn, SK; 29. Everett, Jari Erricson, C, Prince George, B.C.; 30. Edmonton, Mitchell Moroz, LW, Calgary, AB; 31. Prince Albert, Shayne Danyluk, C, Salmon Arm, B.C.; 32. Kamloops, Logan McVeigh, C, Kenaston, SK; 33. Lethbridge, Ryley Bennefield, C, Leduc, AB; 34. Seattle, Justin Hickman, C, Kelowna, B.C.; 35. Kootenay, Matt Benning, D, St. Albert, AB; 36. Medicine Hat, Dawson Macauley, G, Prince Albert, SK; 37. Swift Current, Shea Howorko, LW, Regina, SK; 38. Spokane, Connor Chartier, RW, Calgary, AB; 39. Kelowna, Colton Heffley, C, Swift Current, SK; 40. Brandon, Dylan Kuczek, D, Winnipeg, MB; 41. Tri-City, Marcus Messier, C, Canmore, AB; 42. Saskatoon, Levi Bews, RW, Longview, AB; 43. Vancouver, Mathieu Bellerive, RW, N. Vancouver, B.C.; 44. Moose Jaw (from Calgary), Shayne Gwinner, D, Drumheller, AB.

3rd Round

45. Kamloops (from Moose Jaw), Troy Trombley, G, Sherwood Park, AB; 46. Prince George (from Portland), Dane Phaneuf, D, Edmonton, AB; 47. Lethbridge (from Chilliwack), Samuel McKechnie, C, Airdrie, AB; 48. Chilliwack (from Prince George), Brett Cote, D, Oakbank, MB; 49. Brandon (from Red Deer), Dakota Conroy, LW, Edmonton, AB; 50. Regina, Landon Peel, D, Virden, MB; 51. Prince Albert (from Everett), Connor Sutton, D, Calgary, AB; 52. Edmonton, Morgan Zulinick, C, Kamloops, B.C.; 53. Kelowna (from Prince Albert), Cole Martin, D, Arlington, TX; 54. Kamloops, Landon Cross, D, Brandon, MB; 55. Lethbridge, Adam Henry, D, Winnipeg, MB; 56. Seattle, Jetlan Houcher, LW, Winnipeg, MB; 57. Kootenay, MacKenzie Skapski, G, Abbotsford, B.C.; 58. Medicine Hat, Jayden Hart, C, Spruce Grove, AB; 59. Portland (from Swift Current), Reece Wilcox, D, Surrey, B.C.; 60. Saskatoon (from Spokane), Tommy Stipancik, D, Vancouver, B.C.; 61. Kelowna, Ryan Berlin, LW, Edmonton, AB; 62. Kamloops (from Brandon), Brandon Morley, C, Burnaby, B.C.; 63. Tri-City, Riley Guenther, D, Calgary, AB; 64. Everett (from Saskatoon), Kohl Bauml, C, Saskatoon, SK; 65. Vancouver, Blake Orban, D, Calgary, AB; 66. Calgary, Keaton Lubin, D, Okotoks, AB.

4th Round

67. Moose Jaw, Matthieu Vigier, RW, Notre Dame, MB; 68. Portland, A.J. Michaelson, C, Apple Valley, MN; 69. Prince George (from Chilliwack), Peter Quenneville, C, Edmonton, AB; 70. Spokane (from Prince George), T.J. Reeve, RW, Grenfell, SK; 71. Red Deer, Joel Hamilton, LW, Cochrane, AB; 72. Prince Albert (from Regina), Brent Lashuk, LW, Winfield, B.C.; 73. Brandon (from Everett), Tyrel Seaman, LW, Choiceland, SK; 74. Edmonton, Matthew Miller, D, Winnipeg, MB; 75. Prince Albert, Sawyer Lange, D, Prince Albert, SK; 76. Moose Jaw (from Kamloops), Travis Brown, D, Winnipeg, MB; 77. Lethbridge, Jaimen Yakubowski, LW, Dalmeny, SK; 78. Prince Albert (from Seattle), Brenden Fiebelkorn, G, Winnipeg, MB; 79. Kootenay, Jeff Hubic, D, Regina, SK; 80. Tri-City (from Medicine Hat), Chris Driedger, G, Winnipeg, MB; 81. Swift Current, Sutton Olsen, C, Deloraine, MB; 82. Spokane, Brennan Rooney, D, Edmonton, AB; 83. Kelowna, Bradon Seyl, D, Revelstoke, B.C.; 84. Chilliwack (from Brandon), Brandon Magee, C, Edmonton, AB; 85. Tri-City, Wyatt Garagan, C, Estevan, SK; 86. Saskatoon, Adam Todd, G, Courtenay, B.C.; 87. Kamloops (from Vancouver), Brenden Enns, D, Quathiaski Cove, B.C.; 88. Calgary, Brodie Burdeny, G, Richmond, B.C.

5th Round

89. Moose Jaw, Brayden Cuthbert, C, Brandon, MB; 90. Saskatoon (from Vancouver/Portland), Brett Stovin, RW, Stony Mountain, MB; 91. Chilliwack, Zane Jones, LW, Olds, AB; 92. Kelowna (from Prince George), Austin Plevy, C, Langley, B.C.; 93. Red Deer, Marc McCoy, C, Edmonton, AB; 94. Regina, Mason Logan, D, Gull Lake, SK; 95. Everett, Andy Desautels, G, Regina, SK; 96. Tristan Sieben, C, Edmonton, AB; 97. Medicine Hat (from Prince Albert), Luke Johnson, C, Grand Forks, ND; 98. Kamloops, Chase Souto, RW, Yorba Linda, CA; 99. Spokane (from Lethbridge), Jarrid Hauptman, RW, Morinville, AB; 100. Seattle, Jayson Ness, RW, Drayton Valley, AB; 101. Kootenay, Kurt Johnas, RW, Winnipeg, MB; 102. Tri-City (from Medicine Hat), Justin Hamonic, D, Winnipeg, MB; 103. Lethbridge (from Swift Current), Mitchell Guiel, RW, Langley, B.C.; 104. Calgary (from Spokane), Jared Potter, D, Drumheller, AB; 105. Kelowna, Tyrell Goulbourne, LW, Edmonton, AB; 106. Brandon, Carter Proft, LW, Spruce Grove, AB; 107. Tri-City, Tyler Kunz, D, Whitecourt, AB; 108. Saskatoon, Mike Statchuk, D,Wadena, SK; 109. Vancouver, Scott Cooke, RW, Surrey, B.C.; Calgary, Hayden Dawes, RW, Stony Plain, AB.

6th Round

111. Lethbridge (from Moose Jaw), Braxton Bilous, D, Langley, B.C.; 112. Portland, Brendan Leipsic, LW, Winnipeg, MB; 113. Moose Jaw (from Chilliwack), Jesse Gartland, D, Stony Plain, AB; 114. Prince George, Devon Fordyce, G, Cochrane, AB; 115. Spokane (from Red Deer), David Readman, G, Dawson Creek, B.C.; 116. Red Deer (from Regina), Lucas Grayson, D, Port Hardy, B.C.; 117. Everett, Jordyn Boyd, LW, Winnipeg, MB; 118. Edmonton, Cody Pettpiece, D, Saskatoon, SK; 119. Prince Albert, Allan Kilback, C, Emerald Park, SK; 120. Kamloops, Mitchell Schwark, LW, Saskatoon, SK; 121. Lethbridge, Russell Maxwell, C, Magrath, AB; 122. Seattle, Evan Wardley, D, Vulcan, AB; 123. Kootenay, Mike Simpson, D, Semiahmoo, B.C.; 124. Prince Albert (from Medicine Hat), Brendan Kennedy, D, Terrace, B.C.; 125. Swift Current, Matthew Allen, D, Coquitlam, B.C.; 126. Spokane, Cole Wedman, D, Edmonton, AB; 127. Swift Current (from Kelowna), Arthur Gordon, LW, Edmonton, AB; 128. Brandon, Brendan Harms, C, Steinbach, MB; 129. Tri-City, Joel Steve, LW, Milestone, SK; 130. Saskatoon, Stefan Burzan, C, Surrey, B.C.; 131. Red Deer (from Vancouver), Chase McMurphy, RW, Chestermere, AB; 132. Calgary, Kenton Helgesen, LW, Fairview, AB.

7th Round

133.Moose Jaw, Colin Baudry, RW, La Broquerie, MB; 134. Portland, Brayden Low, C, Richmond, B.C.; 135. Chilliwack, Turner Popoff, D, Richmond, B.C.; 136. Brandon (from Prince George), Ryan Pulock, C, Grandview, MB; 137. Red Deer, Davin Stener, D, Ft. Saskatchewan, AB; 138. Regina, Ryan Leonzio, D, La Salle, MB; 139. Everett, Darian Henry, D, Strathmore, AB; 140. Red Deer (from Edmonton), Bolton Pouliot, G, Calgary, AB; 141. Kelowna (from Prince Albert), Tanner Moar, D, Canwood, SK; 142. Vancouver (from Kamloops), Landon Robin, C, Saskatoon, SK; 143. Chilliwack (from Lethbridge), Matt Bissett, C, Ridge Meadows, B.C.; 144. Seattle, Johnny Dora, D, Erie, CO; 145. Edmonton (from Kootenay), Wade Moyls, G, Kamloops, B.C.; 146. Medicine Hat, Kyle Becker, D, Langley, B.C.; 147. Swift Current, Ashton McLeod, D, Claresholm, AB; 148. Spokane, Anthony Paskaruk, C, Airdrie, AB; 149. Portland (from Kelowna), Troy Stetcher, D, Richmond, B.C.; 150. Kamloops (from Brandon), Travis Blanleil, LW, Kelowna, B.C.; 151. Tri-City, Matt Lloyd, D, Aldergrove, B.C.; 152. Vancouver (from Saskatoon), Matias Cleland, D, Longmont, CO; 153. Vancouver, Dennis Kravchenko, San Clemente, CA; 154. Moose Jaw (from Calgary), Tanner Eberle, C, Regina, SK.

8th Round

155. Calgary (from Moose Jaw), Robert Trzonkowski, RW, Calgary, AB; 156. Portland, Josh Hanson, D, Anchorage, AK; 157. Chilliwack, Brendan Dusik, D, Oak Bluff, MB; 158. Prince George, Carter Rigby, LW, Penticton, B.C.; 159. Red Deer, Brooks Maxwell, C, Raymond, AB; 160. Regina, Jack Rodewald, LW, Winnipeg, MB; 161. Everett, Josh Racek, LW, Colorado Springs, CO; 162. Edmonton, Ashton Sautner, D, Wolseley, SK; 163. Prince Albert, Justin Lund, RW, Langham, SK; 164. Kamloops, Jeffrey Ness, D, Humbolt, SK; 165. Lethbridge, Mason Blacklock, C Whiterock, B.C.; 166. Seattle, Jared D’Amico, G, Chestermere, AB; 167. Kootenay, Jared Iron, C, Canoe Narrows, SK; 168. Medicine Hat, Mark Foster, D, Tisdale, SK; 169. Swift Current, Michael Fredrick, G, Lethbridge, AB; 170. Spokane, David Pope, LW, Edmonton, AB; 171. Kelowna, Nicolas Kerdiles, LW, Irvine, CA; 172. Brandon, Daniel Asham, C, Winnipeg, MB; 173. Tri-City, Dylan Fluter, C, Saskatoon, SK; 174. Saskatoon, Devan Fafard, D, Carlyle, SK; 175. Swift Current (from Vancouver), Colten Cassidy, D, Leduc, AB; 176. Calgary, Calder Brooks, C, Emerald Park, SK.

9th Round

177. Calgary (from Moose Jaw), Clay Carson, C, Victoria, B.C.; 178. Portland, Adam Smith, C, Nanaimo, B.C.; 179. Chilliwack, Austin Carroll, C, Scottsdale, AZ; 180. Prince George, Sam Johnson, C, Okotoks, AB; 181. Red Deer, Nikolas Olsson, LW, Escondido, CA; 182. Regina, Garrett Lockeridge, RW, Regina, SK; 183, Everett, Dale Nerland, D, Okotoks, AB; 184. Edmonton, Bowen Croft, RW, Sherwood, Park; 185. Prince Albert, Gavin Stoik, RW, Littleton, CO; 186. Spokane (from Kamloops), Chris Buchanan, D, San Jose, CA; 187. Medicine Hat (from Lethbridge), Austin Ho, D, Chino Hill, CA; 188. Seattle, Kyle Horsman, LW, Sechelt, B.C.; 189. Kootenay, Mitchell Fyffe, RW, New Westminster, B.C.; 190. Medicine Hat, Connor Garden, C, Calgary, AB; 191. Prince George (from Swift Current), Dustin Cave, D, Calgary, AB; 192. Kelowna (from Spokane), Damon Severson, D, Melville, SK; 193. Kelowna, Sean MacTavish, RW, Edmonton, AB; 194. Brandon, Tanner Jago, D, Brandon, MB; 195. Tri-City, Justin Klimek, D, Langley, B.C.; 196. Saskatoon, Hudson Morrison, RW, Brandon, MB; 197. Vancouver, Brett Kulak, D, Stony Plain, AB; 198. Calgary, Jordan Greig, D, Souris, MB.

10th Round

199. Chilliwack (from Moose Jaw), Regan Santoro, G, Saskatoon, SK; 200. Portland, Adam De Champlain, C, Sherwood Park, AB; 201. Chilliwack, Quentin Shore, C, Denver, CO; 202. Medicine Hat (from Prince George), Nicholas Anderson, LW, San Jose, CA; 203. Red Deer, Tyler Bateman, C, Kelowna, B.C.; 204. Regina, Jesse Roden, D, Saskatoon, SK; 205. Everett, Rhys Gilbert, LW, N. Vancouver, B.C.; 206. Edmonton, Anthony Borri, LW, Coquitlam, B.C.; 207. Edmonton (from Prince Albert), Darren Kramer, LW, Peace River, AB; 208. Regina (from Kamloops), Darrin Robinson, G, Aurora, CO; 209. Saskatoon (from Kamloops/Vancouver), Brodyn Nielsen, C, Garibaldi Highlands, B.C.; 210. Vancouver (from Seattle), Luke McColgan, C, Manhattan Beach, CA; 211. Kootenay, Steven Myland, G, Surrey, B.C.; 212. Medicine Hat, PASS; 213. Prince George (from Swift Current), Yankik Tetreault, C, Winnipeg, MB; 214. Prince George (from Spokane), Drew Newmeyer, D, Scottsdale, AZ; 215. Spokane (from Kelowna), Dillon Bogart, LW, Spokane, WA; 216. Brandon, Lyrik Friesen, RW, Winnipeg, MB; 217. Tri-City, Brandon Halbgewachs, C, Emerald Park, SK; 218. Saskatoon, Tyler Santos, G, Sherwood Park, AB; 219. Vancouver, Carter Coben, LW, Saskatoon, SK; 220. Calgary, PASS.

11th Round

221. Moose Jaw, PASS; 222. Portland, Jake Montgomery, LW, Oakdale, MN; 223. Chilliwack, PASS; 224. Prince George, Kolten Anderson, LW, Lloydminster, AB; 225. Red Deer, PASS; 226. Regina, Sean Whelan, D, Moose Jaw, SK; 227. Everett, Mark Valtr, G, Edmonton, AB; 228. Edmonton, PASS; 229. Prince Albert, PASS; 230. Kamloops, PASS; 231. Portland, PASS; 232. Seattle, Patrick D’Amico, RW, Winnipeg, MB; 233. Kootenay, PASS; 234. Medicine Hat, PASS; 235. Swift Current, PASS; 236. Spokane, PASS; 237. Kelowna, PASS; 238. Brandon, Jordan Dracojevic, RW, Winnipeg, MB; 239. Tri-City, Matthew Hughesman, RW, Winnipeg, MB; 240. Saskatoon, Turner Lawson, C, Kelowna, B.C.; 241. Vancouver, PASS; 242. Calgary, PASS.

12th Round

248. Regina, Tyler Mueller, D, Regina, SK; 253. Lethbridge, Harrison Harper, D, Calgary, AB; 254. Seattle, Alex Kerfoot, C, W. Vancouver, B.C.; 261. Tri-City, Zane Schartz, C, Plano, TX.

13th Round

275. Lethbridge, Valik Chichikin, D, Burnaby, B.C.; 276. Seattle, Dan Kowalski, G, Centennial, CO.

14th Round

298. Seattle, Jordan Houghton, D, Sherwood Park, AB.