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By Scott Roblin

American Additions

Tigers nab netminder Vatis, defender Gapter in U.S. Priority Draft

Dec 8, 2021 | 11:07 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers added to their prospect pool with two additions on Wednesday, wrapping up the 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.

Holding the 20th and 25th overall picks, Medicine Hat opted to shore up defensively selecting goaltender Ben Vatis and blueliner Kolby Gapter from the 2006-born age group.

Vatis was the first goalie taken off the board in Wednesday’s draft, coming to the Tigers from the Phoenix Jr. U15 AAA Coyotes program.

Playing in six games with Coyotes this season, Vatis has posted a 3.50 goals against average and an .884 save percentage.

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Five picks later, the Tabbies opted for Gapter who has played in four games with the Rocky Mountain U15 Roughriders out of Colorado.

Gapter has just four games played in the 2021-22 season with the Roughriders, but has put up two goals and four points over that span.

The pair join forwards Oliver Moore and Josh Erickson, who were selected by Medicine Hat in last year’s WHL U.S. Priority Draft.

Shattuck-St. Mary’s U18 star Macklin Celebrini was the top pick in this year’s U.S. Priority Draft by the Seattle Thunderbirds after posting 20 goals and 42 points in 23 games so far this season.

The Tigers are back on the clock with the eighth overall pick on Thursday morning for the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, which was postponed to December from the spring earlier this year.

Medicine Hat will also be looking to snap their 15-game losing streak on Wednesday night, visiting the Regina Pats at 6:00 pm MST which you can catch on CHAT 94.5.