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Tigers draft Cole Sillinger in first round of WHL draft

May 3, 2018 | 10:10 AM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Tigers have selected an offensive weapon with the first pick of the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.

The Tigers drafted Cole Sillinger from the Okanagan Hockey Academy Bantam Prep with the 11th overall pick in the first round.

Sillinger, who is currently in Philadelphia for the World Selects Invitational Hockey Tournament, said he received the news when he was on the way to the rink for a game this morning. “I was just super happy, and tried to take it all in,” he said. “It was awesome.” Sillinger notes all members of the team he is currently playing on at the tournament were selected during the draft, noting they all celebrated their selections after the game that morning. The Regina native, recorded 83 points (46 goals, 37 assists) in 30 games with the bantam team during the regular season. He added seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) in three playoff games. “The Okanagan Hockey Academy is a perfect place for development,” he said. “They recruited a great group of guys and we all get along so well. I work well with my teammates, I had good chemistry with them all year. “Our coach put me in a lot of the pressure situations, which was good, and that just developed me, helped me improve as a player, which was good.”

The Canadian School Sport Hockey League posted the following highlight video of Sillinger Thursday morning on Twitter.

Sillinger, who is listed as standing 5’11” and weighing 165 lbs, is the son of former NHL player Mike Sillinger. Mike was drafted 11th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 1990, and played for 12 teams over 17 seasons in the league.

In the second round, the Tigers selected defenceman Dru Krebs from the Okotoks Oilers.

Krebs, who was drafted 38th overall, recorded 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists) with the Oilers in 35 games this season.

Krebs, who is listed as 5’9” and weighing 156 lbs, also played in the 2018 Alberta Cup, recording six points in five games (1 goal, 5 assists).

Third Round

The Tigers have drafted a goaltender in the third round of the WHL Draft. Liam Vanderkooi of the Yale Hockey Academy was selected 55th overall in the draft. The Abbotsford, B.C. resident, who stands 6’4”, finished the regular season with a 2.71 goals against average and a 0.914 save percentage in 17 games with the Yale Hockey Academy. The Tigers also drafted another forward in the third round, selected Jayden Davis from the Calgary NWCAA Flames. Davis had 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 32 games with the Flames this season. He also notched seven points for Team Calgary North at this year’s Alberta Cup.

Fourth Round

The Tigers added another forward during the fourth round of the draft. Ashton Ferster of the Prince Albert Pirates was selected 77th overall during the draft. During the regular season, the six foot, 145 lbs winger collected 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists) in 31 games.

Fifth Round

Rhett Parsons from Cremona, AB was selected by the Tigers in the fifth round of the draft. The 99th overall selection spent the regular season as a defenceman with the Airdrie Xtreme, where he notched eight assists in 36 games. Parsons, who stands 5 feet, 11.5 inches tall and weighs 185 lbs, also played Team Central Alberta during this year’s Alberta Cup.

Sixth Round

The Medicine Hat Tigers have made their first American selection during the sixth round of the WHL Draft.

Hayden Cox of Garland, Texas was drafted 121st overall Thursday morning.

Cox, who plays for the Dallas Stars Elite 14U team, played 12 games last season, recording 11 points. Cox is listed as five feet, 11.5 inches tall and weighing 165 lbs.

Seventh Round

Medicine Hat has added two more players following the seventh round of the draft.

The Tigers drafted forward Alex Walicki 134th overall, and picked defenceman Devin Benson 143rd overall.

Walicki, a member of the Calgary CRAA Royals this past season, collected 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists) in 35 games. The Calgary native also played for Team Calgary South during the 2018 Alberta Cup, recording five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in five games.

Benson, who calls Lac Le Jeune, BC home, spent his bantam season with the Yale Hockey Academy. In 22 games, he recorded three points (1 goal, 2 assists).

Ninth Round

The Medicine Hat Tigers made their final pick in the ninth round of the draft, selecting goaltender Owen Millward.

Millward, who calls Vacaville, California home, played 28 games with the Golden State Elite Eagles. He finished the season with a 1.92 goals against average.