The Winkler Flyers selected Virden native Grady Lane first overall in Sunday’s Manitoba Junior Hockey League Bantam Draft. The Southwest Cougars forward was one of five players selected by the Flyers from Manitoba. Winkler added three defensemen and two forwards at the draft.
Winkler acquired the 1st Overall pick from the Waywayseecappo Wolverines in exchange for their 1st Round Pick (7th Overall) as well as their 6th Round Pick in 2018.
“We were able to select five players in our projected top 40,” said Flyers Head Scout and Assistant General Manager Craig Anderson.
“We are very happy with the players we picked and have high hopes for all of them.”
Round One – 1st Overall: F – Grady Lane (03) – Southwest Cougars Bantam AAA (Virden, MB)
6’0” – 176lbs / 42 Points (22 Goals – 20 Assists) in 35 Games Played
Scouts Comments: “Grady is a competitive kid and is hard to play against. He has the ability to make plays in small spaces and gets pucks and his body to the net. Great, unselfish teammate.”
Round Two – 18th Overall: F – Mathieu Moreira (03) – Winnipeg Sharks Bantam AAA (Winnipeg, MB)
5’9” – 157lbs / 44 Points (18 Goals – 26 Assists) in 34 Games Played
Scouts Comments: “Character kid, competes, and has the ability to score. Great leadership guy.”
Round Three – 29th Overall: D – Jace Ticknor (03) – Eastman Selects Bantam AAA (Pinawa, MB)
5’6” – 125lbs / 13 Points (2 Goals – 11 Assists) in 35 Games Played
Scouts Comments: “Right shot defenseman with a good skill set. Has a terrific shot.”
Round Four – 40th Overall: D Kaden Stewart (03) – Interlake Lightning (Warren, MB)
5’9” – 157lbs / 12 Points (5 Goals – 7 Assists) in 35 Games Played
Scouts Comments: “Puck moving defenseman that makes good decisions and plays a complete game. Will be a guy that plays quality minutes in all situations.”
Round Five – 51st Overall: D Guerin Apperley (03) – Pembina Valley Hawks Bantam AAA (Altona, MB)
6’1” – 165lbs / 13 Points (4 Goals – 9 Assists) in 36 Games Played
Scouts Comments: “Big body kid that defends well. Competes hard in his own end and is hard to play against.”
The Flyers would like to officially welcome Grady, Mathieu, Jace, Kaden and Guerin and their families to the Flyers organization. The Flyers would also like to thank our entire scouting staff for a job well done and for all their hard work throughout the year.