Former Winkler Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers, 17th overall, in Friday’s NHL Entry Draft in Philadelphia. The Elkhorn, Manitoba native played six games for the Flyers during the 2012-2013 MJHL Playoffs before moving to the Western Hockey League for the 2013-2014 season.
After finishing the 2012-2013 season with the Yellowhead Chiefs in the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League, Sanheim, who was 16 years old at the time, was called up to play for the Orange and Black during the 2012-2013 Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs. He recorded one assist in six games played and proved that a bright future was ahead of him.
Winkler acquired Travis’ playing rights in the November 2011 trade which saw the Flyers send Dylan Dock, Craig Sigvaldason and the rights to Dylan Creasy and Rhett Law to the Neepawa Natives in exchange for Ward Szucki, Tyler Swerdyliak as well as the rights to Sanheim, who was drafted third overall by the Natives that year.
Sanheim played the 2013-2014 season with the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen and quickly saw his NHL Draft stock rise throughout the season.
The Winkler Flyers organization would like to congratulate Travis and the entire Sanheim family on this amazing honor and wish him all the best as he looks to crack the Philadelphia Flyers roster in the future.