2021 WHL DRAFT RECAP
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2021
Saanichton, B.C. - The BCEHL saw 10 players selected in the 2021 Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft on Thursday, including Ollie Josephson of the South Island Royals who was chosen 5th overall.
Ollie Josephson (5th-overall, U18 AAA South Island Royals)Ollie Josephson became the first BCEHL player selected in the 2021 WHL Draft after the Red Deer Rebels chose the forward with the 5th overall pick. Josephson is an integral part of the BCEHL’s U18 AAA South Island Royals, notching six goals and nine assists in just 10 games with the team this season.
Outside of the BCEHL, Josephson was a key piece on the Team BC squad that claimed the gold medal at the 2021 WHL Cup in October, scoring four goals and three assists in the five-game tournament in Red Deer. This season Josephson also made his BCHL debut with the Victoria Grizzlies, suiting up for five games, and scoring one goal.
Matthew Hutchison (50th-overall, U18 AAA North Island Silvertips)
Matthew Hutchison became the BCEHL’s first goaltender selected in the 2021 WHL Draft when the Vancouver Giants picked the North Island Silvertip with the 50th overall selection. Hutchison has been an integral piece for the U18 AAA North Island Silvertips this season, appearing in eight of his team's 18 games this year as a 15-year-old.
This season Hutchison has also spent time tending the crease for the BCHL’s Cowichan Capitals, where he has laced-up the skates for two games, securing his first BCHL win along the way.
Dryden Kuramoto (124th-overall, U18 AAA Vancouver NE Chiefs)
Dryden Kuramoto became the third BCEHL player selected in the 2021 WHL Draft after the Calgary Hitmen picked the forward with the 124th pick. Kuramoto has been an important player for the Vancouver NE Chiefs this season, scoring eight goals and adding eight assists in 14 games.
Kuramoto was also a key member of Team BC’s gold medal victory at the 2021 WHL Cup which saw him score three goals and add an assist in the five-game tournament.
Tyson Matthews (128th-overall, U17 AAA Okanagan Rockets)
Tyson Matthews became the first BCEHL defender to be drafted in the 2021 WHL Draft after he was selected by the Prince George Cougars with the 128th pick. Matthews is a huge presence on the Rockets’ blue line, towering at 6’2” and weighing in at 180 pounds.
Nishaan Parmar (148th-overall, U17 AAA Valley West Giants)
Nishaan Parmar became the fifth BCEHL selection in the 2021 WHL Draft when the Seattle Thunderbirds chose the forward with the 148th selection. Parmar is having a fantastic season with the U17 AAA Valley West Giants, scoring 15 goals and 16 assists in 18 games this year. He currently sits second in league scoring.
Kaslo Ferner (151st-overall, U18 AAA Okanagan Rockets)
The Regina Pats selected forward Kaslo Ferner with the 151st selection in the 2021 WHL Draft. Ferner has been an important part of the Okanagan Rockets team this season, chipping in with four goals and two asssits in 10 games so far.
Brogan Pilgaard-Kennedy (153rd-overall, U17 AAA Greater Vancouver Canadians)
Brogan Pilgaard-Kennedy was selected 153rd overall by the Kamloops Blazers. Pilgaard-Kennedy is a hard-working forward who has notched six goals and eight assists this season for the Greater Vancouver Canadians.
Miles Burgin (155th-overall, U18 AAA Valley West Giants)
The Edmonton Oil Kings drafted Valley West Giant’s Miles Burgin with the 155th pick in Thursday’s WHL draft. The forward has made a huge impact with the Giants this season, sitting as his team’s joint leading point scorer with 20 points.
Liam Hoff (176th-overall, U17 AAA Vancouver NW Hawks)
Liam Hoff has had an impressive season with the Vancouver NW Hawks this year, sitting in a tie for fifth-place in league scoring and the league's top-scoring defender. The Edmonton Oil Kings were impressed enough to take him with the 176th selection.
Jamie Hikida (257th-overall, U18 AAA Greater Vancouver Canadians)
Jamie Hikida became the tenth BCEHL player selected in the 2021 WHL Draft when the Portland Winterhawks picked him with the 257th overall pick. The forward has tallied 12 points so far this season.
As always, if you can’t make it out the games you can stream all BCEHL games live at: www.playfullscreen.com.
To stay up to date on everything going on in the BCEHL visit the website to view schedules, standings, stats, and scores: https://bchockey.net/Leagues/Default.aspx, follow @BCEHL on Twitter, @BCEHL_AAA on Instagram, and join the conversation by using #BCEHLAAAHOCKEY.