Justin Lies has made some Flin Flon hockey history – but not technically on the ice.
The 14-year-old forward was selected in the third round of the May 3 WHL Bantam Draft, being picked 56th overall by the Vancouver Giants.
“I was shocked and super excited, happy…just, everything,” said Lies.
Lies is the first Flin Flon-born and trained player to be picked in the draft since 2005, when Ryan Fox was picked by the Calgary Hitmen in the seventh round.
Lies was hopeful he’d be selected, but how early he went in the draft came as a surprise to him.
“I was expecting to get picked. I was hoping I’d go high, but I didn’t know for sure. I was happy,” he said.
In 35 games with the Norman Bantam AAA Wolves this season, Lies led his team in goal scoring with 39 tallies, finishing with 62 total points. Lies also served as the team’s captain.
One of Lies’ teammates on the Wolves, The Pas product Chase Bertholet, was also picked in the WHL draft. Bertholet is now the property of the Red Deer Rebels, who picked him in the fifth round, 94th overall.
When asked if Lies would be giving his teammate some friendly teasing for being picked later, he shrugged it off.
“Nah. It’s not a big deal. We both got picked,” he said.
Lies also suited up for Team North at last winter’s Manitoba Winter Games in Thompson, where he racked up four assists in five games, earning a bronze medal.
While the selection is a big step, Lies’ season isn’t over yet. The young forward took part in an evaluation camp last weekend for the Rink Hockey Academy, a major hockey prep program based in Winnipeg. Lies will also try out for the under-16 Team Manitoba squad for next winter’s Canada Winter Games.
“This was the plan all along. For this to happen, it helped reinforce what I hope to do in the future,” said Lies.
