The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A Prince Albert hockey player with local connections. Joel Broda, son of Gordie and Barb Broda, was a first-round draft selection in the Western Hockey League's Bantam Draft last month. Barb's mom, Beryl James, still lives in Flin Flon, so Joel and his family visit the area frequently. Joel was selected 9th overall by the Tri-City Americans. Nine is turning out to be Joel's lucky number, as he wore that same number on his jersey last season with the Prince Albert Bantam 'AA' Busline Mintos. Joel was the co-captain of the team, accumulating 78 goals and 83 assists for 161 points in 55 games during league and tournament play. The draft, held April 29 in Calgary, determines where players born in 1989 will have a chance to suit up in the Western Hockey League for the 2005-06 season. Heading into the draft, Joel was ranked 11th overall in a list of prospects compiled by the Brandon Sun. Joel Broda led the Prince Albert Mintos in an impressive playoff run, where they eventually lost to Naicam in the Centre Four Hockey League's bantam finals. The 14-year-old centre stayed home from school on draft day to follow the proceedings on the internet . See 'Awesome' P.# Con't from P.# "I went away for a minute. I came back, and all of a sudden the whole first round was on the page," Broda told the Prince Albert Daily Herald. "I thought it was awesome. To be drafted is awesome. To be drafted in the first round made it that much more awesome." Joel will attend the Americans' training camp in August, but is not eligible to play full time for Tri-Cities until the 2005-06 season. As a 15-year-old, Broda can only play in five regular season games for the Americans. He will likely play for the Prince Albert Midget 'AAA' Mintos this coming season. The Prince Albert Raiders were also hoping to land Broda, but did not pick until the 17th spot.
