Skip to content

Bomber bantam prospects make regional tournament roster

All four of the Flin Flon Bombers’ 2019 bantam draft picks have made the 22 player shortlist for the upcoming WHL Cup.
hockey

All four of the Flin Flon Bombers’ 2019 bantam draft picks have made the 22 player shortlist for the upcoming WHL Cup. 

Goaltender Max Hildebrand, forward Kylynn Olafson and defenders Kalem Parker and Cole Tanchuk were each named to the shortlist for Team Saskatchewan, one of four provincial teams in the upcoming regional tournament. 

In total, 12 forwards, seven defencemen and three goalies were named to the preliminary roster. 

Olafson was the team’s first choice in this year’s draft, going sixth overall. Olafson suited up for the Humboldt bantam AA Broncos last year, serving as team captain and leading the team in scoring with 36 points in 26 games. 

Tanchuk was selected in the second round and played last season with the Prince Albert bantam AA Pirates, suiting up for a game with the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos. The Prince Albert native led his team in total assists and scoring by a defenceman, finishing with 34 points and 25 assists in 30 games. 

Originally from Clavet, Sask., Parker put up 36 points in 30 games with the provincial bantam AA champion Martensville Marauders, serving as the team’s top offensive defenceman. 

Hildebrand, selected by the Bombers in the fourth round with the 43rd overall pick, is one of three goalies on the Saskatchewan roster. The 15-year-old ‘keeper played last season with Parker on the Martensville Marauders, earning 14 wins in 16 games played and a clean 7-0 sweep in the playoffs en route to a provincial title. 

Hildebrand is the son of former Bomber staff member and current Saskatoon Blades assistant general manager Steve Hildebrand. 

Roster shortlists for other provinces, including Canada, have not yet been released. All four players were also selected in this year’s WHL Bantam Draft. 

Out of the four-player crew, Parker was selected first, going in the second round, 32nd overall, to the Victoria Royals. Tanchuk went to the Seattle Thunderbirds at 92nd overall, while Olafson was picked by the Edmonton Oil Kings 150th overall. Hildebrand went 286th overall to the Prince Albert Raiders, going in round 13. 

The WHL Cup tournament will take place from Oct. 22-27 in Calgary.

 

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks