FIVE WHL PLAYERS SELECTED IN FIRST ROUND OF 2015 NHL DRAFT
Sunrise,
Florida – Five
players from the Western Hockey League heard their named called in the first
round of the 2015 NHL Draft at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, FL on June 26,
including seventh overall pick Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings).
Ivan
Provorov of the Brandon Wheat Kings was the first WHL player selected in the
2015 NHL Draft, chosen by the Philadelphia Flyers with the seventh overall
pick. Provorov, a product of Yaroslavl, Russia, recently completed his
rookie season with the Wheat Kings after electing to play in the WHL.
A 6’0”, 200
lb defenceman, Provorov was voted the Eastern Conference Defenceman of the Year
after posting 61 points (15g-46a) in 60 games played which was also tops
amongst WHL rookie skaters. Provorov went on to put up 13 points (2g-11a) in 19
games during the 2015 WHL Playoffs. Provorov was selected by Brandon 30th
overall in the 2014 CHL Import Draft.
Forward
Jake DeBrusk of the Swift Current Broncos was the second WHL player selected
with the Boston Bruins’ 14th overall pick. DeBrusk recently
completed his second season in the WHL in which he posted 81 points (42g-39a)
and played in all 72 games. DeBrusk becomes the second-highest Broncos player
to ever be selected in the NHL Draft. The Edmonton, AB native was selected by
the Broncos 137th overall in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.
After a
trade that saw the New York Islanders acquire the 16th overall pick,
Seattle Thunderbirds forward Mathew Barzal heard his name called by the
Islanders. The first overall pick from the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft posted 57
points (12g-45a) in just 44 games during the 2014-15 WHL Regular Season. Barzal
is the 15th Thunderbird to be selected in the first round of the NHL
Draft.
Rounding
out the first round of WHL selections, Everett Silvertips defenceman Julius
Noah Juulsen was selected 26th overall by the Montreal Canadiens and
Kelowna Rockets forward Nick Merkley was selected 30th overall by
the Arizona Coyotes.
Photos:
*Please
credit Aaron Bell/CHL Images
2015 NHL
Draft, WHL Players
1st
Round
#7.
Philadelphia Flyers – Ivan Provorov; Yaroslavl, Russia; Brandon Wheat Kings
#14. Boston
Bruins – Jake DeBrusk; Edmonton, AB; Swift Current Broncos
#16. New
York Islanders – Mathew Barzal; Coquitlam, BC; Seattle Thunderbirds
#26.
Montreal Canadiens – Noah Juulsen; Abbotsford, BC; Everett Silvertips
#30.
Arizona Coyotes – Nick Merkley; Calgary, AB; Kelowna Rockets
Past WHL
– NHL Draft Results
-A total of
37 WHL players were selected in the 2014 NHL Draft, including nine in the first
round
-A total of
33 WHL players were selected in the 2013 NHL Draft, including eight in the
first round.
-A total of
32 WHL players were selected in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, including six in the
first round.
-A total of
33 WHL players were selected in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, including five in the
first round.
-A total of
43 WHL players were selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, including seven in
the first round.
-A total of
31 WHL players were selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, including five in the
first round.
-A total of
37 WHL players were selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including nine in the
first round.
-A total of
37 WHL players were selected in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, including nine in the
first round.
-A total of
24 WHL players were selected in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft
-A total of
43 WHL players were selected in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
