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UPDATE: Pair of Semiahmoo Hockey alums picked in top 10 at WHL draft

Jordan Gavin (2nd) and Tomas Mrsic (8th) among seven Semiahmoo alums chosen
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Two former Semiahmoo Minor Hockey players have been selected in the top 10 of the Western Hockey League’s Prospects Draft. (Contributed images)

A pair of Semiahmoo Minor Hockey alums were selected among the top 10 picks in the Western Hockey League’s prospects draft Thursday – but they were far from the only local players to see their names added to the draft board before day’s end.

Jordan Gavin was selected second overall by the Kennewick, Wash.-based Tri-City Americans, while his teammate, Tomas Mrsic, was drafted six spots later, going eighth overall to the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Both players now play at the Delta Hockey Academy, and prior to that, they were members of Semiahmoo’s peewee A1 team that won a provincial championship in 2019.

In total, seven players with links to Semiahmoo Minor Hockey were drafted Thursday: Chase Valliant, now at the Yale Hockey Academy, was selected in the third round by the Calgary Hitmen; defenceman Linden Burrett, also with the Delta Hockey Academy, was picked in the fifth round by the Vancouver Giants; Burnaby Winter Club’s Cameron Sytsma went in the fifth round to the Everett Silvertips; Valley West Hawks U18 AAA’s Miles Burgin of was selected in the seventh round by the Edmonton Oil Kings; and in the eighth round, the Giants selected forward McCarthy Richardson, a Semi alum now with the Yale Academy.

Othe Surrey draftees included E.J. Emery (Saskatoon Blades, third round) and Nishaan Parmar (Seattle Thunderbirds, seventh round).

In total, 12 members of Delta Hockey Academy’s U17 team were drafted. In addition to Gavin and Mrsic, two others were selected in the first round – Miguel Marques (Lethbridge Hurricanes) and Colton Roberts (Vancouver Giants), were picked 10th and 11th overall, respectively.

Another Delta teammate, Gavin Garland, was picked in the second round, 31st overall to Tri-City.

This season, Gavin – who is listed as a five-foot-11, 143-pound centre – has scored 24 goals and added 34 assists in just 14 games playing for Delta in the U17 division of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). He also added a goal and an assist in a single game with Delta’s U18 team.

“It’s an exciting time for (the) organization because you’re bringing in elite talent,” said Tri-City Americans general manager Robert Tory, in a video posted to the team’s social-media accounts shortly after the first-round selection was made.

“A lot of guys come to our program from the Delta Hockey Academy… they had a tremendous bantam team (this year). Knowing the type of program Delta has, in developing fine young men – guys who are focused and have high skill level – I think it’s going to allow Jordan to come in and be comfortable right off the get go.”

Surrey’s Carter Savage, also a Delta Hockey alum, was drafted by Tri-City in the 2020 WHL draft.

Like his Delta teammate, Mrsic, a five-foot-10, 150-pound forward, has also been shredding the competition at the CSSHL U17 level. Through 16 games this season, he has 27 goals and 31 assists.

“The scouting staff is extremely excited about this draft class. We drafted some excellent players and quality young men. We are really looking forward to watching the development of all our picks,” said Medicine Hat Tigers director of player personnel Bobby Fox.

The first overall pick in the draft was Berkly Catton, a Saskatoon prospect selected by the Spokane Chiefs.

The draft continues throughout the day, and a number of Surrey/White Rock players have a chance to be drafted. To follow the process as it happens, click here.



sports@peacearchnews.com

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