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Stampeders Select Five During 2019 Bantam Draft

Winnipeg, MB – The league’s 2019 Annual General Meetings wrapped up Sunday (June 9) with the MJHL Bantam Draft.

The Swan Valley Stampeders continued to shape the future of their organization, drafting five highly skilled players born in 2004.

Coming off one of their best seasons in franchise history, the Stampeders finished the regular season second in MJHL standings. As a result, they would select in 10th spot throughout the draft. The Stampeders did not hold their own pick in the fifth round due to a earlier trade, but had acquired Virden’s pick in the Jesse Mistlebacher deal. The club sat idle throughout the sixth round as they traded that pick to Selkirk in the Noah Basarab – Bradly Goethals deal back in October.

The Stampeders drafted five Manitoba born players and auto-protected two locals from the Swan River Valley.

We want to welcome Keefe Gruener, Owen Pickering, Owen Harris, Alex Kaczorowski, Nolan Van Den Bussche, Steven Arp, and Matthew Munro, along with their families to the Stampeder Organization.

Here is a full recap of today’s draft selections.

Round 1:

Pick #10: Keefe Gruener

Position: Forward

Height: 5’6” Weight: 152 lbs

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

2018-19 Team: Winnipeg Monarchs Bantam AAA

Stats: 42 Games Played, 16 Goals, 21 Assists, 37 Points.

Round 2:

Pick #21: Owen Pickering

Position: Defence

Height 5’7” Weight: 131 lbs

Hometown: St. Adolph, MB

2018-19 Team: Eastman Selects

Stats: 39 Games Played, 8 Goals, 12 Assists, 20 Points.

Round 3:

Pick #32: Owen Harris

Position: Defence

Height 5’9” Weight: 181 lbs

Hometown: Wawanesa, MB

2018-19 Team: Southwest Cougars

Stats: 30 Games Played, 7 Goals, 16 Assists, 23 Points.

Round 4:

Pick #43: Alexander Kaczorowski

Position: Forward

Height: 5’7” Weight: 111 lbs

Hometown: Stonewall, MB

2018-19 Team: Interlake Lightning

Stats: 39 Games Played, 18 Goals, 21 Assists, 39 Points.

Round 5:

Pick #53: Nolan Van Den Bussche

Position: Forward

Height: 5’6” Weight: 136 lbs

Hometown: Dugald, MB

2017-18 Team: Southwest Cougars

Stats: 39 Games Played, 14 Goals, 15 Assists, 29 Points.

Auto Protected Players:

Steven Arp

Position: Forward

Height: 5’11” Weight: 137 lbs

2018-19 Team: Parkland Rangers Bantam AAA

Stats: 36 games played, 41 Points (24 Goals, 17 Assists, 36 PIMs).

Matthew Munro

Position: Defencemen

Height: 5’10” Weight: 145 lbs

2018-19 Team: Parkland Rangers Bantam AAA

Stats: 35 Games Played, 26 Points (4 Goals, 22 Assists , 38 PIMs).

“We are really happy to add the players we did today,” said Head Coach and GM Geoff Grimwood. “Darren Webster and Mitch Kirkup did an incredible job targeting the type of players and people we want wearing our sweater. Overall we are extremely excited about the players we selected today and can’t wait to see them in camp.”