The Nipawin Hawks are proud to welcome eight new players to the organization following the SJHL Draft.
The Hawks opened the draft by selecting Regina product Roman Shynkaruk 9th overall in the 1st 2011 Round. Shynkaruk, a forward, spent last season with the Regina Pat Blues U15 AA, where he played 24 games and recorded an impressive 22 goals and 21 assists.
Nipawin continued to add skill up front by selecting Saskatoon product Axton Snow-Hayes 9th overall in the 1st 2011 Round. Snow-Hayes played last season with the Saskatoon Riverkings U18 AA, appearing in 30 games while putting up 23 goals and 24 assists.
The Hawks also selected Saskatoon product Parker Gabriel 3rd overall in the 1st Round of the 2010 SJHL Draft. Gabriel, a defenceman, spent last season with the Saskatoon Riverkings U18 AA, where he played 30 games and recorded 5 goals and 18 assists.
In the 2nd 2010 Round, Nipawin selected Prince Albert product Luke Trann 21st overall. Trann, a defenceman, played last season with the Prince Albert Pirates U15 AA, where he appeared in 22 games and recorded 7 goals and 28 assists.
The Hawks added another forward in the 2010 2nd Round, selecting Saskatoon product Linden Abercrombie 13th overall. Abercrombie spent last season with the Prince Albert Mintos, where he played 38 games and recorded 6 goals and 12 assists.
In the 5th 2010 Round, Nipawin selected Yorkton product Carter Downey 57th overall. Downey, a defenceman, played last season with the Sask East Oilers U18 AA, appearing in 36 games and recording 2 goals and 8 assists.
The Hawks added a goaltender in the 6th 2010 Round, selecting Balgonie product Ben Wagner 69th overall. Wagner spent last season with the Yorkton Maulers U18 AAA, where he played 17 games, posting a 6.32 goals-against average and an .832 save percentage.
Nipawin rounded out the 6th 2010 Round by selecting Saskatoon product Felix Morin 72nd overall. Morin, a defenceman, played last season with the Saskatoon Riverkings U18 AA, where he appeared in 29 games and recorded 2 goals and 9 assists.
“Overall, our emphasis in this draft was to make sure we landed some defencemen in the early picks, then shift to the forward group and fill out from there,” said Hawks Assistant General Manager Dana Dirks. “We think we grabbed a good blend of skill, skating, and compete. We want to be a team that is tough to play against, and today was a good step in that direction for the future of the Hawks.”
The Nipawin Hawks would like to congratulate all eight players and their families on being selected and officially welcome them to the Hawks organization.
