The New Warriors

Take a good touch around the net, sprinkle it with a little bit of grit and you've got what most would consider a quality centerman.

The Moose Jaw Warriors feel they got just that, selecting Tyler Johnson of Breton, Alta. with their first pick in the Western Hockey League's annual Bantam Draft Thursday.

"He's a big, lanky centerman who is very good with the puck," Warrior general manager Ralph Schmidt said in describing the 6'2", 170-pounder who turns 15 in July. "He's got a good finish and he plays with grit."

Johnson played last year in the small community of Breton, not exactly a frequent stop on scouts' lists. But, when stacked up against the rest of the Alberta bantam scene, he stood out.

"He played all year in Breton but when he was up against the top kids at the Alberta Cup, it didn't bother him a bit," Schmidt said. "He really shows a lot of composure and we thought he was one of the top kids there."

Schmidt admits the Warriors had another player slotted for their first round pick -- but that player -- Schmidt declined to say who -- had already been nabbed. But, he added, they're more than happy to have Johnson, the seventh overall player selected.

"He's going to be a good player," he said. "He has a lot of up-sides."

The Warriors headed to the draft hoping to add some depth on the blueline and they've added three defensemen to their list, picking Brett Carson of Whitewood in the second round (24th overall), Ryan Sunderland of Naicam, Sk. in the fourth round (61st) and Reed Pettinger -- the brother of Calgary Hitmen's Matt Pettinger -- in the eighth round (133rd).

"Brett's got good size and is very skilled," Schmidt said of the 6'1", 170-pound Carson. "He kind of reminds you of Chris Armstrong."

Armstrong, a former standout on the Warrior blueline, is also from Whitewood. And, Carson has the same coach as Armstrong did in Whitewood.

"I think the three (defensemen) we got are all very good players," Schmidt said. "We've got some big (players born in) 84s I think they'll compliment each other once they're together."

The Warriors also added some size up front with their third round pick, selecting 6'1", 180-pound leftwinger Bobby Nault of Princeton, B.C. 43rd overall.

"Bob plays hard and he can score," Schmidt said, noting that Nault's father is 6'6". He's already pegged to play Junior 'B' next year as a second-year bantam. We're pretty high on him."

The Warriors had two picks in the fourth round and, one pick after taking Sunderland, they grabbed forward Brett Boschman of Brandon 63rd overall. Boschman is the nephew of ex-NHLer Laurie Boschman.

Forward TJ Mulock of Langley (fifth round, 79th), forward Troy Brouwer of North Delta, BC (seventh round, 115th), goaltender Matt Bendera of Edmonton -- (ninth round, 151st) and forward Darryl Enns of Winnipeg (10th round, 169th), round out the Warrior picks.

Bendera is the brother of Red Deer Rebels' netminder Shane.

The Portland Winter Hawks had the first overall pick and selected defenceman Brayden Coburn of Shaunavon.

The Winter Hawks earned the first pick after finishing last in the WHL regular season with a 16-49-7-0 record.

The Medicine Hat Tigers then picked centre Stefan Meyer of Fox Valley, centre Ian McDonald of Edmonton went third overall to the Tri-City Americans. Kelowna then took goalie Josh Lepp of Dalmeny, Sask., and Brandon picked right-winger Eric Fehr of Winkler, Man.

In all, 180 players were taken over 12 rounds.