The 2020 SJHL Bantam Draft was held virtually over SaskTel maxTV on Friday, June 5th as all 12 teams made their selections of the top 2005-born players Saskatchewan has to offer.
The Estevan Bruins entered the draft with five selections, including the 7th overall pick in Round 1. The Bruins ended up selecting Carson Birnie from nearby Arcola with their first pick, and selected two forwards, two defencemen, and one goaltender. Below is a complete recap of the Bruins’ selections made:
Round 1 (7th Overall) – Carson Birnie (F – Arcola, SK)
19/20 Team: Regina Monarchs Bantam AA (U15)
19/20 Stats: 29GP – 28G, 39A = 67PTS – 52PIM
Scouting Staff: “We are very excited to draft Carson Birnie as he was ranked number 1 on our draft list, so we feel very fortunate to get him at pick 7. Carson is a complete player with a mix of skill, grit, and leadership. When the game tightens up, he continues to make plays and lead his team.” – Dustin Wlaz, Director of Player Personnel
Round 2 (19th Overall) – Matthew Ronn (D – Ebenezer, SK)
19/20 Team: Yorkton Terriers Bantam AA (U15)
19/20 Stats: 30GP – 9G, 20A = 29PTS – 59PIM
Scouting Staff: “Matthew was the highest rated D-Man on our list. He is a 200 ft player with great feet and loves to jump in the rush. He can score but also defends well, using his body and is a leader. Confident player who wants the puck on his stick.” – Dustin Wlaz, Director of Player Personnel
Round 4 (38th Overall) – Keelan Mansuy (D – Regina, SK)
19/20 Team: Regina Monarchs Bantam AA (U15)
19/20 Stats: 31GP – 9G, 31A = 40PTS – 38PIM
Scouting Staff: “Keelan is a great skating defenceman with a long reach. He defends with his speed and stick, and is very difficult to get around. He can transition quickly up ice on the attack to provide a great offensive option.” – Dustin Wlaz, Director of Player Personnel
Round 5 (55th Overall) – Alex Garrett (G – Saskatoon, SK)
19/20 Team: Saskatoon Generals Bantam AA (U15)
19/20 Stats: 17GP – 2.29 G.A.A., .926 SV% (12-5-0, 1 shutout)
Scouting Staff: “Number one ranked goalie on our list. Extremely athletic goaltender who stole his team games this season. Alex has great poise and vision, and we think he will be a high-end junior goalie.” – Dustin Wlaz, Director of Player Personnel
Round 6 (67th Overall) – Liam Fitzpatrick (F – Moose Jaw, SK)
19/20 Team: Moose Jaw Warriors Bantam AA (U15)
19/20 Stats: 30GP – 20G, 24A = 44PTS – 82PIM
Scouting Staff: “200-foot player who can score and plays with lots of grit. Goes to the hard areas of the ice and has high compete level.” – Dustin Wlaz, Director of Player Personnel
