NHL Draft: Canucks make five more selections in Buffalo

BUFFALO,NY (NEWS 1130) – The Vancouver Canucks closed out the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo by selecting five players on the second day of the event.

Vancouver did not have a second round pick this year, and had to wait to select American forward William Lockwood in the 3rd round. (64th overall) The 18 year old Lockwood will suit up for the University of Michigan next season. He also piled up 33 points in 60 games for the U-18 US National Team Development Program.

With the selection of London Knights blueliner Olli Juolevi 5th overall the big prize in round one, Jim Benning and co. went for fellow defenceman Cole Candella in the 5th round (140th overall) from the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. Candella registered four goals and 20 points last season in the Steel City.

The Canucks selected forwards with their final three picks, including a local product. Surrey’s Jakob Stukel was chosen in the 6th round after an impressive run with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. The 18 year old Stukel was nearly a point-a-game player (32-22-56) following a trade from the Vancouver Giants.

Vancouver had two picks in the seventh round of the draft, thanks to last summer’s trade of goaltender Eddie Lack. Former Portland Winterhawk centre Rodrigo Abols was tabbed with the 184th selection. Abols played for the Canucks at last season’s Young Stars Tournament in Penticton. The 20 year old amassed 49 points in 62 games in Portland.

Centre Brett McKenzie of the OHL’s North Bay Battalion was taken with the team’s final selection. (194th overall)

McKenzie, 19, produced 53 points in 66 games this past season.

NOTABLE: A pair of Vancouver Giants were selected on the second day of the draft, as Tyler Benson was picked by his hometown Edmonton Oilers 32nd overall. Benson was slowed by injuries last season, put still put up an impressive 28 points in 30 games for Vancouver.

Benson’s teammate, Ty Ronning was selected in the seventh round of the draft, 201st overall by the New York Rangers. The Burnaby product, and son of former Canuck Cliff Ronning appeared in 67 games last season, racking up 59 points.

Benson and Ronning are the 26th and 27th players in the history of the Giants franchise to be drafted by an NHL organization.

BCHL: It was also a record weekend for BC’s junior ‘A’ hockey league, as three of its current players were selected in the opening round. High scoring forward Tyson Jost of the Penticton Vees was taken 10th overall by the Colorado Avalanche, and became the highest player selected out of the BCHL since Kyle Turris back in 2007.

Jost’s Penticton teammate, defenceman Dante Fabbro was picked by the Nashville Predators 17th overall, while the Chilliwack Chiefs’ Dennis Cholowski, another blueliner, was taken 20th overall by the Detroit Red Wings.