Defenseman is Silvertips’ top pick

Jantzen Leslie had what can only be described as a unique experience during his math class Thursday morning in Lloydminster, Alberta. It’s not often a student is specifically told by a teacher NOT to pay attention in class.

That’s how Leslie was able to find out in real time he’d been selected by the Everett Silvertips in the first round of the Western Hockey League’s bantam draft.

“I walked into math class, sat down, and my teacher was looking at his computer,” Leslie recounted. “He put something up on his computer, came over and told me I wasn’t allowed to do any math, I had to watch the online video feed and keep everyone updated. He’s a big hockey guy.”

Leslie was one of 15 players — nine forwards and six defensmen — selected by Everett during Thursday’s draft, which took place in Calgary, Alberta, dispersing the rights to 1999-born players from western Canada and the western United States among the WHL’s 22 teams.

And the Tips were pleased with the way the draft unfolded.

“We’re excited, we think we did very well in the draft,” Everett general manager Garry Davidson said. “You never know who’s going to be available when you pick, but we got a lot of players we had rated higher than where they went in the draft. It was a very positive day for us.”

It all began with Leslie. Leslie is a good-sized defenseman (6-foot and 167 pounds) who plays a strong two-way game, racking up 15 goals, 25 assists and 63 penalty minutes in 30 games while captaining the Lloydminster Heat bantam AAA team to a 31-1-1 record, the Alberta provincial championship, and a second-place finish in the Western Canadian Bantam Championships. He was projected as a possible top-10 selection, so the Tips were delighted when he was still available when Everett picked at No. 15.

“Jantzen is a defenseman with all kinds of upside,” Everett head scout Bil La Forge said. “He’s an intelligent player who plays hard and plays heavy minutes. We were so excited to get him when we did, I didn’t think there was a chance he’d be available. I was absolutely stunned there.”

Leslie said he didn’t know a lot about Everett, but had heard only positive things so far. He also said he was fully committed to playing in the WHL.

“It’s a dream getting picked in the first round,” Leslie said. “It couldn’t have worked out any better. I was holding my breath when every pick was about to go, I felt like I was going to pass out.

“I’m going to spend the summer working out with my coach, find out what Everett wants me to work on, then hopefully have things corrected by training camp (in August).”

Everett decided to go all-out in this year’s draft, selecting 15 players. That’s the most the Tips ever selected in a single draft, with the previous high being 13 in 2003 and 2012. Last year the Tips selected just nine players.

But Davidson decided there were just too many quality prospects to leave on the table. That was particularly true of American players. The Tips selected eight players from south of the Canadian border, using their final seven selections to take players from the U.S. Most of those Americans are high-end talents who were available late in the draft because of doubts about whether they’ll ever play in the WHL.

“We really only had 10 spots available on our protected list,” Davidson said. “But after the first 10 or 11 there were still a few a good players there. So we cleaned up our list a little so we could bring in some more guys. Some of those U.S. guys are very good players. Now it’s a recruiting process.”

After picking Leslie, Everett spent much of the rest of the draft loading up on skilled forwards. The Tips took Leslie’s teammate, winger Bryce Kindopp, with their second selection, picking up the fellow Lloydminster resident in the third round. Kindopp, who measures in at 5-foot-11 and 148 pounds, had 26 goals and 37 assists in 33 games with the Heat this season, finishing tied for second on the team in scoring. He then scored 16 goals in 11 playoff games.

“Bryce is a kid we were strongly considering in the first round, not expecting Jantzen to be there,” La Forge said. “He’s an all-around solid player who has a big offensive upside. We think he has a chance to be a big-time player in the WHL.”

Everett also took skilled forwards with each of its next three picks, selecting Nick Henry with its second third-round pick, Brian King with its fourth-rounder and Ryan Anderson with the first of three fifth-rounders. King, from Golden, Colo., and the first of Everett’s eight Americans, is a high-end talent who the Tips believe has serious interest in playing in the WHL.

The Tips chose not to select a goaltender, the first time the team has gone an entire draft without picking a netminder. Everett has Carter Hart, an eighth-rounder from last year who saw game action as a 15-year-old call-up, and the Tips are happy with their depth in goaltending prospects.

Players selected Thursday are ineligible to join the Tips full-time until the 2015-16 season.

In a draft that didn’t have a consensus top-overall prospect, the Brandon Wheat Kings selected center Stelio Mattheos from Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the first pick.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin (2) poses for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Leyton Martin

Arlington’s do-it-all junior point guard led the Eagles to a district title and second straight Hardwood Classic.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Left to right, Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones, Glacier Peak’s Jo Lee, Everett’s Isaiah White, Arlington’s Leyton Martin, Jackson’s Ryan McFerran, and Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel pose for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area boys basketball teams

A look at the top prep boys basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.