The Okanagan Hockey Academy was well represented during this year’s Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft.
Nine student-athletes from the Penticton-based group heard their names called during the league’s annual event:
• Mathis Preston, (Round 1, 3rd overall- Spokane Chiefs)
• Liam Ruck (Round 1, 9th overall- Medicine Hat Tigers)
• Markus Ruck (Round 1, 21st overall- Medicine Hat Tigers)
• Gavin Lesiuk (Round 2, 36th overall- Lethbridge Hurricanes)
• Will Scott (Round 4, 73rd overall- Lethbridge Hurricanes)
• Tyson Schamehorn (Round 4, 82nd overall- Moosejaw Warriors)
• Kadyn O’Brien (Round 6, 113th overall- Victoria Royals)
• Riley Steen (Round 6, 127th overall- Medicine Hat Tigers)
• Keegan Bailey (Round 9, 197th overall- Seattle Thunderbirds)
Preston, a born and raised Pentictonite, posted 81 points in 26 games last season en route to capturing the Canadian Sports School Hockey League MVP Award in the U15 division.
The forward has since signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with Spokane.
Liam and Markus Ruck, twins from Osoyoos, join Preston and Scott (Kelowna) as the academy’s four Okanagan-born or raised players to be selected in the draft.
“It was an exciting day for OHA this past Thursday, as we saw nine student-athletes drafted to the WHL,” said Scott May, OHA Penticton’s general manager. “We are all very proud of their accomplishment and share in their joy as coaches, medical staff, strength and conditioning team, and management all worked extremely hard to put all of our student-athletes in the best position to showcase their talents.
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“To have nine players selected from one team is a great step for OHA Penticton and we are excited to continue to build on this momentum in the future.”
In addition to the nine players selected from the Penticton-based academy, OHA locations in Edmonton and Colorado also had their own athletes taken in the WHL Draft and U.S Priority Draft.
@lgllockhart
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com