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Major junior teams pick bantams Nic Porchetta and Gabe Shipley

Two Powell River players selected in annual Western Hockey League draft
bantams
DRAFT PICK: Nic Porchetta [left], one of two Powell River hockey players selected in the 2017 Western Hockey League bantam draft, played in the Pat Quinn Classic. The international tournament was for bantam-age players and took place last December. Peter Llewellyn photo

Two Powell River hockey players were among 61 draftees selected in the Western Hockey League (WHL) bantam draft on Thursday, May 4.

In the draft, WHL clubs pick players who have graduated from the bantam age category.

Defender Gabe Shipley was chosen by Prince George in the sixth round, 128th overall. Forward Nic Porchetta went to Everett in the 10th round, 218th overall. Both players are 15 years old and attend Delta Hockey Academy.

Porchetta was surprised he went as low as he did in the draft, he said, but added that he was not disappointed because he was still chosen.

Everett was the only team interested in him, according to Porchetta, and had been talking to him all year. Everett won the WHL’s US Division this season.

“The draft was online, so I watched it in the morning, then I went to school and checked it out at lunch and saw my name; it was kind of a confidence booster,” said Porchetta. “After school, Everett gave me a call and welcomed me.”

Porchetta, who is the son of Powell River Kings marketing and community relations manager Nadine Porchetta, describes his play as being similar to Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews.

“I’m a two-way power forward,” he said, “who takes an absolute beating and still gets up.”