For the second straight year, the Swift Current Broncos have selected a Richmond prospect in the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
On the heels of taking Seafair Minor Hockey standout Glenn Gawdin in 2012, the Broncos used their seventh round pick (144th overall) to draft forward Owen Seidel.
He also spent his early years of minor hockey in Seafair's Hockey 1-4 program before moving onto the Burnaby Winter Club where he earned roster spots with its A1 rep teams for six consecutive seasons.
This past campaign, Seidel posted 98 points in 52 games, including 34 goals, in helping BWC finish second at the provincial championships in Cowichan. The season also included a first place finish at the Medicine Hat Hounds Bantam AAA Tournament where Seidel scored the overtime winner against the Calgary Bisons in the final.
Seidel attends the Palmer Hockey Academy and admits draft day was too big of a distraction to focus on school.
"I was very excited and a bit nervous, that I couldn't even concentrate at school, so I went home," he laughed.
"I kept looking at the website at the list draft prospects being chosen, and was so thrilled and grateful when my name came up with the Broncos. I received a phone call shortly after from (Swift Current Assistant GM) Jamie Porter and I was still on cloud nine that I barely remember what took place in that conversation."
Seidel was interviewed by a Swift Current radio station and immediately felt like he was member of the Broncos team.
"It has been my goal to play in the WHL for a couple of years and and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of their organization," he continued.
Seidel's next goal is to make the jump to the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League with the Richmond-based Greater Vancouver Canadians. He is now busy with off-season training that includes shooting sessions with former Sockeyes coach Ron Johnson, dryland training with Tia Clearihue and two more on ice sessions through the Vancouver Hockey School with Derek Popke and Yogi Svekovsky.
If that's not enough, Seidel joins his BWC teammates for development sessions run by recent Canadians coaches Leland Mack and Kevin Pederson.
"All these coaches help me be a better player and work harder to achieve my ultimate goal of playing in the WHL," he added. I am always wanting to improve my game and learn new ways to get better, faster and stronger."
