The Vancouver Province’s Steve Ewen reports that Red Wings prospect Kienan Draper, who had been playing for the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs, has departed the Canadian amateur hockey league for its U.S. counterpart, the USHL:
The B.C. Hockey League sits idle, the rival U.S. Hockey League continues its regular season, and players are noticing.
Forwards Ayrton Martino and Kienan Draper became the latest players to jump from this province’s Junior A loop to its American counterpart when the Omaha Lancers announced that they had signed on with their club after leaving the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Martino, 18, is a Toronto native who was pegged as a potential second- or third-round pick in next summer’s NHL Draft in the NHL Central Scouting’s season-opening, players-to-watch list. Draper, 18, is the son of former Detroit Red Wings centre Kris Draper and the Royal Oak, Mich., native was a seventh-round pick by the Wings in last summer’s draft.
Martino and Draper were both in the Lancers’ lineup Sunday against the host Des Moines (Iowa) Buccaneers at Wells Fargo Arena. It was the 16th regular-season game of the season for the Lancers.
New guys ?
— Omaha Lancers (@OmahaLancers) January 3, 2021
2️⃣2️⃣ Kienan Draper
2️⃣3️⃣ Ayrton Martino pic.twitter.com/tfvt1h2CcO
Seems like good decisions , keeping prospects playing!!!
Goalie for WJC Canada , Levi, I like. Came from out of the Blue, I thought that was nearly impossible these days. Funny, Coach says he stays as far away as possible prior to the game. Always square to shooter, like a big sponge, good preparation, etc seems like he has a good head.
USA goalie looks good also but haven’t seen him much.
Russian Goalie (best available) LMAO. Can’t catch, loses his stick, not ready (ever) for a shot, doesn’t track the puck well,,,,, all WJC announcers are in shock.
Glad to see you seem to be feeling better!! Stuff happens!!