Local talent selected in WHL Bantam Draft

Left to right: Gavin Harrison, Connor Nickle, and Kale Breton were all taken in the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft on Thursday.

Multiple hockey players from the Lakeland will have a shot at playing major junior. 

Gavin Harrison and Connor Nickle from Cold Lake, and Kale Breton from Lac La Biche, were selected in the Western Hockey League’s Bantam Draft on Thursday. 

Harrison, a center, was taken in the 7th round, 150th overall, by the Swift Current Broncos. 

He’s played with the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 for the last two seasons. In 2023-24, he potted 14 goals while adding 16 assists in 25 games. 

Nickle meanwhile was a member of the Lloydminster Lancers U15AAA program this season.  

Picked in the 10th round, 206th overall by the Spokane Chiefs, Nickle collected 17 goals and 17 assists this year. 

Breton was Harrison’s teammate at NAX in 2022-23, but played most recently in the Smoky Lake Minor Hockey system with their U18 Northstars.