Small but mighty Manitoba has trio of players picked in NHL Draft

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This article was published 29/06/2023 (835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba had a small but impressive group of players chosen at the 2023 NHL Draft, which wrapped up Thursday in Nashville.

Carson Bjarnason, a 17-year-old from Carberry, was the first Manitoban and fourth goaltender off the board when his name was called in the second round (51st overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Bjarnason, who stars for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, was the top-rated North American puckstopper by NHL Central Scouting heading into draft week.

Meanwhile, right-winger Jayden Perron, a cerebral 18-year-old from Winnipeg went next, going in the third round (94th overall) to the Carolina Hurricanes.

“High-end skill,” Hurricanes assistant GM Darren Yorke told the Charlotte Observer. “A kid we’re familiar with and were really excited to see available that late in the draft.”

Perron, scheduled to attend the University of North Dakota this fall after two seasons with the USHL’s Chicago Steel, had been rated the 43rd best North American skater by Central Scouting.

Philaelphia completed the Manitoba content at the draft by selecting defenceman Carter Sotheran in the fifth round (135th overall).

The 18-year-old from Sanford is coming off an excellent rookie season with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks and although he did not attend the draft in person, celebrated with a house full of family and friends.

He was not interviewed by the Flyers at the recent NHL Draft Combine and was caught by surprise when selected by the Flyers.

“I thought about all the hard work kind of paying off,” said Sotheran. “I mean, I’ve had kind of a rough road the whole way. So it’s pretty special moment to have all my family and friends there and kind of everyone who supported me along the way.”

Sotheran made great strides on the ice despite a medical condition identified in Portland’s training camp.

He was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition that causes the heart to beat abnormally fast for periods of time. It is caused by an extra electrical connection in the heart.

The condition prevented him from participating in the fitness testing at the NHL Combine and is currently controlled by medication. He is scheduled to undergo a procedure to correct the problem next month at the Mayo Clinic.

“No one really said anything (about the heart condition) but I could definitely see how that would affect some teams,” said Sotheran. “I’m getting the surgery right away, so doesn’t matter to me too much… I think Philly taking the chance on me is gonna be worth it. I mean, you’re just going to see a better and better player over the next few years.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14