Rockets Take Merkley with 1st Pick
The Kelowna Rockets have selected forward Nick Merkley from the Calgary Bisons bantam AAA team with it’s first overall pick in the 2012 WHL bantam draft.
Director of player personnel Lorne Frey made the selection.
“We think he’s a dynamic young player,” said Frey. “He’s quick and very unselfish. He moves the puck very, very well. We’re excited. We think we got another dynamic young player.”
A 5-foot-9 forward, Merkley led the Bisons in scoring in the Alberta Bantam Hockey League this year, putting up 73 points in 32 league games. Overall Merkley played in 56 games with the Bisons, scoring 68 goals and adding 50 assists.
Merkley’s older brother Jay plays for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL.
The Rockets selected defenceman Joe Gatenby with its second selection. Gatenby played with the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna last season where the 5-foot-11 blueliner had 23 goals and 50 assists in 60 games.
The Rockets also had the first pick of the third round, acquired from Prince Albert. With that selection, Kelowna chose Chris Seto, a left winger from Surrey who played with the Cloverdale bantam tier 1 team.
