Kamloops native Sawyer Mynio was chosen 89th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the third round in the NHL’s 2023 Entry Draft.
Image Credit: TWITTER/Vancouver Canucks
Republished June 29, 2023 - 1:55 PM
Original Publication Date June 29, 2023 - 9:55 AM
A defenceman from Kamloops is now a Vancouver Canuck.
Kamloops native Sawyer Mynio was chosen 89th overall in the third round in the NHL’s 2023 Entry Draft.
For the past two seasons Mynio has been playing as a Seattle Thunderbird, the team that won the WHL championship last month. He had five goals and 26 assists in 68 games last season.
Mynio isn't the only player with connections to Kamloops or the Okanagan to have gotten drafted so far.
Andrew Cristall, the Kelowna Rockets’ star player last season, was chosen by the Washington Capitals as the 40th overall pick in the second round.
The Seattle Kraken picked Kelowna Rockets defenceman Caden Price 84th overall in the third round.
The Penticton Vees had four players get drafted. Forward Bradly Nadeau, who led the BCHL in points last season with 113 in 54 games, was drafted in the first round, 30th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Vees forward Aydar Suniev was selected by the Calgary Flames 80th overall in the third round. He tied Nadeau for most goals last season with 45.
“Watching (Bradly Nadeau) get drafted yesterday by Carolina, then hearing my name today, it’s been amazing. I’m honoured to be a part of the Calgary Flames,” Suniev said in a release from the Vees.
Larry Keenan, one of the Vees incoming players, was picked by the Detroit Red Wings 117th overall in round four. He was the top-scoring defenceman at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana last season. Forward recruit Ryan MacPherson was taken by the Philadelphia Flyers 172nd overall in the sixth round. He has a twin brother Connor who will also be joining the Vees next season. Both played for the Leamington Flyers in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, and the only person to score more points than Ryan was Connor, who plays forward.
Former West Kelowna Warriors defenceman Charles-Alexis Legault will be joining Nadeau on the Hurricane, as he was selected by the same team in the fifth round, 139th overall. He now plays for Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks forward Owen Beckner, who led his team in scoring last season, was drafted by the Ottawa Senators 204th overall in the seventh round.
“Getting drafted was a dream come true for myself and my family,” Beckner said in a release from the BCHL. “I’m so grateful to be selected by such an amazing organization like Ottawa. I’ve been working my whole life for moments like this and to have it happen feels incredible. The real work begins now.
— This story was updated to add more local hockey players drafted by NHL teams.
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