The 2020 Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) Draft was a special day for many players and families from across the province who saw their hard work and dedication pay off.
In a span of a few minutes, four teammates were selected in the first round within seven picks of each other. Spending last season together on the Bantam AAA Yellowhead Chiefs as teammates, Ben Roulette, Rylan Gage, Kurt Rookes and Aiden Sotas couldn’t have scripted the first round of the draft to go any better.
The four Yellowhead Chiefs joined MJHL Director of Marketing & Partnerships, Erik Swar, to discuss their draft experience.
Ben Roulette | Waywayseecappo Wolverines | Round 1 – Overall 4
“I saw my name pop up on the screen, it was pretty exciting. I have to give a lot of credit to my team this season. I had a severe injury, and without them supporting me the whole time I don’t think I could’ve even got drafted to the MJHL.”
Rylan Gage | Dauphin Kings | Round 1 – Overall 5
“I saw Ben (Roulette) pop up going to Wayway and was very excited for him and then my name was next going to Dauphin, I’m just excited. I’m watching the rest of the draft and I see Kurt (Rookes) and (Aiden) Sotas, I was very excited, I couldn’t have done it without my teammates this year.”
Kurt Rookes | Waywayseecappo Wolverines | Round 1 – Overall 7
“Wayway’s next pick comes around and they pick me, it was great, I was so happy to go to a good organization like that with Ben (Roulette) too especially, it was great.
Aiden Sotas | Portage Terriers | Round 1 – Overall 10
“Got on the website and was sitting there with my dad and my mom just talking about it. When I saw my name I was just super excited and I jumped up.”
