Banner NHL Entry Draft day for “Hockey Town North”

Raiders’ Wiesblatt and family highlight of opening round

Ozzy Wiesblatt was selected by the San Jose Sharks.

For arguably the first time ever, the most memorable moment of the first round of the NHL Entry Draft was the final pick.

On Tuesday night, the NHL Entry Draft was held via video conference call from the NHL Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, as opposed to being live in an NHL centre due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As the opening round was broadcast on TV, the players who were to be selected watched the proceedings at home with their families.

The TV broadcast had the use of Internet cameras to get live looks into the home of the players who were selected in the first round.

The San Jose Sharks made the final selection at the 31^st overall spot in the opening round. Doug Wilson Jr., who is the Sharks director of scouting, announced the pick using American Sign Language and his voice that his club had picked Ozzy Wiesblatt of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.

Ozzy Wiesblatt finished second in Raiders scoring last season.

The picture cut away to a picture of the Wiesblatt household, which was a scene of a euphoric and joyous celebration.

Wilson announced the pick via sign language because Wiesblatt’s mom, Kim White, has been deaf since birth.

She had to raise Ozzy, his three brothers and one sister as a single mom since 2014. Ozzy’s brothers are all high level hockey players.

The oldest brother, Ocean, played in the junior A ranks with the Portage La Prairie Terriers last season. The second oldest brother, Orca, is a member of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, and the youngest brother, Oasiz, is highly touted prospect with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers.

Wilson’s special touch in announcing Ozzy Wiesblatt’s selection gave the opening round its signature moment.

Ozzy Wiesblatt with the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

Left-winger Alexis Lafreniere of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic may have gone first overall to the New York Rangers, but it felt like the night really belonged to Wiesblatt and his family.

 Adding to the story is the fact the 18-year-old Calgary, Alta., product is a really good player, who deserves to be a first round selection.

As a 16-year-old rookie in 2018-19, Wiesblatt, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 182 pounds, appeared in 64 regular season games posting 15 goals, 24 assists and a plus-30 rating. By the end of that season, Wiesblatt often found himself on a line at right wing with star overage centre Noah Gregor and star left-winger Cole Fonstad as the Raiders topped the WHL regular season standings with a 54-10-2-2 record.

Wiesblatt played in all of the Raiders 23 games in the WHL playoffs posting five goals, five assists and a plus-six rating helping deliver a WHL championship to “Hockey Town North” for the second time in history.

Ozzy Wiesblatt is one of the Raiders top offensive players.

This past season as a 17-year-old sophomore, Wiesblatt skating in all of the Raiders 64 regular season games finishing second in team scoring with 25 goals, 45 assists and a plus-20 rating. He helped the Raiders post a 36-18-6-4 record and finish first in the WHL’s East Division for the second straight year.

Wiesblatt’s draft selection was the topper for banner day for Prince Albert at the NHL Entry Draft.

Kaiden Guhle, who is the Raiders ultra-talented offensive-defenceman, was taken 16^th overall by the Montreal Canadiens. The 18-year-old Sherwood Park, Alta., product’s selection alone normally would give the Raiders a memorable night.

Back in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, Guhle was selected by the Raiders in the first overall in the first round. Since that time, he has been living up to that high selection.

Kaiden Guhle was selected by the Montreal Canadiens.

As a 16-year-old rookie in 2018-19, Guhle played in 65 regular season games collecting three goals, 14 assists and a plus-17 rating in the plus-minus department. He focused more on playing a defensive role on a defensive starting six where the other five members were all 19-year-old veterans.

Last season as a 17-year-old sophomore, Guhle, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 184 pounds was thrust into a bigger role and was looked upon to provide more offence. He appeared in all of the Raiders 64 regular season games piling up 11 goals, 29 assists and a plus-23 rating.

As a blue-liner, Guhle has a special blend of talents very few have.

The selections of Wiesblatt and Guhle marked the third time in team history the Raiders have had two players picked in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.

Wiesblatt and Guhle weren’t the only individuals with Prince Albert ties to shine in the opening round of the NHL Entry Draft.

Prince Albert product Braden Schneider, who plays for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, was selected 19^th overall by the Rangers.

Braden Schneider was selected by the Rangers.

The 19-year-old Schneider, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 202 pounds, had a breakout campaign posting seven goals, 35 assists and a plus-nine rating in 60 regular season games with the Wheat Kings last season.

The graduate of the Prince Albert Mintos Under-18 AAA team has established himself as one of the WHL’s elite offensive-defencemen.

Portland Winterhawks right-winger Seth Jarvis, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 172 pounds, was the first WHL player to be picked in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft going 13^th overall to the Carolina Hurricanes. Jarvis racked up 42 goals, 56 assists and a plus-53 rating in 58 games last season with Portland.

Saskatoon, Sask., product and 19-year-old centre Connor Zary, who plays for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, went 24^th overall to the Calgary Flames. Zary, who stands 6-feet and weighs 181 pounds, recorded 38 goals, 48 assists and a plus-30 rating in 58 games with the Blazers this past season.

Ozzy Wiesblatt (#19) enjoys a WHL title win.

The NHL Entry Draft wraps up on Wednesday with rounds two to seven. Before Tuesday’s opening round started, the NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced they are targeting to begin the upcoming regular season on January 1, 2021.

The opening round of the NHL Entry Draft on Tuesday will always be a memorable night for the players who were selected.

For Wiesblatt and Prince Albert as a city, it will go down as a forever cherished feel-good night.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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