The 2023 WHL Prospects Draft was held Thursday and the Swift Current Broncos added nine prospects to the organization with six forwards and three defencemen.
With their first pick in the draft, 30th overall, the Broncos selected forward Sawyer Dingman from the Northern Alberta Xtreme program. Listed at 6’2’’ and 193 pounds, Dingman recorded 34 points (11-23-34) in 30 games to go along with 60 penalty minutes. He then added five points (3-2-5) in five playoff games at the CSSHL Championships.
He is the son of former NHLer and two-time Stanley Cup champion Chris Dingman.
With the 52nd overall pick the Broncos drafted Oak Bluff, Manitoba native Daxon Yerex. The 6’1’’ defenceman played for the Rink Hockey Academy U15 team in Winnipeg, posting 27 points (4-23-27) in 30 games. At the CSSHL Championships, Yerex joined Broncos 2022 first-round pick Peyton Kettles with the U18 RHA Winnipeg team.
In the fourth round the Broncos drafted defenceman Nathan Gray from Delta Hockey Academy. The Richmond, B.C. native scored 21 points (6-15-21) in 28 games.
Swift Current looked locally for their 109th overall pick, selecting Shaunavon native Mason Fauser in the fifth round. Playing for the U15 Swift Current Broncos in 2022-23, Fauser racked up 66 points (34-32-66) in just 28 games. He then added nine points (4-5-9) in just four playoff games.
With no picks in the sixth or seventh round, the Broncos next selection came at 162nd overall in the eighth round. Swift Current drafted forward Keaton Lesperance from the Regina Aces with that pick. In 29 games with the Aces Lesperance scored an even 30 goals and 30 assists, before posting 10 more points (8-2-10) in 10 playoff games.
At 184th overall in the ninth round the Broncos added forward Aidan Sexsmith from the U15 Calgary Bisons. In 32 games Sexsmith recorded 24 points (13-11-24) and 55 penalty minutes.
With their 10th round selection at 206th overall the Broncos looked to Manitoba and drafted Ryden Duchon. A pure goal scorer, Duchon found the back of the net 40 times with the Winnipeg Thrashers, finishing eighth in the WAAA U15 league.
The Broncos added another forward in Jayden Oleskiw at 228th overall in the 11th round. The 6’1’’ Langley, B.C. native scored 20 points (10-10-20) in 28 games with U15 Yale Hockey Academy.
With their final pick at 250th overall the Broncos grabbed another defenceman in Josh Shaganya from Rink Hockey Academy Winnipeg. Shaganya played 30 games for RHA Winnipeg posting 17 points (5-12-17) from the blue line.