Due to COVID-19 the MJHL Bantam draft has been moved up to April 26th. Before that can happen, teams will be able to “auto-protect” up to two players from their region. This allows clubs to keep some of the best local players on their team before they become available to the rest of the league in the draft. This year the rules have changed slightly, teams will have the option to decline an auto-protect selection and defer that pick to Round 7 or 8 of the draft.
The 2020 auto-protect players will be announced on Monday April 20th.
Here are some players the Terriers have protected over the years.
2019
Darien Schaan (D, ‘04, 6-1, 170) – playing for the Rink Hockey Academy in the CSSHL E15, Schaan put up 16 points in 36 regular season games.
Carter Moorhouse (D, ’04) – Moorhouse who is also a defenceman had 10 points, including three goals, for the PCI Trojans in the Zone 4 High School Hockey League.
2018
Riley Borody (F, ’03, 6-2, 181) – The right-handed forward from Portage had a breakout season playing a second year for the Central Plains Capitals Midget AAA. He almost doubled his point total from the previous season, putting up 63 points in 43 games.
Ryan Botterill (F, ’03, 5-10, 160) – A teammate of Borody, Botterill led the Capitals in scoring with 77 points in just 48 games. It was a 50-point improvement from the previous season.
2017
Kian Calder (D, ’02, 5-10, 192) – The brother of current Terrier Logan Calder, Kian put up 59 points in 43 games as the captain of the Central Plains Capitals Midget AAA team. Calder was called up for one game by the Terriers during the 2018-19 season and had an assist.
Kyle VanDeynze (D, ’02) – Also a brother to a current Terrier (Tyler Van Deynze), Kyle has played in the Zone 4 High School Hockey League for the PCI Trojans for the last two years. He had 51 points in 25 games in the 2019-20 season.
2016
Joey Moffatt (F, ’01, 5-10, 187) – 2016 was an important auto-protect year for the Terriers as they were able to select two players that have made significant contributions to their team. Moffatt made the team at 16 and has completed three seasons as a Terrier. He has won a Turnbull and ANAVET Cup. Moffatt led the team in scoring the last two seasons and finished 2019-20 with 68 points in 60 games.
Logan Calder (F, ’01, 5-10, 160) – Making the team as a 17-year-old, Calder has been a part of the Terriers for two seasons including the Turnbull and ANAVET Cups in 2019. He is a reliable centre who can be put out in defensive situations. Last season he recorded 29 points in 59 games.
2015
Reilly Funk (F, ’00, 6-3, 194) – A big winger, Funk played 20 games with the Terriers as a 17-year-old before being sent back to Midget AAA. Coming back at 18 he scored at over a point per game pace and helped Portage win the Turnbull and ANAVET Cups. Funk then moved on this season to the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. He put up 23 points in 48 games and has committed to play for Northern Michigan University (NCAA Div I).
Riley Sveistrup (G, ’00, 6-0, 181) – Sveistrup played two full seasons with the Central Plains Capitals Midget AAA before moving on to the Portage Islanders of the SEMHL.
2014
Nick Henry (F, ’99, 5-11, 192 ) – As a 16-year-old rookie Henry put up 61 points in 50 games with the Terriers on route to a national championship on home ice. He then played three seasons in the WHL with the Regina Pats and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He was drafted into the NHL by the Colorado Avalanche in the fourth round. Last season he played 42 games in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles and put up 9 points. He also played two games in the ECHL with the Utah Grizzlies.
Justin Klassen (G, ’99, 5-11, 159) – Klassen had a short MJHL career, playing just one game for the Terriers in the 2016-17 season. He had a 5.03 GAA and .808 SV%.