Meet the Prospects: Stats and Facts of all 8 Broncos’ 2023 Draft Picks
The Humboldt Broncos selected 8 prospects in the 2023 SJHL Draft on June 1st. In the end they stocked their prospect cupboard with 5 forwards, 2 defenseman, and 1 goaltender.
The SJHL draft consisted of 6 rounds of 2007 birthyear prospects followed by 2 rounds of 2008 birthyear prospects. The Humboldt Broncos came away with 4 from each year.
“We were really excited about how the draft went for our club. The scouts put in a lot of time and effort into this. They are at rinks all the time, watching games online, talking to teachers and coaches, all to make sure we are not only getting good hockey players, but also good young men,” said Head Coach and GM, Scott Barney.
“We were able to get many of the players we felt would be great fits for our organization going forward. We have great prospects at every position in this draft and we look forward to seeing them at camp, or the year following,” Barney added.
Meet the Prospects – 2007 Class
Rylan Hue – Forward – Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA
Round 1 – 8th overall
The Humboldt Broncos stepped up to the podium and made Rylan Hue as their first selection of the 2023 SJHL draft, 8th overall.
Hue, a Saskatoon native, picked up 15 points in his rookie season, playing 39 games with the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA Program.
Hue brings a winning pedigree as a part of the Champion Saskatoon Bandits in 2021/22, where he finished 1st on the team in goals, finishing at a goal-per-game pace, and 2nd in points with 49 points (31g, 18a) in just 31 games, adding 12 points (11g,1a) in 9 games.
A proven goal scorer who brings a physical and gritty edge to his game is listed at 5’11, 160lbs and is 16 years old.
Hue was also drafted by the Saskatoon Blades in the 2022 WHL draft, 129th overall.
Ryker Nameth – Defense – Lumsden/Bethune Lions U18 AA
Round 1 – 11th overall
The Broncos went to the blue line for their second selection in the first round taking Ryker Nameth, who more-often goes by the name “Charlie”, 11th overall.
Nameth, a native of Southey, SK, has a “Charlie-Hustle” type style of play with plenty of offensive upside from the point and is a right-shot defenseman.
He suited up for the Lumsden/Bethune Lions for the majority of the 2022/23 season, where he led his team in defensive scoring with 23 points (1g,22a) in 31 games. He also made the jump to U18 AAA with the Moose Jaw Warriors where he collected 3 assists in 8 games.
Nameth also has family ties to the team as his cousin Chase briefly played for Broncos during the 2020/21 COVID shortened campaign.
Nameth turned 16 years old in January.
Grayson Malinoski – Goaltender – Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA
Round 2 – 16th overall
With their first pick in the second round, the Broncos selected their potential future star-goaltender in Grayson Malinoski.
When you talk about winning pedigree, Malinoski brings it as a part of the Bronze Medalist at the U18 AAA National Championships with the U18 AAA Saskatoon Blazers following their League Championship win.
The 5’11 Saskatoon native, who has family ties to Humboldt, was exceptional in his rookie season, leading the Blazers with 22 games played, and finished 2nd in the league in wins with a 18-4-0 record, with putting up a 2.43 GAA and .917 SV%.
Malinoski turned 16 years old in April.
Kristian Lacelle – Forward – Saskatoon Riverkings U18 AA
Round 2 – 23rd overall
With the Broncos final pick in the 2007 birthyear class, the went with more proven winners.
Lacelle, another native of Saskatoon, won the league championship with the Saskatoon Riverkings U18 AA Program where he finished with 27 regular season points (12g-15a) in 31 games. He then exploded in the playoffs, added 17 points (8g-9a) in 14 playoff games, good for 7th in the league.
A balanced offensive threat all over the ice, Lacelle also dressed for 2 games with the Champion’ U18 AAA Blazers, once in the regular season (1a), and once in the playoffs.
Listed at 5’8, 150lbs, Lacelle will turn 16 in September.
Meet the Prospects – 2008 Class
Luke Senick – Forward – Saskatoon Bandits U15 AA
Round 1 – 2nd Overall
The Broncos acquired the second overall pick in the 2008 class from the Kindersley Klippers in a trade early in the 2023 season.
With their first section in the 2008 class, the Broncos selected Luke Senick, a fiery offensive threat whose athletic ability is off the charts.
Senick, a Saskatoon native, who is only listed at 5’5, doesn’t let his height measure his heart. He’s produced at every level so far, and his best yet this past season. He led his team with 58 points and 37 goals (21a) in just 29 games with the U15 AA Saskatoon Bandits. His 37 goals were also tied for 5th in the entire league.
Along with being drafted by the Broncos, Senick was taken 151st overall by the Saskatoon Blades in this years WHL draft.
At only 14 years of age, who will turn 15 in July, Senick was also called up to U18 AAA this season where he played 4 games with the Saskatoon Contacts.
Shaan Basran – Forward – Saskatoon Outlaws U15 AA
Round 1 – 11th overall
You need speed in today’s hockey, and the Broncos second selection in the first round of the 2008 class has as much speed as anyone.
Basran, a Saskatoon native, is a pass-first forward who piled up the points with the Saskatoon Outlaws this past season. He played 30 games in the regular season, where he finished 2nd on his team with 61 points (18g,43a). He stepped up his game when it mattered most, leading his team in the playoffs with 11 points (6g-5a) in just 5 games.
Along with being drafted by the Broncos, Basran was taken by the Winnipeg Ice, 128th overall in the 2023 WHL draft.
Basran is listed at 5’10, 141lbs and turned 15 years old in January.
Eli Johnson – Defenseman – Regina Aces U15 AA
Round 2 – 13th overall
The Broncos took their first 2008-born defenseman, and second of the entire draft, 23rd overall by selecting Eli Johnson out of the Regina Aces U15 AA program.
Johnson was an offensive phenom in his second year of U15 AA and most definitely doesn’t lack in the defensive side of the game.
The right-shot mobile blueliner finished 4th in the league in defensive scoring, picking up 42 points (13g-29a) in just 29 games.
Johnson, a Regina native, has great size for just turning 15 years old in January. He’s already listed at 5’10, weighing 161 pounds and has the potential to be a top blueliner in the SJHL sooner rather that later.
Johnson was already called up for 2 games to get a small taste of U18 AAA hockey this past season with the Regina Pat Canadians and was also drafted in the 2023 WHL draft, being taken 154th overall by the Prince George Cougars.
Cooper Ernewein – Forward – Saskatoon Outlaws
Round 2 – 23rd overall
With the Broncos final selection of the 2023 SJHL Draft, they found immense value and a potential steal at 23rd overall, selecting the offensively gifted Cooper Ernewein.
When you talk about stats, Ernewein has them all.
He finished 7th in the league in points. He also led his Saskatoon Outlaws in goals and points with 32 goals and 72 points, while finishing second in assists (trailing only the Broncos 1st round selection, Shaan Basran) with 42 assists, in just 30 games played. Ernewein then nearly had two points-per-game in the playoffs with 5 goals and 4 assists in 5 postseason games.
Ernewein will turn 15 years old in October and is listed at 5’7, 135lbs.
He was also drafted 175th overall by the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.
“These players will all most likely be 1-2 years away from becoming full time Broncos. They all have such bright futures, and we look forward to continuing to help them with their development. Many of them will have the opportunity to wear the Humboldt Broncos jersey and our fans should be really excited about this year’s draft class,” said Head Coach and GM, Scott Barney.
“Once again the work put in by the scouting staff is so important to our draft and development and they don’t get enough credit,” Barney added.