Spokane Chiefs select defenseman Graham Sward in first round of Bantam Draft

RED DEER, Alberta – The Spokane Chiefs selected 12 players in the Western Hockey League’s Bantam Draft on Thursday, including defenseman Graham Sward with the 17th overall pick.

“We’re ecstatic,” Chiefs assistant general manager of hockey operations Chris Moulton said. “(Sward) is a guy we coveted (but) didn’t think we’d get. Graham is polished. He’s a competitor.”

Sward is a 6-foot-1, 163-pound blueliner from Abbotsford, British Columbia. He played last season with the Yale Hockey Academy Bantam Prep (CSSHL), accounting for two goals and 16 assists in 26 games. He added one assist in two games up with Yale’s Midget Prep squad.

“He does a bit of everything really well,” Moulton said. “He makes smart decisions, always has his head on a swivel, plays with poise and has an edge to his game.”

The Chiefs selected two goaltenders, four defensemen and six forwards. Spokane selected four players from Alberta and three from Saskatchewan.

The Chiefs’ other selections were: Owen MacNeil, forward, second round; Blake Swetlikoff, forward, third round; Devin Aubin, defenseman, fourth round; Mason Beaupit, goaltender, fourth round; Logan Cox, forward, fourth round; Chase Friedt-Mohr, defenseman, fifth round; Grady Lane, forward, eighth round; Zachery Burns, forward, ninth round; Copeland Fricker, forward, ninth round; Brandt Young, defenseman, 10th round; and Tyler Palmer, goaltender, 10th round.