'TIPS SIGN TOP DRAFT PICKS MAPPIN, LEEDAHL

Press Release

EVERETT, WA – Everett Silvertips Vice President/General Manager Doug Soetaert today announced that the club has signed its first and second-round picks from this year’s WHL draft, forwards Ty Mappin and Dawson Leedahl, to Western Hockey League Standard Player Agreements.

Mappin, 15, was the seventh overall pick in the draft after an impressive 2010-11 season with the Red Deer Rebels’ Bantam AAA club. In 33 games last year, Mappin scored 37 goals and assisted on 34 more to give him 71 points; good for sixth-most in the league. During the Alberta Cup tournament in April, the 5-10, 160-pound Big Valley, Alberta native totaled nine points (4g/5a) in only five games to lead all players in scoring.

The Silvertips selected Leedahl, also 15, in the second round of the WHL Draft, making him the 40th overall pick in 2011. In 54 games last year with the Bantam AA Saskatoon Maniacs in his hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Leedahl racked up 127 points on 56 goals and 71 assists. The 5-11, 175-pound winger did more than score for the Maniacs however, also compiling 196 penalty minutes a season ago.

“We’re very pleased to have Ty and Dawson signed to WHL contracts,” Soetaert said. “Both players have shown their abilities in training camp and illustrated that they are high quality players who will definitely contribute to our hockey club in the next couple of years. We’re happy to welcome them both to the Everett Silvertips family.”

The WHL Scholarship not only encourages its graduates to pursue a post-secondary education, but also affords graduates the opportunity to continue playing hockey at an elite level in the Canadian University or College systems. For every season a player spends in the WHL, he receives a full year guaranteed Scholarship to a higher education institution. Each year over 300 WHL graduates attend a university or college on a WHL Scholarship.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)