By Vinny Gillespie
Photos by Dylan Asmundson
May 28th, 2024, which was a few days prior to the 2024 MJHL Draft, four RINK Hockey Academy student-athletes were auto-protected by four different MJHL franchises. To clarify how the auto-protection works, it is as if the player gets drafted, but instead of going through the draft like everyone else, teams have the option to exchange their 7th and 8th round picks in exchange for two players in or from their designated region. On June 2nd, 15 RHA student-athletes heard their names called at the MJHL Draft.
MJHL Auto-Protects
Hayden Shtykalo
Hayden Shtykalo got auto-protected by his hometown Dauphin Kings. This season with the RHA U17 Prep team, Shtykalo put up 19 goals and 14 assists for 33 points in 30 regular season games. In the playoffs, Shtykalo put up 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in 4 games.
Max Dowse
Max Dowse got auto-protected by his hometown Niverville Nighthawks. Dowse started his journey with the RINK Hockey Academy in the 2022-23 season with the U15 Prep team, he put up 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points in 30 games. This past 2023-24 season with the U17 Prep team, Dowse put up 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 29 games.
Koy Funk
Koy Funk got auto-protected by his hometown Portage Terriers. In the 2022-23 season, Funk played with the RHA U15 Prep team where he put up 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points in 30 games. This past 2023-24 season with the RHA U17 Prep team, Funk managed to put up 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in 30 games. Last season, Koy Funk heard his name get called at the 2023 WHL Draft in the 4th round, 77th overall by the Calgary Hitmen and signed his WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement during the season.
Wyatt Kelman
Wyatt Kelman got auto-protected by the Winnipeg Freeze. In the 2022-23 season with the U15 Prep team, Kelman put up 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 30 games. In the 2023 WHL Draft, the Tri City Americans drafted Kelman 233rd overall in the 11th round. This season with the U17 Prep team, Kelman put up 8 goals and 16 assists for 24 points in 30 games.
MJHL Draft Picks
Layne Schofield
On MJHL draft day, it didn't take very long for RHA student-athlete Layne Schofield to hear his name get called. With the 1st overall pick in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the reigning league champions, Winkler Flyers, were very proud to select Schofield. In the 2022-23 season with the U15 Prep team, Schofield put up 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 27 regular season games, and put up 2 assists in 3 CSSHL playoff games. The following 2023-24 season with the U17 Prep team, Schofield put up 8 goals and 15 assists for 23 points in 25 games in the regular season, and also put up 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points in 4 CSSHL playoff games. Winkler Flyers GM & Head Coach Justin Falk said this about his earliest selection in the 2024 MJHL Draft:
"After seeing the recent success of Trent Penner and Dalton Andrew moving on to NCAA Division 1 and the familiarities with his size and game, we anticipate Layne to be hungry for a similar development plan to follow in their footsteps"
Casey Magarrell
With the 3rd overall pick of the first round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Swan Valley Stampeders were very proud to select defenseman Casey Magarrell. In the 2023-24 season with the RHA U17 Prep team, Magarrell managed to put up 4 goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 28 regular season games, and put up an incredible 3 goals and 1 assist for 4 points in 4 CSSHL playoff games.
Carter Haney
With the 6th overall pick of the 1st round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Selkirk Steelers were very proud to select forward Carter Haney. In the 2023-24 season with the RHA U17 Prep team, Haney managed to put up an incredible 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points in 30 regular season games, and put up 1 goal and 3 assist for 4 points in 4 CSSHL playoff games. This season, Carter Haney was recognized as a U17 Prep Tier ll 1st Team All-Star. In the 2023 WHL Draft, the Regina Pats selected Haney with the 122nd overall pick in the 6th round.
River Arnason
With the 7th overall pick of the 1st round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Niverville Nighthawks were very proud to select forward River Arnason. In the 2022-23 season with the RHA U15 Prep team, Arnason managed to put up an incredible 13 goals and 30 assists for 43 points in 30 regular season games, and put up 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points in 3 CSSHL playoff games. The following 2023-24 season with the RHA U17 Prep team, Arnason put up 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points in 22 regular season games, and put up 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points in 3 CSSHL playoff games. This season, River Arnason was named to the U17 Prep Tier ll 2nd All-Star team and was also recognized as the CSSHL's U17 Prep Tier ll Most Sportsmanlike player.
Aiden Jacobson
With the 12th overall pick of the 1st round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Winkler Flyers were very proud to select forward Aiden Jacobson. In the 2023-24 season with the RHA U17 Prep team, Jacobson put up 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 28 regular season games, and put up 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points in 4 CSSHL playoff games.
Ashton Dzeba
With the 22nd overall pick of the 2nd round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Opaskwayak Cree Nation Blizzard were very proud to select defenseman Ashton Dzeba. In the 2023-24 season with the RHA U17 Prep team, Jacobson put up 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in 22 regular season games, and suited up in 4 CSSHL playoff games.
Ridley Ringor
With the 29th overall pick of the 3rd round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Selkirk Steelers were very proud to select defenseman Ridley Ringor. In the 2022-23 season with the RHA U15 Prep team, Ringor put up 1 goal and 16 assists for 17 points in 27 games. The following 2023-24 season on the RHA U17 Prep team, Ringor put up 2 goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 28 regular season games, and scored 1 goal in 3 CSSHL playoff games.
Gavin Quennelle
With the 30th overall pick of the 3rd round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Waywayseecappo Wolverines were very proud to select forward Gavin Quennelle. In the 2023-24 season with the RHA U17 Prep team, Quennelle put up 10 goals and 8 assists for 18 points in 29 regular season games, and had 1 assist in 4 CSSHL playoff games.
Joshua Shaganya
With the 44th overall pick of the 4th round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Neepawa Titans were very proud to select defenseman Joshua Shaganya. In the 2022-23 season with the RHA U15 Prep team, Shaganya put up 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 30 regular season games, and put up 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points in 3 CSSHL playoff games. The following 2023-24 season on the RHA U17 Prep team, Shaganya put up 10 assists in 30 regular season games, and had 1 goal and 1 assist in 4 CSSHL playoff games. In the 2023 WHL Draft, the Swift Current Broncos selected Joshua Shaganya with the 250th overall pick of the 12th round.
Jett Deschamps
With the 52nd overall pick of the 4th round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Steinbach Pistons were very proud to select defenseman Jett Deschamps. In the 2022-23 season with the RHA U15 Prep team, Deschamps put up 4 goals and 20 assists for 24 points in 30 regular season games, and suited up in 3 CSSHL playoff games. The following 2023-24 season on the RHA U17 Prep team, Deschamps put up 3 goals and 17 assists for 20 points in 30 regular season games, and had 1 goal and 3 assist in 4 CSSHL playoff games. In the 2023 WHL Draft, the Regina Pats selected Jett Deschamps with the 96th overall pick of the 5th round. This season, Jett Deschamps was named to the CSSHL U17 Prep 2nd All-Star team, and was also a nominee for the U17 Prep Tier ll Division Top Defenseman Award.
Zachary Lansard
With the 53rd overall pick of the 5th round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Winkler Flyers were very proud to select forward Zachary Lansard. In the 2022-23 season with the RHA U15 Prep team, Lansard put up 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points in 30 regular season games, had 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points 3 CSSHL playoff games. The following 2023-24 season, on the RHA U18 Prep team, Lansard put up 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points in 10 regular season games. In the 2023 WHL Draft, the Regina Pats selected Zachary Lansard with the 78th overall pick of the 4th round.
William Spencer
With the 60th overall pick of the 5th round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Dauphin Kings were very proud to select defenceman William Spencer. In the 2023-24 season with the RHA U17 Prep team, Spencer put up 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points in 22 regular season games, and had 1 assist in 4 CSSHL playoff games.
Kaden Allan
With the 63rd overall pick of the 5th round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Virden Oil Capitals were very proud to select defenceman William Spencer. In the 2023-24 season with the RHA U18 Prep team, Allan put up 6 goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 30 regular season games, and had 1 assist in 3 CSSHL playoff games. In the 2023 WHL Draft, the Spokane Chiefs selected Kaden Allan with the 24th overall pick in the 2nd round.
Trystan Hunter
With the 71st overall pick in the 5th round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Selkirk Steelers were very proud to select forward Trystan Hunter. In the 2022-23 season with the U15 Prep team, Hunter put up 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points in 30 regular season games, and put up 2 assists in 3 CSSHL playoff games. The following 2023-24 season with the U17 Prep team, Hunter put up 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points in 23 games in the regular season, and also put up 3 assists for in 4 CSSHL playoff games.
Peyton Shore
With the 89th overall pick in the 7th round in the 2024 MJHL Draft, the Virden Oil Capitals were very proud to select goaltender Peyton Shore. In the 2022-23 season with the U15 Prep team, Shore put up a .879 SV% and 4.20 GAA in 15 regular season games, and put up a .936 SV% and 1.96 GAA in 2 CSSHL playoff games. The following 2023-24 season with the U17 Prep team, Shore put up a .932 SV% and 2.48 GAA in 15 regular season games. In the 2023 WHL Draft, the Red Deer Rebels selected Peyton Shore with the 100th overall pick in the 5th round. This season, Peyton Shore was named to the CSSHL U17 Tier ll 2nd All-Star team.