Vancouver Giants Busy WHL Draft Day Includes Choosing Women’s Blue Liner From Burnaby Winter Club

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Berkeley Parneta, general manager of the Vancouver Giants, was busy Thursday.

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For the first time in franchise history, the Giants won three picks in the first round of the WHL draft. They used 7th overall at Prince George’s center Cameron Schmidt, who played with Link Kelowna this past season. After that, Parneta exchanged 21st and 70th for Saskatoon blades and 19th. The Giants used that choice at Aaron Ovo byfo, the center of Calgary where he played with Shatuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota.

Parneta then chose Jacob Oleskovich, a forward from Langley who played at the Delta Hockey Academy, at number 22.

Parneta was also in the news at the end of the draft when he took Chloe Primerano, a North Vancouver defender who played against the Burnaby Winter Club in the 13th round. Primerano is the first female skater to be selected in the WHL, QMJHL and OHL Prospect Drafts.

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In 2021, goalkeeper Taya Curry became the first woman to be drafted by OHL when he was selected for Sanya Sting in the 14th round.

“She competes, plays hard, and is smart,” Parneta said. “I think we drafted a really good player. That’s it.

“There was a consistent chat between us about her splendor.”

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Parneta says the phone exploded Thursday afternoon, saying that the former Primera coach and those who were coaching against her deserved her recognition.

Primerano says he first knew he was chosen when he saw his name scrolling through the WHL website.

“It was really crazy. I still couldn’t believe it was real,” she said.

“Before the draft, I heard some rumblings that it might happen, but I didn’t think it would happen.”

Primerano has been playing hockey since he was 3 years old and has always played against men. According to Parneta, her plan is for her to come to a training camp in the fall, just like any other pick in Vancouver. Like everyone drafted on Thursday, Primera will only be able to play five games at WHL next season. This year’s draft class can become a full-time player with the 2023-24 campaign.

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“The opportunity to go to the WHL camp with all the great players out there is really exciting,” said Primerano.

Players drafted in the second half do not routinely stick to the team, but it does. The Winger Kylebo Check, who played with the Giants in this latest playoff run, was the 12th round of 2018.

Listed at £ 5’8 and £ 135, Primerano had 2 goals and 17 assists in 30 games against BWC. Nine of her assists came to power play.

Meanwhile, Parneta states that the Giants believe they have acquired two “top five talents” in Schmidt and Ovobaifo.

With his Shatuck bond, there is a school of thought that Ovobaifo may be destined to go to the NCAA route. Parneta believes the Giants have good insights into Ovo Baifo, as Lucas, the son of Ryan Sochin, a Minnesota Scout in Vancouver, is a teammate of Ovo Baifo. Parneta also says that Obabaifo’s family adviser works for Sports Corporation, an Edmonton-based player agency led by Jerry Johansson. Johansson has represented several giants, especially Milan Lucic and Brendan Gallagher, for many years. Former Giants GM Scott Bonner also works for Johansson’s group.

The Giants made two first rounders three times in one draft, and finally in 2016, defensive Bowwen Byram was third and goalkeeper Trentminer was 20th. Both were essential to the 2019 WHL Championship Series team.

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