Pats pick grandson of NHL legend in U.S. priority draft

The Regina Pats’ first pick in the WHL’s U.S. priority draft has some serious hockey bloodlines.

With the 12th overall selection Wednesday, the Pats chose Parker Trottier — the 15-year-old grandson of NHL legend Bryan Trottier.

The elder Trottier, a product of Val Marie, played in the Western Canadian Hockey League (the forerunner of the WHL) with the Swift Current Broncos and Lethbridge Broncos before joining the New York Islanders in 1975 to begin his storied NHL career.

He won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders and two with the Pittsburgh Penguins during his 18-year NHL career. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.

Parker Trottier is a 5-foot-11, 150-pound product of Edina, Minn. He had 43 goals and 45 assists in 56 games this season with the Shattuck-St. Mary’s under-14 AAA team.

Regina’s second pick (34th overall) was forward Blake Kiley-Ram from the Phoenix Junior Coyotes under-14 AAA team. A 14-year-old resident of Scottsdale, Ariz., the 5-foot-7, 126-pounder had one goal and two assists in four games this season.

The Saskatoon Blades also made two picks in the draft.

In the first round (19th overall), Saskatoon selected forward Daniel Peate. The 5-foot-7, 141-pounder from Anaheim, Calif., played for the Anaheim Junior Ducks under-14 AAA squad this season, recording 38 goals and 20 assists in 40 games.

The Blades’ second selection (41st overall) was defenceman Luke Host from Columbine Valley, Colo. The 5-foot-7, 120-pounder had a goal and an assist in five games with the Okanagan Hockey Academy under-14 AAA team and two assists in 10 games with the Colorado Springs Tigers under-14 AAA team.

Next up for the WHL teams is the annual prospects draft, which is set for Thursday.