TC Americans Pick Another Local Player in WHL Draft

As the WHL Draft continues, the Tri-City Americans have selected another local player who will be in camp this coming August. (Image courtesy of Tri-City Americans)

Second TC Junior Americans player picked

  You may recall last December, Conner Ellingsen of Pasco was taken by the Americans in what's called the U.S. Priority Draft.  He was taken in the Priority Draft, which allows Western Hockey League teams to select U.S.-born players from 20 western states.

Ellingsen will join the Americans this August in camp, the 6' 1" 170 center was part of the nationally-ranked Tri City Junior Americans 16-U AA Team.

  Now, another player has been selected

Vincent Rodriguez, a Defenseman, was selected in the  2nd Round of this spring's Priority Draft, 36th overall.

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The Priority Draft was begun by the WHL in 2020. More from the Americans on this opportunity:

 "Players eligible for the draft are 2006-born players who reside in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming."

This is the first time two local Tri-City players have been selected by the Americans, the U.S. Priority Draft is part of the WHL Bantam Draft where the Western Hockey League teams get their players you see on the iced at the Toyota Center.