After originally being drafted by the Swift Current Broncos in the sixth round of the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, the 2003-born forward has locked himself into a probable career in the Western League. The 16-year-old has now made good on his verbal commitment to CHL hockey, putting pen to paper this past week.
A strong two-way player, Lewis is currently listed at 5-foot-11, and 165 pounds. His past three seasons have been spent in the bantam and midget provincial AAA leagues with the Southwest Cougars. After a 15-goal, 26-point first-year bantam campaign, the right-handed winger exploded for 23 goals and 47 points in just 28 games in 2017-18. This past year saw Lewis register 10 goals, 30 points and 20 penalty minutes in 45 games in his first season of midget AAA.
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Lewis skated with Team Sakic alongside Joel Hofer at this past season’s Broncos’ training camp in August. He is expected to participate once again this summer, showcasing his development following his first year of midget hockey. The Broncos had a very disappointing 2018-19 season and will look to rebound this coming year. Braeden Lewis very well may be a part of that plan.
The Lewis signing caps off a very interesting month for the town of Virden. Although the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Virden Oil Capitals fell 4-0 to the eventual league champ Portage in the second round of the postseason, many other eventful Virden-centric occurrences took place recently: Virden product Wyatt Kalynuk was recently named captain of the Wisconsin Badgers, former Oil Capitals defenceman Zach Whitecloud helped the Chicago Wolves to the AHL’s Calder Cup Final, 2018-19 Oil Caps’ captain Brock Shwaluk committed to the Victoria Vikes, while Virden native Grady Lane just signed with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs.
