The San Jose Jr. Sharks are pleased to announce that 14 AAA players Joe Cassetti and Dominik Vlaha were selected in the 2014 Western Hockey League Draft. This marks the second year in a row a player from the Jr. Sharks was selected in the WHL Bantam Draft. Defensemen Dylan Dix was selected in the 6th round last season by the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Cassetti, from Pleasanton, CA, was selected in the 6th round, 124th overall, by the Spokane Chiefs. Spokane is one of only a few teams located in the United States that competes in the Canadian Junior League. Cassetti finished the 2013-14 season with 44 goals and 38 assists for 82 points. Cassetti has been playing for the Jr. Sharks since his Peewee hockey years including 13AAA last season. 

Vlaha, from North Bend, WA, was selected in the 8th round, 160 overall, by the Tri-City Americans.  Vlaha finished the 2013-14 season with a .863 save percentage and 3.73 goals against average. Vlaha came to the Jr. Sharks this past season from his team in Seattle.

“It’s a proud moment for the club to have a couple players recognized in this year’s WHL draft," said the Jr Sharks Director Curtis Brown, "Joey and Dom were rewarded for their hard work and their ability to play the game. I couldn’t be happier for them both" .

Both Cassetti and Vlaha will compete in the Pacific District Tryout Camp May 10-12 in San Jose to try to earn a spot in the US National Camp.

About the WHL

The Western Hockey League started with just seven teams based in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1966. The WHL now has representation in all four Western Canadian provinces and the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. With the addition of the Edmonton Oil Kings for the 2007-08 season, the WHL now consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 based in Canadian markets and 5 in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

The WHL is a member of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) whose membership is comprised of three major junior hockey leagues: Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). At the conclusion of each League's playoffs, the CHL hosts the Mastercard Memorial Cup. A National Championship tournament involving each of the League's Champion and the tournament host. For more information on the WHL and the Bantam Draft, please visit www.whl.ca