A Mission hockey player is moving up to the next level of competition.
The Everett Silvertips selected Mission’s Lucas Wiercioch with the 125th overall pick in the sixth round of the WHL Draft on May 9.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. At first, I was so shocked and found it hard to believe. I was reading the list and saw my name and it was unreal. I looked at it and couldn’t even move,” Wiercioch said.
The defenceman previously played for the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U15 AAA squad, tallying nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 30 games played during the regular season. The Thunderbirds claimed the 2024 BCEHL U15 championship.
Wiercioch was one of 10 selections for Everett during the 2024 draft. He joins first-overall pick Landon Dupont on the Silvertips blueline.
The Mission product says he can bring a smart and quick game to Everett. He hopes to be a malleable defenceman who the team can trust on both ends, as well as on special teams.
“I think I’ll fit in well with the team. At the end of the day we are all there for one reason and that’s to play hockey,” he said.
Wiercioch is trying to focus on playing with more pace and speed.
“It’s a big jump from my current team to the WHL and if I get faster and can play with more speed, I think that will make a big difference,” he said.
Wiercioch’s parents, Erin and Chris, say they are both very proud of his hard work and determination.
“He has a long hard road ahead of him to get to where he wants to be and we are very excited to see where it will take him and what his future holds,” they said.
With the 125th-overall pick in the 2024 #WHLDraft, we select...
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) May 9, 2024
Lucas Wiercioch (D, '09) from @FVTBirds_AAA!#ForEverett pic.twitter.com/4zk29bGkjn