Winnipeg Bantam AAA Monarchs teammates Rylan Gould and Grayson Burzynski didn’t need to wait long to learn their path to the WHL could be continued together.

In Wednesday’s 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, Gould was chosen as the Swift Current Broncos’ second selection, when the club picked the forward 42nd overall in the second round.

"It was pure excitement. At the start of the year, it was a goal of mine to be drafted in the top four rounds. So, to be drafted in the second and beat my goal, it was really exciting. To be drafted to the Swift Current Broncos, it was just that much better,” he said.

Then, with the final pick of the second round, 44th overall, the Broncos turned to the Monarchs’ blueline, grabbing Burzynski.

"It was just a dream come true,” noted Burzynski. “I never thought I was going to get drafted in the second round - I thought I was going to get drafted a little later, if not drafted at all. I was just so stoked to see my name pop up on the screen."

"I kept looking at the draft because Swift picked two spots after. I wanted to see who was going to join me, then sure enough it was Grayson, so I called him right away. We talked and we were super excited," said Gould.

"Me and Rylan were talking about it before the draft. We knew that Swift Current had interest in both of us, and we were just hoping we could both go to the same team. Rylan's one of my best friends, and it's just great to see that I can continue the friendship with him and play this high of level,” added Burzynski.

Both players noted that being a team’s second and third prospects selected in a draft, especially in the first two rounds, adds some pressure to the mix. However, it’s nothing they feel they can’t tackle.

“I need to prove to them that I'm what they thought I was, and the player that they think I am,” said Burzynski. “I need to just work hard. It feels good to be valued that highly."

“It’s a big task that we need to be prepared for,” Gould admitted. “But I think him and I will come to camp, and when we join the team, we'll be ready and prepared to showcase our talents to get Swift Current back to a winning culture."

Gould, a product of Headingley, Man., and Burzynski, who hails from right in Winnipeg, led their Monarchs team to a strong campaign.

The squad amassed a 28-5-1-2 record in the 2019-20 regular season, good for second place. They then went 5-3-0-2 in the playoffs, falling in the Bantam AAA Tier 1 Finals to the Winnipeg Warriors – and fellow Broncos’ 2020 draft pick Liam Saxberg - for the runner-up finish.

Gould produced the fourth-most points in the league in the regular-season, recording 86 (32 G, 54 A) in 36 games. In the playoffs, the 5-foot-7, 152-pound prospect led his team with seven goals and 20 points in those 10 games.

The forward noted he can do a lot more than just score, though.

"I'm a hard-working, two-way player who likes to score, likes to get my teammates involved. I like hitting people I guess you could say," he laughed. "Like bringing energy to a team with a good play or even just saying positive things on the bench.”

“I'm a leader, and I think I could bring to the Broncos a consistent player every single night, can put up points and do whatever the coach needs me to do to help the team succeed,” the 14-year-old Gould added.

His teammate noticed a lot of those similar qualities from the blueline the past season.

"Rylan is a great hockey player, he's got great foot speed, he's a super smart player as well,” said Burzynski. “This year he was my captain for the team, and he led our team well. Rylan's a great leader and a great teammate."

As for Burzynski, a 6-foot-1 and 203-pound mountain of a 14-year-old prospect, finding the stat sheet seemed equally as comfortable this season.

He recorded the most points in the league among defensemen in the regular season. Burzynski found the back of the net 19 times, and racked up 58 points in 36 games. In the playoffs, he tied with the aforementioned Saxberg for most among D-men with 14 points.

"I'm a pretty offensive player, I like to step up in the play, get on the board with some points, and can play a shutdown role if the Broncos need that,” Burzynski said, defining his game. “I was matched up usually against the top-end players on the other team. I think I can do that as well for the Broncos, and just whatever they need me for."

"He has really good hands and he has a very good sense - he can make really good passes,” Gould said of his teammate. “He's a very smart player. I think he's going to be a very valuable asset to the Broncos in the future.” “His shot is second to none - it's a very good shot,” Gould added. “He's going to rack up a lot of points, have a good attitude, and get the crowd involved by laying the big hits."

Both Gould and Burzynski noted that, regardless of if or when the day comes that they’ll don the blue and green, it’s an organization they’ll be proud to represent.

"I've heard nothing but good things about the Swift Current Broncos. I think the coaching staff is great, the general manager and all the scouts that have been through this journey with me so far, they've all been great - they make me feel at home,” Gould noted.

"It's a great program. They do a lot in the community, just volunteer and go out and see people,” noted Burzynski. “I think that's super important. If I ever become a part of the team, then I think that'll be a big part to me. The team just seems great."

The now-former Bantam AAA players were both quick to add that they know exactly what they need, and continue, to work on to make sure they are able to make that jump to the WHL.

"Of course, getting to the next level, I feel like I can improve on everything. But the main thing I'm going to be focusing on is my defensive zone. I believe that you need to play both sides of the puck,” said Gould.

“I think my foot speed is what I need to work on. It’s always been the slowest part of my game – just the first few steps getting going,” Burzynski said. “Been doing a lot of [agility] ladder stuff, cardio, and just getting in better shape. I think that’s what can make the jump to the WHL a lot easier.”

For the time being, while all hockey-related activities have come to a halt amid the current circumstance in the country, the pair of Broncos prospects will have to wait to show the best is yet to come.

"I can't wait to make it out to Swift soon and bring something to the table,” said Gould, whose teammate echoed similar sentiments.

"I'm not going to stop working hard - this is just the start."