
June 24 was an unforgettable day for Kale Howarth of the Trail Smoke Eaters. The 20-year-old forward was selected in the fifth round, 148th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Howarth was the only BCHL player selected in this year’s NHL draft. He becomes the third Trail Smoke Eater drafted by an NHL club. Travis Gawryletz was drafted in the eighth round by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2004 and Grant Rollheiser was drafted in the sixth round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008.