MONTREAL - A former Estevan resident was selected in the NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Parker Bell, a 6'4" winger, was picked in the fifth round, 155th overall, by the Calgary Flames. Bell was born in Estevan and spent several years playing minor hockey in the Energy City.
Bell has since played minor hockey in B.C., and has spent three seasons with the Western Hockey League's Tri-Cities Americans.
He had 18 goals and 49 points in 64 games played with the Tri-Cities Americans this season.
Bell is the latest player to have lived in the southeast to be drafted into the NHL. Last year it was defenceman Max Wanner, who was picked in the seventh round by the Edmonton Oilers. in 2018, forward Cole Fonstad was picked in the fifth round by the Montreal Canadiens.
Also, Estevan defenceman Brayden Pachal played a couple of games for the Vegas Golden Knights last season, while forward Tanner Jeannot of Oxbow has played for the Nashville Predators the past two seasons.
Brothers Haydn and Cale Fleury, who hail from Carlyle, suited up for the expansion Seattle Kraken last season.
The next edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.