Portland Winterhawks players Paul Bittner, Adin Hill and Caleb Jones were all selected on the second day of NHL Draft on Saturday.
Bitter was drafted in the second round, 38th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Hill was selected in the third round, 76th overall by the Arizona Coyotes.
Jones was taken in the fourth round, 117th overall by the Edmonton Oilers.
“Being drafted is one of the most exciting days of a player’s career, and we’re extremely proud of Paul, Adin and Caleb,” said Portland Winterhawks general manager and head coach Jamie Kompon in a press release. “I know it’s a dream come true for the players and their families, and as an organization we couldn’t be happier for them.”
Bittner set career-highs during the 2014-15 campaign with 34 goals and 37 assists for 71 points in 66 games.
When asked how it feels to hear your name called at the NHL Draft, Bitter replied: “Excited as hell.”
The Blue Jackets already have a few notable Portland Winterhawks in the system including Ryan Johansen and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
“Ollie’s been texting me all week,” Bittner laughed. “He’s been saying ‘I want Columbus to take you so bad, I want a friend here I know really well.’ He was texting me all last night, and today he was asking (when the draft starts). We’ve been texting quite a bit.
“I know he’s excited. I don’t have my phone on me, but I know he’s sending me about 10 text messages.”
Hill went 31-11-1-0 with two shutouts in his first full WHL season, and led all WHL goalies with a .921 save percentage and tied for ninth with a goals against average of 2.81.
Jones signed with the Hawks in April after playing last season for the United States National Development U18 Team, where he had six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 65 games.
The Hawks have now had players drafted in seven straight years, with 27 taken in that span.
