Two northerners are one step closer to their NHL dreams following the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.

Justin Lies and Chase Bertholet were selected in the 3rd and 5th rounds respectively following impressive 2017/2018 campaigns with the Bantam "AAA" Norman Wolves.

Lies went 56th overall to the Vancouver Giants after finishing 8th in league scoring during the Winnipeg Bantam "AAA" regular season. The Flin Flon native, who served as the Wolves' captain this season, put up 39 goals 23 assists in 35 games before helping Team North win bronze at the recent 2018 Manitoba Winter Games.

Bertholet, who hails from The Pas, went 94th overall to the Red Deer Rebels. The 15-year-old played a big role in Team North's medal at the Winter Games. He put up 10 points (4G, 6A) in the tournament, including a pair of goals and assists in the bronze medal game. Bertholet finished the regular season as the leading scorer for the Wolves and 6th in the league with 30 goals and 38 assists.

2017/2018 was the second season with the Norman Wolves for both Lies and Bertholet, though they only played a combined 12 games in 2016/2017.

Photo courtesy of Shaw TV Thompson