WHL Draft Day Steals: Darren Helm
Looking back at Kailer Yamamoto, who was drafted by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the ninth round.
Photo by Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports - WHL Draft Day Steals: Darren HelmWelcome to this edition of WHL Draft Day Steals. In this recurring column, we look at some of the best steals in the history of the WHL Draft. This week's steal is Darren Helm, who was drafted by the Medicine Hat Tigers 157th overall in 2002.
During the 2002 draft, the Tigers took a chance on a forward out of the Winnipeg Hawks U14 AAA program named Darren Helm. He had posted 40 points in 30 games during his draft year and was ready to make the jump to the U18 level. Little did Medicine Hat know that this pick would significantly impact their franchise.
Helm would join the Tigers full-time in 2004-05. During his WHL career, he recorded 167 points in 201 games while winning Gold for Canada at the 2007 World Juniors. His crowing moment, though, came in his final season, where, after recording 22 points in 23 playoff games, he helped Medicine Hat make it all the way to the Memorial Cup Final.
Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round of the 2005 Draft, Helm had a successful career that lasted over 800 games. He won two Stanley Cups and retired with 266 regular season points. It is safe to say he had a pretty good career for a player who needed to wait 157 spots to hear his name called at the WHL Draft.
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