Photo: Penticton Vees, Cherie Morgan Photography

Jonny Tychonick

UPDATE: 12:15 p.m.

Penticton Vees defenceman Jonny Tychonick led a wave of seven BC Hockey League players selected in this year's NHL draft.

Tychonick, the top rated BCHL player didn't have to wait long for his name to be called Saturday morning. The steady two-way defenceman, was taken with the 17th pick of the second round, 48th overall, by the Ottawa Senators.

Ottawa took Tychonick with a pick acquired from the New York Rangers Friday night.

The 6', 176 pound Tychonick is slated to play at the University of North Dakota next season, joining current teammates Adam Scheel and Jackson Keene.

He was the first of two BCHL players selected by the Senators. Ottawa also selected Langley l3eft winger Angus Crookshank in the fifth round with the 126th overall selection.

Trail Smoke Eaters defenceman Seth Barton, one of three BCHL players invited to the draft combine in Buffalo, was selected in the third round Saturday.

Barton was taken with the 81st selection by the Detroit Red Wings.

A pair of Wenatchee Wild heard their names called in the fourth round.

Defenceman Slava Demin was taken 99th by the Vegas Golden Knights while league scoring champ Jasper Weatherby went three picks later to the San Jose Sharks.

Two Vernon Vipers rounded out the gang of seven, both going in the seventh round.

Centre Brett Stapley was taken 190th overall by the Montreal Canadians and goaltender Ty Taylor went 114th to Tampa Bay.

The seven players selected is tied for the most taken from the league since the NHL went to a seven-round draft.

The league also had seven players taken in 2007 and 2013.

A Penticton Vees defenceman became the first Vees player to be drafted by the Ottawa Senators during Friday night's NHL Draft.

Jonny Tychonick was drafted 48th overall, becoming the 32nd player to be drafted to the NHL directly from the Vees.

The Calgary native notched nine goals and 38 assists in 48 games with the Vees last season. In the playoffs, he continued to perform, recording at least one point in each of the Vees' 11 games.

Tychonick also represented Team Canada West as the assistant captain at the World Junior 'A' Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia last year, and played for Team Canada at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Russia in May.

Tychonick plans to play for the University of North Dakota in the upcoming season, where he will be joining Vees alumni Tyson Jost, Troy Stecher and Nick Jones, along with current teammates Adam Scheel and Jackson Keane.