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Younger Guhle tops WHL draft class

Five years separates Kaiden Guhle from his older brother Brendan and for most of his life, Kaiden has been trying to live up to the high standards in hockey Brendan established.
Guhle
Prince George Cougars MVP Brendan Guhle (45) is on his way to a pro career with the Buffalo Sabres. On Thursday, Guhle's 15-year-old brother Kaiden was picked first overall in the WHL draft by the Prince Albert Raiders.

Five years separates Kaiden Guhle from his older brother Brendan and for most of his life, Kaiden has been trying to live up to the high standards in hockey Brendan established.
As a lightning-quick defenceman with good size and a big shot, the elder Guhle emerged as a Western Hockey League star playing for the Prince Albert Raiders and that got him drafted two years ago in the second round by the Buffalo Sabres. After getting traded to the Prince George Cougars for what likely was his last season of junior hockey, Brendan finished the season in the AHL with Rochester and is now well on his way to a pro career.
On Thursday, Kaiden finally gained a bit of one-upmanship on his big brother when the six-foot-one 165-pound native of Sherwood Park, Alta., was selected first-overall by the Raiders in the Western Hockey League draft. That's two spots higher than Brendan, the third-overall pick of the Raiders in the 2012 draft.
"We knew he was either going to P.A. or Kootenay - if he had been picked any lower that would have been a big surprise," said Brendan Guhle. "I'm super-proud of him. He was excited to be drafted to Prince Albert and he thinks it's cool that I played there."
Kaiden played for the Okanagan Hockey Academy Edmonton bantam prep team and has 17 goals and 40 points in 30 games. Brendan saw him play over the Christmas break for the OHA midget team and was in Canmore last weekend to watch him in the Alberta Cup tournament.
"He did pretty good, I think we play similar styles, he's a little smarter," said Brendan. "I don't know if he's as fast, though, but he's five years younger than me.
"He's very physical, actually, he laid some massive hits in Alberta Cup and I was impressed by that. He's definitely a lot meaner than me. I texted the coaches and the trainer and the educational advisor and told them to take good care of him, I know them all and I'm happy he's going there and he's happy he's there too. Hopefully he plays well and gets drafted, it's a long road."
Brendan played three seasons in Prince Albert before he was traded to Prince George in November 15 games into the season. As the Cougars' most valuable player he totaled 13 goals and 29 points in 32 regular season games and also had six assists in six playoff games. After the Cougars were eliminated in the first playoff round, Guhle went to Buffalo's AHL affiliate in Rochester and he picked up a goal and an assist in six games. Although he doesn't turn 20 until July and is age-eligible to return to the Cougars, that's not going to happen.
"They said I would have a good opportunity to play in Buffalo (next season), but that was before (Sabres GM Tim Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma) got fired," said Brendan. "If it don't make the starting-day roster then come back (to Rochester) with a good attitude and do what I can to get back there as quick as possible."
He'll be in Sherwood Park indulging his love for swimming, badminton and golf, while skating once or twice a week until he goes to the Sabres' development camp in July.