By James Shewaga /

It’s been three decades since the Brandon Wheat Kings had two players picked in the first round of an NHL draft.

Next year, Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie are hoping to change 
all that.

After exploding on the WHL scene with impressive rookie seasons, the Wheat Kings’ 17-year-old super sophomores continue to roll right along this season, sitting first and second in team scoring entering the second week of December. Through 30 games, Glennie and Schenn were 1-2 in goals (17, 15) points (37, 35) and plus/minus (+18, +13) on the Wheat Kings.

NHL scouts have been closely following the dynamic duo all season, with Schenn and Glennie ranked third and fourth, respectively, among WHL skaters in the Central Scouting Bureau’s preliminary rankings for the 2009 NHL draft in Montreal.

“They are both pretty special kids,” said one NHL scout. “I think they’ll both go (in the first round).”

While they are fully aware of the close scrutiny they are receiving, both Schenn and Glennie have been careful not to let the NHL draft become a distraction.

“Obviously it’s going to be in the back of your mind, but I think you’ve just got to focus on your team doing well,” said Schenn, a six-foot, 201-pound centre from Saskatoon. “You can’t look too much into (the draft), you just have to worry about competing and battling day-in, day-out.”

Schenn was named the 2008 WHL rookie of the year after scoring 28 goals and racking up 71 points in 68 games to become the first 16-year-old to lead the Wheat Kings in scoring since Ron Chipperfield back in 1970-71. Glennie wasn’t far behind, scoring 26 goals and notching 58 points in 61 games and is expected to follow Schenn as a first-round pick next year.

“You can’t worry about where you are going to go in the draft,” said Glennie, a six-foot-one, 182-pound right-winger from Winnipeg. “You just need to play hard each and every night and show the scouts what you can do ... But obviously it would be real special for both of us to go in the first round. It would be a dream for both of us and it would be a great feeling.”

Schenn got a little taste of the NHL draft experience this past summer when he watched his older brother Luke get drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“Him going the year before, I kind of know what to expect,” said Schenn. “He’s been through it all and I’m sure he will help me out when the time comes.”

ICINGS: Brandon Wheat Kings LW Matt Calvert, D Keith Aulie and Schenn were among the 38 players picked for the Canadian junior team selection camp in Ottawa ... Rookie Brandon RW Mark Stone will play for Team Western at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, B.C., from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4.