nivek_wahs
04-30-2008, 08:44 AM
From Greg Harder...http://communities.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/blogs/slapshots/archive/2008/04/29/scouting-a-strength-for-pats.aspx
Scouting a strength for Pats
It seemed like no one was immune to criticism in the wake of the Regina Pats' first-round playoff flop. Clean house, people said. Get rid of the players, the coaches, management, office staff, zamboni driver, even the mascot.
Some of the concerns were justified. Others were completely out to lunch.
Not even head scout Todd Ripplinger and his staff were safe, even though they were simply observers in the series against Swift Current.
Regardless, the team's scouting department will get another chance to re-affirm its worth during Thursday's bantam draft in Calgary.
With that in mind, I discovered some interesting facts in researching a story on the team's recent history at the bantam draft for Wednesday's Leader-Post. In fact, Regina is at the head of the class in the WHL as far as developing players through the draft over the past five years.
It should be noted that a team's success or failure in the draft isn't measured solely on the number of WHL players it develops. It's also about the type of players they select, the calibre of talent and how they fit in with the rest of the group.
That said, my findings on Regina's draft record over the past five years suggests — aside from one or two first-round selections that might have netted a better result — that scouting is a strength of the organization, not a weakness.
You be the judge:
2003 bantam draft: Four of their top five picks were impact players in the WHL last season: D Logan Pyett (first round), RW Justin Bernhardt (2nd), D Craig Schira (6th) and C Ian Duval (7th). Note: Their third pick, C Jordan Baker, played in the NCAA with Michigan Tech. Two late selections — D Matt MacDermott (10th) and G Ryan Nieszner (11th) — have played games in the WHL.
2004: Five of their top six picks were impact players in the league last season: RW Brett Leffler (1st), D Nick Ross (2nd), G Linden Rowat (3rd), D Matt Delahey (3rd) and LW Derek Hulak (6th). Note: Another third-round pick, C Jason MacDonald, was a part-time WHLer last season.
2005: Seven of nine total picks played in the WHL last season: D Colten Teubert (1st), C Brayden Metz (2nd), G Jeff Bosch (3rd), RW Kyle St. Denis (5th), D Curtis Kulchar (7th), RW Jordan Eberle (7th) and LW Brent Raedeke (8th). Note: Their fourth pick, D Dru Cotterill, is still on their protected list.
2006: Each of their top three picks played in the WHL at age 16 last season: RW Brett Miller (1st), RW Garrett Mitchell (2nd) and D Alex Pym (3rd). Six others are slated to be in camp next season with a chance to make the club: D Koltyn Miller (4th), D Travis Sparrow (7th), F Kenton Miller (7th), D Byron Sorenson (8th), LW Kyle Mulder (8th) and G Damien Ketlo (10th).
2007: Each of their top five picks are legitimate candidates to play in Regina next season as 16-year-olds: C Dominick Favreau, F Graham Hood, D Justin Slobozian, F Jordan Weal and G Derek Tendler.
Scouting a strength for Pats
It seemed like no one was immune to criticism in the wake of the Regina Pats' first-round playoff flop. Clean house, people said. Get rid of the players, the coaches, management, office staff, zamboni driver, even the mascot.
Some of the concerns were justified. Others were completely out to lunch.
Not even head scout Todd Ripplinger and his staff were safe, even though they were simply observers in the series against Swift Current.
Regardless, the team's scouting department will get another chance to re-affirm its worth during Thursday's bantam draft in Calgary.
With that in mind, I discovered some interesting facts in researching a story on the team's recent history at the bantam draft for Wednesday's Leader-Post. In fact, Regina is at the head of the class in the WHL as far as developing players through the draft over the past five years.
It should be noted that a team's success or failure in the draft isn't measured solely on the number of WHL players it develops. It's also about the type of players they select, the calibre of talent and how they fit in with the rest of the group.
That said, my findings on Regina's draft record over the past five years suggests — aside from one or two first-round selections that might have netted a better result — that scouting is a strength of the organization, not a weakness.
You be the judge:
2003 bantam draft: Four of their top five picks were impact players in the WHL last season: D Logan Pyett (first round), RW Justin Bernhardt (2nd), D Craig Schira (6th) and C Ian Duval (7th). Note: Their third pick, C Jordan Baker, played in the NCAA with Michigan Tech. Two late selections — D Matt MacDermott (10th) and G Ryan Nieszner (11th) — have played games in the WHL.
2004: Five of their top six picks were impact players in the league last season: RW Brett Leffler (1st), D Nick Ross (2nd), G Linden Rowat (3rd), D Matt Delahey (3rd) and LW Derek Hulak (6th). Note: Another third-round pick, C Jason MacDonald, was a part-time WHLer last season.
2005: Seven of nine total picks played in the WHL last season: D Colten Teubert (1st), C Brayden Metz (2nd), G Jeff Bosch (3rd), RW Kyle St. Denis (5th), D Curtis Kulchar (7th), RW Jordan Eberle (7th) and LW Brent Raedeke (8th). Note: Their fourth pick, D Dru Cotterill, is still on their protected list.
2006: Each of their top three picks played in the WHL at age 16 last season: RW Brett Miller (1st), RW Garrett Mitchell (2nd) and D Alex Pym (3rd). Six others are slated to be in camp next season with a chance to make the club: D Koltyn Miller (4th), D Travis Sparrow (7th), F Kenton Miller (7th), D Byron Sorenson (8th), LW Kyle Mulder (8th) and G Damien Ketlo (10th).
2007: Each of their top five picks are legitimate candidates to play in Regina next season as 16-year-olds: C Dominick Favreau, F Graham Hood, D Justin Slobozian, F Jordan Weal and G Derek Tendler.