Malc
06-02-2008, 02:17 PM
By Warren Henderson - Kelowna Capital News
When Scott Parker went 20th overall to the Colorado Avalanche in 1998, it marked the last time a Kelowna Rockets player was chosen in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. Never have the Rockets had two drafted in the first round. The Rockets‘ highest selection was defenceman Kyle McLaren at ninth in 1995. Scott Hannan, at 23rd in 1997, was the other first-round pick.
The decade-long dry spell will end two-fold next month in Ottawa as defencemen Tyler Myers and Luke Schenn are both projected to be top-10 selections. To have even one, let alone two players reach marquee status in NHL circles will be an unprecedented event in the history of the Kelowna Rockets.
“To have two first-rounders will be tremendous for the organization and great for these players,” said Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton.
“The big thing is the job Lorne Frey and his scouting staff have done in finding players like Tyler and Luke.
“(Ex-Rockets coach) Jeff Truitt also had a real impact on both of these guys, he was here when they started and he got them going on the right track,” added Hamilton.
“Most importantly, we’re really proud of those two guys.”
Based solely on where they were selected in the Western Hockey League bantam draft, both Myers and Schenn have exceeded expectations. The 6-foot-7 Myers went 19th overall in 2005, while the 6-foot-3 Schenn was the 20th overall choice a year earlier.
“To get both guys where we did, we were a little surprised by that,” said Hamilton.
“But they’ve both come along maybe even better than we expected. The thing about Tyler is, he’s a great big guy who can skate, and he’s smart too. He’s like an aircraft carrier that doesn’t have the jets on it yet. Luke is the most finished of the two. Every area of his game has really progressed.”
Myers and Schenn are ranked fourth and fifth respectively among North American skaters by Central Scouting for the June 20-21 draft.
Various prognosticators have Myers and Schenn being drafted anywhere from third to 10th overall, meaning Atlanta (3), St. Louis (4), Islanders (5), Columbus (6), Toronto (7), Phoenix (8), Nashville (9), and Vancouver (10) are among the most likely destinations for the two Rockets.
Those teams are getting a better idea of what Myers and Schenn, among many others, have to offer this weekend at the NHL combine.
Some 100 of the top draft prospects are displaying their on-ice talents as well as undergoing in-depth interviews with the 30 clubs.
Rockets forwards Brandon McMillan and Colin Long are also at the combines and are rated 48th and 62nd respectively among North Americans by Central Scouting. “There’s been a lot of interest in Brandon and he had plenty of exposure playing for Canada at the under-18 worlds,” Hamilton said. “Colin’s a bit more of a wild card because nobody knew much about him a year ago. He’s a very skilled guy.”
Kelowna also has a pair of listed players attending the combine in Toronto—forward Danny Kristo, a Minnesota-born forward who played last season with the U.S. under-18 program, and defenceman Jake Gardiner from Minnetonka high school in Minnesota. “We’re working hard at getting Kristo here for next season,” said Hamilton.
When Scott Parker went 20th overall to the Colorado Avalanche in 1998, it marked the last time a Kelowna Rockets player was chosen in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. Never have the Rockets had two drafted in the first round. The Rockets‘ highest selection was defenceman Kyle McLaren at ninth in 1995. Scott Hannan, at 23rd in 1997, was the other first-round pick.
The decade-long dry spell will end two-fold next month in Ottawa as defencemen Tyler Myers and Luke Schenn are both projected to be top-10 selections. To have even one, let alone two players reach marquee status in NHL circles will be an unprecedented event in the history of the Kelowna Rockets.
“To have two first-rounders will be tremendous for the organization and great for these players,” said Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton.
“The big thing is the job Lorne Frey and his scouting staff have done in finding players like Tyler and Luke.
“(Ex-Rockets coach) Jeff Truitt also had a real impact on both of these guys, he was here when they started and he got them going on the right track,” added Hamilton.
“Most importantly, we’re really proud of those two guys.”
Based solely on where they were selected in the Western Hockey League bantam draft, both Myers and Schenn have exceeded expectations. The 6-foot-7 Myers went 19th overall in 2005, while the 6-foot-3 Schenn was the 20th overall choice a year earlier.
“To get both guys where we did, we were a little surprised by that,” said Hamilton.
“But they’ve both come along maybe even better than we expected. The thing about Tyler is, he’s a great big guy who can skate, and he’s smart too. He’s like an aircraft carrier that doesn’t have the jets on it yet. Luke is the most finished of the two. Every area of his game has really progressed.”
Myers and Schenn are ranked fourth and fifth respectively among North American skaters by Central Scouting for the June 20-21 draft.
Various prognosticators have Myers and Schenn being drafted anywhere from third to 10th overall, meaning Atlanta (3), St. Louis (4), Islanders (5), Columbus (6), Toronto (7), Phoenix (8), Nashville (9), and Vancouver (10) are among the most likely destinations for the two Rockets.
Those teams are getting a better idea of what Myers and Schenn, among many others, have to offer this weekend at the NHL combine.
Some 100 of the top draft prospects are displaying their on-ice talents as well as undergoing in-depth interviews with the 30 clubs.
Rockets forwards Brandon McMillan and Colin Long are also at the combines and are rated 48th and 62nd respectively among North Americans by Central Scouting. “There’s been a lot of interest in Brandon and he had plenty of exposure playing for Canada at the under-18 worlds,” Hamilton said. “Colin’s a bit more of a wild card because nobody knew much about him a year ago. He’s a very skilled guy.”
Kelowna also has a pair of listed players attending the combine in Toronto—forward Danny Kristo, a Minnesota-born forward who played last season with the U.S. under-18 program, and defenceman Jake Gardiner from Minnetonka high school in Minnesota. “We’re working hard at getting Kristo here for next season,” said Hamilton.