2008 Bantam draft

[Malc]

Small Thoughts At Large - Alan Caldwell

Round 1
At #13, Kelowna picks the first U.S. player, Shane McColgan, Manhattan Beach, Calif. That's two years in a row the Rockets have gone south of the border in the first round. McColgan could be one of the best talents in the draft but again, there's the question of whether he's committed to the WHL.
Center - 5'10", 160 lbs GP G A PTS PIM
06-07: LA Hockey Club (IIT Nike/Bauer) 5 4 2 6 0
07-08: Los Angeles Jr. Kings (USA AAA midget) 61 24 48 72 56

Played AAA midget as a 14 year old...not too many players do that.

Round 2
With #32, Kelowna goes east to Winnipeg, Manitoba and picks Michael St. Croix's linemate, Zachary Franko.
Center - 5'9", 135 lbs GP G A PTS PIM
06-07: Winnipeg Monarchs (WMHA AA bantam) 30 18 25 43 40
07-08: Winnipeg Monarchs (WMHA AAA bantam) 30 43 28 71 22
07-08: Winnipeg Monarchs (St. Albert AAA tournament) 7 7 10 17 2

Second in scoring in Manitoba AAA bantam league to teammate Michael St. Croix. Two-year member of Winnipeg Monarchs' back-to-back Manitoba champion teams. Assistant captain of 07-08 team.

Round 3
At #54, Kelowna picks up Tanner Clark from Rosetown, SK. (Jeff Truitt's hometown)
Defence - 5'11", 170 lbs GP G A PTS PIM
06-07: Rosetown Red Wings (CFHL AA bantam) 17 2 6 8 47
07-08: Rosetown Red Wings (CFHL AA bantam) 17 8 12 20 6

Round 4
#74: Daniel Lee, Surrey, B.C.
Defence - 6'0", 166 lbs GP G A PTS PIM
07-08: Notre Dame Hounds (SSMHL AAA bantam) 22 12 16 28 6
07-08: Notre Dame Hounds (KIBIHT) 7 1 6 7 0
07-08: Notre Dame Hounds (St. Albert AAA tournament) 5 0 2 2 10

Lee is a guy with potentially first-round talent but who is believed to have designs on the NCAA route.

#76: Jordan Paddock, Merritt, B.C.
Defence - 5'9", 155 lbs GP G A PTS PIM
07-08: Merritt AA bantam n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

#79: Jordan Cooke, Leduc, Alta.
Goaltender - 5'9", 145 lbs GP W L T GAA SV%
06-07: Leduc Oil Kings (AMBHL AAA bantam) 1 1 0 0 2.95 0.912
07-08: Leduc Oil Kings (AMBHL AAA bantam) 21 7 9 5 3.63 0.905
07-08: Edmonton South Bruins (Alberta Cup) 3 2 0 1 3.14 0.912

Round 5
#98: Spencer Graboski, Quesnel, B.C.
LW - 6'2", 165 lbs GP G A PTS PIM
06-07: Quesnel (Prince George Tournament) 4 5 2 7 0
07-08: Quesnel (BCAHA AA bantam) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Round 6
#120: Jessey Astles, Coquitlam, B.C.
RW - 5'11", 160 lbs GP G A PTS PIM
Coquitlam Chiefs (BCAHA AAA bantam) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07-08: Coquitlam Chiefs (KIBIHT) 5 1 2 3 16

Round 8
#164: Dillon Simpson, Edmonton, Alta.
Defence - 6'0", 175 lbs GP G A PTS PIM
06-07: Edmonton SSAC (AMBHL AAA bantam) 29 6 19 25 20
07-08: Edmonton SSAC (AMBHL AAA bantam) 33 7 31 38 32
07-08: Edmonton SSAC (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) 4 4 2 6 2
07-08: Edmonton SSAC (St. Albert AAA tournament) 5 2 7 9 8
07-08: Edmonton South Bruins (Alberta Cup) 5 2 2 4 4

Dillon Simpson is the son of Oiler great Craig Simpson.

[Malc]

There are rumours that defenseman Dillon Simpson fell to 164th because of his family's history with the NCAA...

[Bocephus]

I just watched Dillon Simpson tonight in Lethbridge. He had a great rush, deked a couple defenseman and scored againsta very good team. An absolute beauty. The young kid is huge too. I had to check the program to make sure he was 15. I am shocked he was nabbed at 164.