Cougars Look Ahead to Bantam Draft

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Cougars Look Ahead to Bantam Draft by David Michaud

Like any of the twenty-two WHL clubs, the Cougars have had some drafts that were better than others. General Manager Dallas Thompson believes that last years was one of them.

Thompson and his staff selected 13 prospects in the 2007 draft and several of those players have already made an impact with the Cougars in either exhibition or regular season play.

First round selection Brett Connolly has appeared in 4 games, third round selection Tyler Kizuik played 1 game, seventh round pick Bruin McDonald appeared in 6 games, and Eleventh round pick Nick Buonassisi appeared in 4 games for Cougars. Buonassisi already has his first WHL goal in the bag.  He scored the first goal of the night in the Cougars Teddy Bear Toss this past season, in a 6-2 win over division rival Kamloops on December 15^th, 2007.  His first goal was celebrated with thousands of teddy bears being hurled onto the ice which were later donated to various non-profit groups around Prince George. Finally, the Cougars 15^th round selection Greg Fraser also made his debut in 07-08.

An early contribution from the 2007 draft class makes the 2008 Bantam Draft on Thursday May 1^st even more crucial. A young foundation has already been laid and the 2008 class will only further stabilize the core of young Cougars.

Thompson believes that this isn’t the time to get picky as to which type of player the Cougars are going to select with their first pick. “We are going in with the mindset of taking the best player available. With the 11^th pick we believe we are going to get a player who can help this club for years.”

The WHL Bantam draft isn’t an exact science. If  NHL General Manager’s think they have it tough trying to predict how junior aged players will turn out as pro’s, imagine being a General Manager in the WHL trying to forecast how a 14 or 15 year old player will develop. Cougars Head Coach Drew Schoneck concurred that the WHL Bantam Draft is a bit more of a crapshoot. “The players we select certainly have a bit more room to grow. It’s more raw skill at this age, you are doing a lot more projection and that makes it a bit more of a gamble.”

The early picks are identified with relative ease in comparison to the later round picks. The mid to late round picks can often times be even more important than the early picks. “It’s where you build your depth” said Thompson. “If you can have the later round picks come in and contribute, it can separate you from the pack.”

Cougars fans don’t need to go all that far back to find one of those players. Dana Tyrell was selected in the 5^th round, 97^th overall in 2004. Now a NHL pick of the Tampa Bay Lightening, Tyrell led the Cougars in scoring in 2007-2008 and will be counted on heavily next season to mentor some of the younger Cougars.