As Lorne Frey and every other player personnel director is likely to tell you, evaluating bantam-aged hockey players is an inexact science. A Western Hockey League team香蕉视频直播檚 top draft picks don香蕉视频直播檛 always turn into franchise players. Conversely, prospects chosen in the later rounds can, with a little good fortune, develop into top-end talent. The have seen the latter happen in recent years, with players like Brett Bulmer (11th round, 2007), Damon Severson (9th round, 2009), Lucas Johansen (6th round, 2012) and Kyle Topping (11th round, 2014) all exceeding expectations.
As is the case at every year at Kelowna Rockets香蕉视频直播� rookie camp, Frey and his scouting staff are once again seeing some surprises this week, both from drafted and non-drafted players.
Among the more intriguing late-round prospects at camp is forward Stephen Kesselring, a ninth-round choice from Viceroy, Sask., who played bantam AA last season in Weyburn.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 probably been a bit of a surprise here, he didn香蕉视频直播檛 play on a good team last year but he was their leading point-getter and he just keeps getting better, every time he香蕉视频直播檚 on the ice,香蕉视频直播� Frey said of Kesselring, who will play this season with the Moose Jaw Warriors midget AAA program. 香蕉视频直播淚t looks like he香蕉视频直播檚 grown a couple of inches since the spring and he香蕉视频直播檚 been really good here.
香蕉视频直播淲e think his upside is huge, we might have got a little lucky there. In another year or two, we香蕉视频直播檒l know.香蕉视频直播�
Kesselring, 15, who wasn香蕉视频直播檛 certain he香蕉视频直播檇 be chosen in this spring香蕉视频直播檚 bantam draft, was thrilled when the Rockets called his name in the ninth round. Still, the young forward knows being drafted is simply a small, first step in what he hopes will one day lead to a long and productive career with the Rockets.
香蕉视频直播淚 think they香蕉视频直播檙e a good organization and I香蕉视频直播檇 definitely like to play one day here if I could,香蕉视频直播� Kesselring said after a practise session on Wednesday at Prospera Place. 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think it really matters where I was drafted, I just think it香蕉视频直播檚 important to make a good first impression, work hard and see what happens.香蕉视频直播�
As for the club香蕉视频直播檚 first three picks in the 2017 draft, centres Ethan Bowen (Chilliwack), Ethan Ernst (Weyburn, SK) and Cole Carrier (Edmonton), Frey said all have come to camp as advertised.
香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e all been good,香蕉视频直播� Frey said. 香蕉视频直播淏owen香蕉视频直播檚 been really good, Ernst has been outstanding and so has Cole Carrier. They香蕉视频直播檙e all highly-skilled, good skaters and competitive, so we香蕉视频直播檙e very confident in the abilities of all three and where they香蕉视频直播檒l all progress to in a year or two.香蕉视频直播�
Bowen, Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 first choice in the draft (39th overall), made a verbal commitment this spring to the BCHL香蕉视频直播檚 Chilliwack Chiefs and the NCAA香蕉视频直播檚 University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, but accepted an invitation to attend this week香蕉视频直播檚 rookie camp.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e happy that he香蕉视频直播檚 here,香蕉视频直播� Frey said of Bowen, who played at Yale Academy last season. 香蕉视频直播淲e know he has options out there and we香蕉视频直播檙e going to try and sell him on our program.香蕉视频直播�
Bowen and the rest of the 2017 draft class will be invited to stay on for the team香蕉视频直播檚 main training camp which begins Saturday at Prospera Place.
