2019 WHL Bantam Draft

[Huck Cheever]

Koehn Ziemmer will be the steal of the draft. Mark my words

 

[WHLINDEPENDANT]

Think Savoie would play for Winnipeg?

Does winnipeg go for one of their hometown players?

Geekie

 

[lfunk]

Connor Geekie might not be a bad pick for them. Led WBAAA in goals and points, 6'3, 14 year old.

Yeah, it all depends what they need. But if you are talking about points, Mateychuk's 61 in 36 games from the blue line are quite an accomplishment. Geekie has the size for WHL but his speed isn't quite there yet. Yet no one I've seen is better with puck protection than Geekie. My guess is they'll pick one of those two kids.

 

[landy92mack29]

Tre Fouquette will be the steal of the draft imo.

I think Savoie goes 1st whether its to the Ice or a team trades up. I'd say Geekie goes 6th to Brandon or if he falls to 9th the Ice take him.

 

[lfunk]

How embarrassing would it be for the WHL and Hockey Canada to grant Savoie exceptional status, only to get drafted by Prince George and then turn around and commit to the NCAA?

Did anyone else see the reports that Savoie committed to the University of Denver on Monday? What does that mean for the draft? Or does that mean anything for a kid in grade 9?

That's why I suspect Ice will take Mateychuk or Geekie.

 

[Al Camino]

I got the information from a friend who works for a team in the WHL. That he heard through other sources in the team. I can't really say for sure if this is all the info or if it is 100% correct but it's all I got. And when you connect the dots it makes sense. How embarrassing would it be for the WHL and Hockey Canada to grant Savoie exceptional status, only to get drafted by Prince George and then turn around and commit to the NCAA? Wright was granted exceptional status because he committed to playing for whatever team drafted him 100%. If Savoie would have done the same I think they would have done it. It's understandable why some would be mad and question the decision and it;s understandable why Savoie would not commit to playing for Prince George.

He also needed exceptional status in order to play in the AJHL next year as a 15. It all sounds like his plan all along is to play college.

 

[Al Camino]

Geekie

That roster is a bit of a tire fire. They need to be taking the best player available regardless of position or province. Well, the best player that will report.

 

[Daximus]

He also needed exceptional status in order to play in the AJHL next year as a 15. It all sounds like his plan all along is to play college.

Yeah I think the only way he was going WHL was if he got to play next year and went to a team he liked.

 

[Al Camino]

Yeah I think the only way he was going WHL was if he got to play next year and went to a team he liked.

Sounds like it. It's not uncommon for first rounders to dictate where they will and won't play. Can't say I really blame them. Not sure I would want to play for teams that are consistently terrible to mediocre.

 

[howbowdat]

Savoie still goes first. They trade him as an asset. Or try to woo him over. Maybe trade for his brothers rights. I just don’t think you can pass on generational. Geekie is real good and will have a great WHL career. Not sure he has done enough to get past Ziemmer.

If ICE can land and roster in 2 years;

Savoie/Ziemmer
Siepmann or a goalie (would love to be Mateychuk but he goess earlier I believe)
Lambos
Bruce
Svenson
Krebs
McLennan
And I’m sure I’m missing a couple more...

That be a decent start and potentially a contender.

 

[WHLINDEPENDANT]

Anyone see the draft geek rankings?

 

[Capitals03]

Many top 04's already going to the NCAA. Wonder what CHL can do.

 

[lfunk]

Many top 04's already going to the NCAA. Wonder what CHL can do.

I still don't know why the kids would burn their bridges in grade 9. But maybe they haven't and it is just a ploy to get on the team they want. The new trade rules allow players to request a trade once they turn 17, but not before.

I think you have to know what the player truly wants before you pick him. It's a huge risk to waste a high pick on one of these kids.

 

[e14]

I still don't know why the kids would burn their bridges in grade 9. But maybe they haven't and it is just a ploy to get on the team they want. The new trade rules allow players to request a trade once they turn 17, but not before.

I think you have to know what the player truly wants before you pick him. It's a huge risk to waste a high pick on one of these kids.

Wouldn't the bridge burning happen by signing with whl team prior to knowing you will play?

If you care about how high you are picked I guess an NCAA commit hurts you but if you care about who picks you and keeping a hand in your development plan then NCAA commit can help you. It can help a family guide the player to a team aligned with their goals.

The whole processed is messed up in my opinion. Families should be able to go one route or the other right up until after highschool. You want kids to go your way then be attractive to them... Don't lock them in like a cell phone plan.

 

[McChucky]

Koehn Ziemmer will be the steal of the draft. Mark my words

Hes a great pick but Im not sure a top five pick is a "steal".

 

[Huck Cheever]

Hes a great pick but Im not sure a top five pick is a "steal".

Sometimes i think about when they realize who is the really instrument when the trash can goes there. You know

 

[Huck Cheever]

Do ppl still buy Western Elite Hockey Prospects ranks?

 

[lfunk]

Wouldn't the bridge burning happen by signing with whl team prior to knowing you will play?

If you care about how high you are picked I guess an NCAA commit hurts you but if you care about who picks you and keeping a hand in your development plan then NCAA commit can help you. It can help a family guide the player to a team aligned with their goals.

The whole processed is messed up in my opinion. Families should be able to go one route or the other right up until after highschool. You want kids to go your way then be attractive to them... Don't lock them in like a cell phone plan.

And the other side is, how can an NCAA team forecast their roster 3 years in advance? Sure he is a "phenom" now, but in 3 years you might wish you hadn't reserved that spot for him.

 

[NumberForr]

And the other side is, how can an NCAA team forecast their roster 3 years in advance? Sure he is a "phenom" now, but in 3 years you might wish you hadn't reserved that spot for him.

In the NCAA they can de-committ a player at any time. There was something I read about how usually teams hold more "Committed" players on their roster than there is actually spots or scholarship money for. The argument is that only 25% of committed players actually "Commit". Essentially if the NCAA was forced to hold spots for committed players their rosters would be skinny, so the teams hold the rights to "Decommit" a player at any time for any reason as the commitment is only verbal and nothing is signed to begin with.

 

[WHLINDEPENDANT]

Do ppl still buy Western Elite Hockey Prospects ranks?

I stopped buying WEHP. Kids moving up and down the ranks and off the list within weeks. How do rankings change biweekly anyhow?

 

[Capitals03]

In the NCAA they can de-committ a player at any time. There was something I read about how usually teams hold more "Committed" players on their roster than there is actually spots or scholarship money for. The argument is that only 25% of committed players actually "Commit". Essentially if the NCAA was forced to hold spots for committed players their rosters would be skinny, so the teams hold the rights to "Decommit" a player at any time for any reason as the commitment is only verbal and nothing is signed to begin with.

Yes !!!!! and it happens all the time, You never hear about it, since the kids parents are usually upset about it and do not go on Social Media to say , "My kid just got dropped from Yale for getting D's!!!" or for breaking curfew.

Coaches get fired or move on, Players get into trouble, grades, sometimes it too far away from home or the funding from the school gets adjusted. They could have you red shirt for a year or two, etc.. At least with the WHL its has some backbone. I saw one 97 get a ride to Alaska, then 6 months in , Thank you have a nice day, Yes you can stay and attend school, but you are not playing. Kid leaves and heads to U of Edmonton or Calgary, No free ride since it was NCAA. when you see 02's.03's and now 04's commit they dont get a 100% free ride, every school is different. Only 1 school in the NCAA is 100% free of cost. That is Air Force, However after hockey they have you for 7 Years. Some schools set the same funding for all players as U of Wisconsin you pay 30 they cover 70% every year. U of Boston is 50% 1st year 60% 2nd, 80% 3rd and 100% 4th. Yes some schools will offer certain players 80% Coverage, but you will need to be on the USA Development team or play hockey Canada U17,U18 and not be a screw up.

 

[e14]

Yes !!!!! and it happens all the time, You never hear about it, since the kids parents are usually upset about it and do not go on Social Media to say , "My kid just got dropped from Yale for getting D's!!!" or for breaking curfew.

Coaches get fired or move on, Players get into trouble, grades, sometimes it too far away from home or the funding from the school gets adjusted. They could have you red shirt for a year or two, etc.. At least with the WHL its has some backbone. I saw one 97 get a ride to Alaska, then 6 months in , Thank you have a nice day, Yes you can stay and attend school, but you are not playing. Kid leaves and heads to U of Edmonton or Calgary, No free ride since it was NCAA. when you see 02's.03's and now 04's commit they dont get a 100% free ride, every school is different. Only 1 school in the NCAA is 100% free of cost. That is Air Force, However after hockey they have you for 7 Years. Some schools set the same funding for all players as U of Wisconsin you pay 30 they cover 70% every year. U of Boston is 50% 1st year 60% 2nd, 80% 3rd and 100% 4th. Yes some schools will offer certain players 80% Coverage, but you will need to be on the USA Development team or play hockey Canada U17,U18 and not be a screw up.

I do hear this all the time on blogs like this and around the rink. that free ride is not completly free??? My son has been approached by a few schools and I've talked with the coaches. all of them say free is free and that the full ride players have nothing to pay out of pocket other than plane rides home twice a year

who's correct in all this... I guess I'll know if/when he goes

 

[NumberForr]

I do hear this all the time on blogs like this and around the rink. that free ride is not completly free??? My son has been approached by a few schools and I've talked with the coaches. all of them say free is free and that the full ride players have nothing to pay out of pocket other than plane rides home twice a year

who's correct in all this... I guess I'll know if/when he goes

Ok so I had a couple guys come at me on here about the "scholarship" thing. From what I understand as my cousin played Div.1 NCAA hockey, NO GUARANTEES. His scholarship was reviewed yearly and it was not 100% coverage. His final season I think he got a full ride but after a whole bunch of dicking around because at one point the actually suspended it and my Uncle had to get involved to get it re-instated and it was a big pain in the ass. My cousin ended up coming back from school for a month as well "recommended" by the School. It was garbage, kind of gave me a sour taste about the NCAA.

Since I have done ALOT of reading about both opportunities. NCAA is mostly geared towards Basketball, football, baseball, alot of scholarship money is dedicated to those programs. Also precedent is set for them and from what I heard from not only him but his American teammates is that those athletes generally get favored a bit (extra gym time, their own gyms, slack around campus). If you make the team and play it's great but as was mentioned above there is a multitude of loopholes and crap for those schools to curb you. That was also expressed to me. I was just told this it's not from personal experience but I dont think they were lying or anything either...

CHL scholarships are guaranteed, it is based on play and stuff but I mean if you play ONE pre-season game, ONE. I notice that all of the new signees for my WHL club play in pre-season which is what qualifies you for scholarship money. Not all of them make and play for the team but I know they try and get the new kids play time so they can have that scholarship money there. You dont have to play 30 games or anything either as soon as you have played one pre-season game you are guaranteed tuition for a year at ANY school you like, College, University or Trades. Signing with a CHL team doesn't always mean you play for them but those players do get the opportunity to secure tuition money from what I have seen and I do follow this stuff pretty closely. At least the team I follow does a good job of getting these kids tuition money.

When it comes to scholarship opportunities I would say the CHL has done a really good job of giving kids an opportunity at an education after hockey. I dont think it is marketed enough ESPECIALLY to American kids. The NCAA is NOT the only way to get an education and play good hockey.

I am bias so that is why it sounds that way, I wasnt always though. Now, I just think the CHL scholarship is more of a guaranteed thing if you want to get some education from your athletics.

 

[NumberForr]

Yes !!!!! and it happens all the time, You never hear about it, since the kids parents are usually upset about it and do not go on Social Media to say , "My kid just got dropped from Yale for getting D's!!!" or for breaking curfew.

Coaches get fired or move on, Players get into trouble, grades, sometimes it too far away from home or the funding from the school gets adjusted. They could have you red shirt for a year or two, etc.. At least with the WHL its has some backbone. I saw one 97 get a ride to Alaska, then 6 months in , Thank you have a nice day, Yes you can stay and attend school, but you are not playing. Kid leaves and heads to U of Edmonton or Calgary, No free ride since it was NCAA. when you see 02's.03's and now 04's commit they dont get a 100% free ride, every school is different. Only 1 school in the NCAA is 100% free of cost. That is Air Force, However after hockey they have you for 7 Years. Some schools set the same funding for all players as U of Wisconsin you pay 30 they cover 70% every year. U of Boston is 50% 1st year 60% 2nd, 80% 3rd and 100% 4th. Yes some schools will offer certain players 80% Coverage, but you will need to be on the USA Development team or play hockey Canada U17,U18 and not be a screw up.

NEVER hear about this, which is a shame because alot of kids have no idea. Have a bad season because of injury or something, sorry kid we gave your spot away...Or red shirt them and they ride pine for a season. At least if you get drafted to the CHL if you dont make the team you are almost guaranteed top minutes on a Jr.A squad.

 

[howbowdat]

Does Wpg ICE take Geekie at 1?