Rockets Ready to Load Up

r There’s one day every year, that Rockets’ Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel, Lorne Frey, needs to be at his absolute best – the day of the annual WHL Bantam Draft.

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r On Thursday, the 2008 version of the draft kicks off in Calgary with the Rockets selecting in the 10^th position. And, just as he has for each draft in the franchise’s history, Frey will be in the Captain’s chair.

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r “I don’t have much say in whom we pick,” says Rockets’ President and General Manager, Bruce Hamilton. “In fact, I’m not familiar with the prospects like I was the year my son, Curtis, got picked (2006). I follow the older players on our team and the league.”  

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r “It’s Lorne’s job to handle our scouting and keep the young talent coming through the organization.”

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r Certainly, Frey has had great success in past years – at the draft table and in adding undrafted players to the Rockets’ protected list. He’s been at his job as long as any of his peers and has earned his standing as one the WHL’s top talent evaluators.

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r Frey will have his regional scouting directors along side him at the draft table at Calgary’s Stampede Park Round-Up Centre on Thursday. Mark Johnston looks after Manitoba, Terry McFaul, Alberta and Bob Fawcett, Saskatchewan. Hamilton will be there as well, though in his ‘silent partner’ role.

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r After a long season and months of travel, Frey and his scouts have been working overtime in recent days preparing their final rankings. As is his custom, Frey prefers to group players of similar position and characteristics first and then rank them relative to the other guys in the group.

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r For example, he’ll have a list of power forwards, big, tough defensemen, and playmaking centermen. When Kelowna’s pick comes around, the guys can then select the top rated player available from whatever group they choose.

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r The top end of this year’s talent pool is heavy in forwards. On most of the pre-draft ratings, 7 of the 10 best, available players are forwards. Michael St. Croix of Winnipeg, could be the first pick in the draft. He’s a crafty playmaker and skilled in all aspects of the game. Brent Benson is a powerful skater and offensive force from Weyburn, Saskatchewan and another possible first overall choice.

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r Ty Rattie is the top prospect from Alberta who possesses outstanding goal-scoring instincts. Meanwhile, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Burnaby Winter Club is the highest rated hopeful from BC. He’s small, but highly driven and imaginative with the puck.

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r A couple of American-born players are amoung the top prospects. Shane McColgan of Los Angeles is a high scoring winger whom some believe could go to Portland who holds the second pick in the draft behind Red Deer. Colins Jacobs of Texas is an explosive and powerful skater who also has the hands of a natural goal-scorer.

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r After Red Deer and Portland, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Prince Albert will round out the top 5 selections.

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