Tips ink first rounder Nicholas Walters

Published 1:46 pm Friday, June 19, 2009

The Tips locked up an integral part of their future plans this morning, signing defenseman Nicholas Walters to a WHL education contract.

Walters was the first of Everett’s two first-round picks in this year’s bantam draft, taken eighth overall. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound native of St. Albert, Alberta, had four goals, 24 assists and 68 penalty minutes in 32 games for the St. Albert Raiders last season. He had indicated following the draft that he intended to commit to the Tips.

Walters and his family are in town for the weekend, and it was good meeting Walters in person. He seemed comfortable interacting with me, which was nice. It’s always good when the higher-profile players are easy to work with from a media standpoint.

So the easier part of Everett’s recruiting of this year’s first rounders is complete. Now comes the hard part, convincing defenseman Seth Jones, taken 11th overall, to sign up, too.