The Spokane Chiefs got their man.
Jared Cowen, the first overall pick in this year’s bantam draft, committed his future to the Chiefs, signing a contract with the team last Wednesday.
Cowen, a dominating two-way defenseman, had publicly stated both before and after the draft that he wouldn’t play for Spokane, preferring to play closer to his home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
However, he attended Spokane’s training camp in August, and the Chiefs continued to woo Cowen until they won him over.
“They did exactly the right thing,” Cowen told the Spokane Spokesman-Review. “There’s no use pestering me. I just needed time to think about it. … It’s very exciting and a little bit of a relief. Now I know exactly what I’m going to do, which is good.”
Cowen is considered perhaps the top 15-year-old prospect in the world. The 6-foot-5, 207-pounder is ranked second overall in the International Scouting Service’s rankings for the 2009 NHL draft, and he’s drawn comparisons to recent Western Hockey League stars such as Jay Bouwmeester and Dion Phaneuf.
“It feels great,” Spokane general manager Tim Speltz told the Spokesman-Review. “You never want to have the first overall pick. However, when you do, you have an obligation to the team to select the best player.”
By signing Cowen, the Chiefs avoided the fate of U.S. Division rival Tri-City. The Americans selected center Jonathan Toews first overall in 2003, only for Toews to choose the NCAA route instead.
Cowen is expected to make his WHL debut against Tri-City on Dec. 30. He is allowed to play five games with the Chiefs this season.
Slap shots: Portland, mired in last place in the U.S. Division, took the first step in a potential fire sale, unloading 20-year-old center Kyle Bailey to Lethbridge in exchange for 16-year-old defenseman Bo Montgomery and a seventh-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft. … Portland and Tri-City are currently in the midst of playing five consecutive times. Portland won two of the first three. The final two are after the Christmas break. … Red Deer acquired 18-year-old center Brennan Wray and 17-year-old defenseman Cullen Morin from Moose Jaw in exchange for 18-year-old right wing Jordan Knackstedt and a fifth-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft. … The NHL’s Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers agreed to play a preseason game in Saskatoon on Sept. 18, 2007. … Saskatoon defenseman Brad Cole was named the WHL Player of the Week. Cole had three goals and five assists, helping the Blades go 3-0.
League leaders: Points – Martin Hanzal (Red Deer) 54; goals – Brock Nixon (Kamloops), Kris Hogg (Lethbridge), Mark Derlago (Brandon) 25; assists – Hanzal 38; penalty minutes – Mike Gauthier (Prince Albert) 152; wins – Matt Keetley (Medicine Hat) 21; goals against average – Leland Irving (Everett) 1.55; save percentage – Irving .939.
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