(above) Joe Colborne (center) poses with the Boston Bruins management team after being drafted last night in Ottawaby Jim Connelly
OTTAWA (June 21) — After enjoying success in the early rounds of the NHL Entry Draft for the past two seasons, U.S. college hockey was dealt a dose of reality on Friday as just four players with college ties were selected in the opening round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft at Scotiabank Place. It was a stark reduction from last year’s 11 first-rounders with collegiate ties.
The Boston Bruins selected Denver freshman-to-be Joe Colborne with the 16th overall selection. It’s likely that Colborne will spend some time — possibly as much as three years, according to Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli — developing at Denver, something that suits both Colborne and the Bruins just fine.
“I decided to go to college because of the fact that you play less games [than Major Junior] and you spend more time practicing and in the weight room,” said Colborne.
Currently listed at 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, Colborne said he added as much as 35 pounds to his frame in recent years. And according to Chiarelli, his growth and development aren’t anywhere close to complete.
“He may get to 235 pounds,” said Chiarelli. “He’s a good skater, fast and rangy. He’s tall and he’s going to get thicker on top.
“He played almost 100 games last year and he was tired at the end. He would do what we want him to do but I’m not averse to him going to Denver and getting stronger physically and getting more mature mentally. It’s a good environment for him.”
The other college players drafted in the first round include Boston University's Collin Wilson, Wisconsin bound Jake Gardiner and Michigan State bound Daultan Leveille. (read entire article)
The Boston Bruins selected Denver freshman-to-be Joe Colborne with the 16th overall selection. It’s likely that Colborne will spend some time — possibly as much as three years, according to Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli — developing at Denver, something that suits both Colborne and the Bruins just fine.
“I decided to go to college because of the fact that you play less games [than Major Junior] and you spend more time practicing and in the weight room,” said Colborne.
Currently listed at 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, Colborne said he added as much as 35 pounds to his frame in recent years. And according to Chiarelli, his growth and development aren’t anywhere close to complete.
“He may get to 235 pounds,” said Chiarelli. “He’s a good skater, fast and rangy. He’s tall and he’s going to get thicker on top.
“He played almost 100 games last year and he was tired at the end. He would do what we want him to do but I’m not averse to him going to Denver and getting stronger physically and getting more mature mentally. It’s a good environment for him.”
The other college players drafted in the first round include Boston University's Collin Wilson, Wisconsin bound Jake Gardiner and Michigan State bound Daultan Leveille. (read entire article)
2 comments:
Matt Donovan drafted 96 overall by Islanders
Good news about Donovan.
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