(above) 2009 Recruit Drew Shore has been mentioned as a potential first round draft choice in next year's NHL DraftFrom: The Province
by Marc Weber
DU 2009 recruit Drew Shore won't be washing up in Chilliwack this season. Shore has elected to maintain his amateur status for another season and remains on schedule to don a Pioneer jersey in 2009.
The Chilliwack Bruins second pick and first American taken in the 2006 WHL bantam draft confirmed Thursday that he is returning to the U.S. National Team Development Program.
While Shore said all along he would likely return to the Ann Arbour, Mich.-based program for his under-18 year, Chilliwack had hoped to lure the 6-foot-2 playmaking centre to the WHL.
When Shore was left off the 53-player roster for the U.S. junior team evaluation camp, speculation increased that he would leave the program.
"It was a really tough decision," said Shore, a Colorado native. "I had two good options -- I just thought it was the best place for me to go. I got along with all the players and the coaches, and this year we get to play a bunch of college games.
"I was definitely disappointed [with being excluded from the junior team camp] but I've kind of used it as motivation to work a lot harder."
Shore's brother, Nick, was picked by the Kelowna Rockets in this year's bantam draft but will join the U.S. under-17 team. Drew Shore said having his brother around was a bonus, but that it didn't affect his decision.
"I just feel pretty lucky that he got the offer and committed," he said.
Shore would have given the Bruins a major boost. Chilliwack could well be without WHL leading scorer Mark Santorelli, 20, a Nashville Predators pick, while star sniper Oscar Moller, 19, could crack the L.A. Kings lineup, though the chances of that are remote.
This is Shore's draft year. Next season he could play college hockey -- he's already committed to his parents' alma mater the University of Denver -- or he could jump to the WHL.
"We'll just move on and give somebody else an opportunity," said Bruins general manager Darrell May. "Probably Kevin Sundher [seventh overall pick in 2007] will be the main beneficiary, but whoever grabs the reins really."
The Chilliwack Bruins second pick and first American taken in the 2006 WHL bantam draft confirmed Thursday that he is returning to the U.S. National Team Development Program.
While Shore said all along he would likely return to the Ann Arbour, Mich.-based program for his under-18 year, Chilliwack had hoped to lure the 6-foot-2 playmaking centre to the WHL.
When Shore was left off the 53-player roster for the U.S. junior team evaluation camp, speculation increased that he would leave the program.
"It was a really tough decision," said Shore, a Colorado native. "I had two good options -- I just thought it was the best place for me to go. I got along with all the players and the coaches, and this year we get to play a bunch of college games.
"I was definitely disappointed [with being excluded from the junior team camp] but I've kind of used it as motivation to work a lot harder."
Shore's brother, Nick, was picked by the Kelowna Rockets in this year's bantam draft but will join the U.S. under-17 team. Drew Shore said having his brother around was a bonus, but that it didn't affect his decision.
"I just feel pretty lucky that he got the offer and committed," he said.
Shore would have given the Bruins a major boost. Chilliwack could well be without WHL leading scorer Mark Santorelli, 20, a Nashville Predators pick, while star sniper Oscar Moller, 19, could crack the L.A. Kings lineup, though the chances of that are remote.
This is Shore's draft year. Next season he could play college hockey -- he's already committed to his parents' alma mater the University of Denver -- or he could jump to the WHL.
"We'll just move on and give somebody else an opportunity," said Bruins general manager Darrell May. "Probably Kevin Sundher [seventh overall pick in 2007] will be the main beneficiary, but whoever grabs the reins really."
2 comments:
Assuming Shore plays for DU in 2009is he expected to be an impact player right away, a la Colborne?
Based on what's been written about Shore, he's a very skilled playmaking right winger. He's descibed as a gifted passer who plays with a physical edge. At 6-1 185 and still growing, he should be more solid and bulky than Colborne when he arrives on campus in 2009.
Shore led the U.S. National Under-17 Team with 25 assists this season, while ranking second on the team with 38 points. The forward also netted three shorthanded markers, good for second on the squad.
I think you'd compare him to maybe Rakhshani or Ruegsegger, but more solid on his skates. Considering that Shore may go in the 1st round he may have more upside potential, at least in the eyes of the scouts.
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