Bellies well represented in WLA draft

You've heard the saying- 'there must be something in the water; and in the case of the WLA entry draft on Wednesday night in Burnaby, it was Salmonbellies. Not only were the top three picks of the draft from the Junior 'A' 'Bellies squad, the top two were New West natives, born and raised in Lacrosse city.

The Burnaby Lakers had the first overall pick and wasted no time in snapping up KEVIN CROWLEY. At 6'3" and 200 pounds, Crowley was a handful for his Junior 'A' opponents in 2009, scoring 76 points in the regular season, and 42 in just 12 post-season games. Crowley was known for scoring, and scoring often. Not only a menace on the power play, Crowley threw down an unbelievable 9 hat tricks in 16 regular season games, and 3 during his 12 playoff matches. With numbers like these its no wonder he was called up to lend a hand when the Senior Salmonbellies were fighting Brampton for the Mann Cup; and he didn't disappoint the Seniors either, scoring 10 points in 4 games. Crowley is currently ripping up the field at NCAA Stony Brook, where he led scoring last season.

The Langley Thunder were just as pleased with their second overall pick BRETT MYDSKE. The offensive-minded defensemen was sporting a nice shiner at the draft, only adding to his credibility. Mydske stands at 6'4" and has some soft hands to go with his tall frame. What makes him a nice catch for the Thunder, is how calculated his game is. Over 19 regular season games Mydske's shot average was 35.29%, resulting in a point a game average. A hard worker all over the floor, it was the post season where he really showed his worth, scoring 5 goals on 9 shots in his 12 game stint. Mydske is now playing for the Edmonton Rush, where he recently posted 2 unassisted goals in a bout with the Roughnecks.

Rounding out the Jr 'Bellie trifecta, Maple Ridge selected CURTIS DICKSON with the third pick of the draft. In 15 regular season games Dickson had seven hat tricks under his belt to go along with his 34 goals and 69 points. Dickson played 9 post season games for the 'Bellies where he registered 18 goals and 30 points before he had to head back to NCAA Delaware. He also made an impact at the first annual Prospects Game in July, scoring 4 goals and 1 helper for team black.

In their second pick of the first round, Burnaby selected DANE STEVENS fourth overall, who spent time with the Junior 'A' Lakers and Islanders before heading East where he was part of the 2009 Minto Cup Champion Brampton Excelsiors. Stevens posted 19 goals and 52 points in the regular season with Brampton in 2009, and took full advantage of the playoffs, posting an impressive 42 points in 15 games played.

The fifth overall pick would result in a bit of shuffling as New West and Victoria struck a deal. The Shamrocks traded the playing rights of Curtis Hodgson to the 'Bellies, and in return chose Victoria native and Junior Shamrock star KORY KOWALYK. It's no secret that Victoria likes to keep it in the family, and was a shock to no one when they picked Kowalyk. And really, why wouldn't they? Kowalyk is a poster boy for size and strength, coming in at 6'2" and 220lbs, making life a little harder for those who have the task of checking him. 61 regular season points, and 6 goals in 4 playoff games make Kowalyk a catch; what I can't get over is the guy only had 4 PIMs with a frame like that.

New West would get their first pick of the evening sixth overall, selecting Junior Adanac star and current NCAA Robert Morris player CORBYN TAO. Tao came to the Adanacs last season after a stint back east with the Six Nations Arrows where he won a Minto in 2007. Tao was the 6th overall regular season leading Junior 'A' scorer in 2009, and was tied for leading scorer at Robert Morris with fellow Jr Adanac Trevor Moore. Tao led all players in the Prospects game with 6 points, and 21 points in 10 post season games probably didn't hurt his cause either.

For the third time in the first round the Lakers would pick again, this time taking long time Burnaby player SHAUN DHALIWAL. In 13 regular season Junior games, Dhaliwal posted 24 goals, 29 helpers, and 3 hat tricks. Dhaliwal was most recently acquired 32nd overall in the 2009 NLL entry draft by the Colorado Mammoth.

The Senior Adanacs wouldn't get their first pick until the second round, where they chose Junior Islander JASON JONES eleventh overall. Jones was a special teams master for Delta in 2009, scoring 14 power play goals and a staggering 7 hat tricks in the regular season. 70 points and 48 PIMs just shows that Jones can not only find the back of the net, but also make the trip difficult for his opponents.

Goalies wouldn't get any action until the third round, as the Nanaimo Timbermen snagged RAY HODGKINSON 20th overall. No stranger to new teams, Hodgkinson played for the Junior Salmonbellies, Thunder, and Lakers in the 2009 season alone; and six Junior 'A' teams over five years. His ability to adapt quickly is a plus, but Nanaimo probably picked him on his massive 6'3" 230lb frame, and 78.69 regular season save percentage. Hodgkinson had the most saves (29) at the Prospects game and the highest save percentage of 82.85.

Fellow Prospects Game goalie NEIL TYACKE was taken right after Hodgkinson, chosen 21st overall by the Shamrocks. Tyacke exploded in the 2009 Junior 'A' post season, helping New West reach the BC final with an 81.68 playoff save percentage. With 8 regular season assists in all 21 games he played, Tyacke proved score sheets could be friendly to goalies too. What's really impressive was his 9 assists he posted in just 12 post season games, to go along with his 8.02 GAA.

The first Port Coquitlam Junior 'A' Saint to be drafted was SCOTT DAVIDSON who went 29th overall in the fifth round to the Burnaby Lakers. Davidson posted 45 points in the 2009 season where he played all 22 games in the season. Davidson is originally from Manitoba and first came out west as a member of the Junior Shamrocks, before being moved to the Stickmen/Thunder, and finally the Saints.

The Maple Ridge Burrards were the first team to pass in the eighth round; and Burnaby was the last team to pick, choosing Aaron Fill 76th overall.

Congratulations to all graduating Junior 'A' players who got drafted on Wednesday night!