Blazers rookie camp, Day 1

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
There was much disappointment in the air in these parts when the Kamloops
Blazers didn’t qualify for the WHL playoffs in the spring of 2006.
After all, it was the first time that had happened in franchise history.
“You know,” Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager and head coach, said
Thursday afternoon as the team’s rookie camp was about to start at the
Interior Savings Centre, “everyone talks about that . . . but there was one
bright spot.”
That would be the always smiling Jimmy Bubnick.
Bubnick, a 16-year-old centre from Saskatoon, was the fifth overall pick in
the WHL’s 2006 bantam draft. That is the earliest the Blazers have picked in
the draft — they twice had the No. 6 selection, taking centre Jared Aulin in
1997 and right-winger Tyler Shattock in 2005.“We had (Bubnick) rated No. 1
in the draft,” noted one WHL general manager. “”We were really hoping we
might get him. He may be the best 1991 in western Canada.”
“He was,” Clark points out, “the only 16-year-old forward in Canada invited
to the under-18 camp and that speaks volumes.”
Bubnick didn’t make Team Canada earlier this month but felt he had a good
camp in Calgary.
“I got off to a slow start,” the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder said. “I was a bit
shaky and I was nervous. But as camp went on I got better and by the end I
thought I was really good. I’m quite happy with it.”
Last season, with the Saskatoon Contacts, Bubnick put up 70 points, 33 of
them goals, in 41 games. In his first season out of bantam, he was the
Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League’s second-leading scorer, tied for
eighth in assists and tied for fourth in points.
“Us three young guys playing on that line . . . we had high expectations but
didn’t have that high expections,” he said, referring to linemates Carter
Ashton and Brayden Schenn. Ashton was selected seventh overall by the
Lethbridge Hurricanes, while the Brandon Wheat Kings took Schenn with the
ninth pick.
“It was great,” Bubnick said. “We definitely proved ourselves in the
league.”
And now it’s time for him to prove himself at an even higher level. He has a
bit of an idea what to expect, having played two games last season and
having two brothers with lots of WHL experience.
“It’s been a dream of mine to play in the WHL since my oldest brother, Mike,
got drafted by the Calgary Hitmen,” Bubnick said.
Michael, 25, who got married Saturday in Saskatoon, played 321 games over
six seasons with the Calgary Hitmen and Saskatoon Blades. He was the second
pick in the 1997 draft.
Jon, 22, played with the Blazers, Regina Pats and Portland Winter Hawks. The
Blazers selected him with the 65th pick of the 2000 draft.
Mike and Jon both attend the U of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
“They’re always giving me advice, telling me what to expect at this level,”
Jimmy said, adding that Jon has told him Kamloops is “a great town with a
great rink and great fans . . . just a great place to play junior.”
He also knows that the 72-game WHL season “is a grind. You have to be in
shape . . . and mentally you have to be ready for every game, every battle.”
While Bubnick said that he hopes “to crack the roster,” there is little
doubt he will be here when the regular season opens Sept. 21.
“We’re in a different situation than we’ve been in in a long time because he
is a 16-year-old who can probably contribute right away,” Clark said. “I
expect him to push and pass other guys — older guys — because of the
mentality he has.
“He has great work habits, he has a great demeanour and he is as humble as
humble is, and he’s from a great family.”
Asked what he hopes to bring to the team, Bubnick said: “I hope to bring
some hard work and grit in the corners . . . a depth player and probably
some scoring . . . hopefully.”
JUST NOTES: RW Tyler Ellerby, a 16-year-old from Sylvan Lake, Alta., isn’t
related to Blazers veteran D Keaton Ellerby. . . . However, D Ryne Bodger,
who turns 18 on Nov. 2, is a son of former Blazers D Doug Bodger. Ryne, who
played midget AAA in Cowichan Valley last season, will be in main camp when
it opens Sunday. . . . F Brennan Bodger, a nephew of Doug’s, won’t be in
camp after being involved in a car accident the other day. . . . Also in the
rookie camp are twin brothers D Mathew and RW Daniel Ketsa, who are from
Strathcona, Alta. . . . Two other brothers, C Taylor and RW Kyle Wells, are
in town. They are the sons of former WHLer Brad Wells, who is here watching.
Taylor, 15, is in rookie camp, while Kyle, 17, will start in main camp
Sunday. . . . Rookie camp involved practice sessions yesterday afternoon and
evening. Today, there will be scrimmages at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 6:15 p.m., and
8:15 p.m. . . . . The rookies are at the ISC; main camp will be at Memorial
Arena.