Bonner getting Blazers draft-ready

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Craig Bonner, the general manager of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, is in Montreal today.
His purpose for being there is two-fold — he wants to take in the NHL draft, which runs Friday evening and into Saturday, and he will be preparing for Tuesday’s CHL import draft.
“The worst-case scenario . . . we’ll have two guys drafted,” Bonner said, looking ahead to the NHL draft. The first round will be held Friday; the last six rounds go Saturday. “The best case . . . maybe five. That may be a little wishful thinking but you never know.”
The only sure thing for the Blazers is forward Jimmy Bubnick, who was ranked 55th among draft-eligible North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its final rankings. Bubnick, an 18-year-old from Saskatoon, was 54th in the midseason rankings and is likely to be drafted in the third round or later.
In his sophomore season, Bubnick had 57 points, including 25 goals, in 72 games.
Forward Tyler Shattock, who was bypassed in last year’s draft, is hoping for a better result this time around, especially after a season in which he picked up 69 points, including 30 goals, in 68 games.
The 19-year-old from Salmon Arm also had an impressive stint last season in the training camp of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.
Also eligible for the first time are forwards Dalibor Bortnak, Brett Lyon, Cole Grbavac and Jake Trask, defencemen Linden Saip and Josh Caron, and goaltender Jon Groenheyde.
Forwards Mark Hall and Shayne Wiebe and defencemen Kurt Torbohm, Curtis Kulchar and Zak Stebner are available after not being selected in 2008.
Bonner said he has heard from “quite a few” NHL teams and added that “I’m sure I’ll talk to more in Montreal.”
“There have been quite a few teams call with different questions about a variety of guys from our team,” Bonner said.
While Bonner and Matt Recchi, the Blazers’ director of player personnel, are in Montreal, none of the draft-eligibles will be on hand for the draft.
Meanwhile, the CHL import draft takes place via conference call on Tuesday, and Bonner will be making one selection. It all begins at 6 a.m., with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads holding the first pick, followed by the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors and the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
The Blazers hold the 29th selection, which puts them on the clock at 11:10 a.m.
When the 2008-09 season ended, the Blazers had the maximum two import players — defenceman Michal Siska, 19, and Bortnak, 18, both of whom are from Slovakia. But the Blazers have since released Siska.
“That’s the other big reason why I’m going to Montreal,” Bonner said. “I want to talk to the agents, talk to different people and see who is coming over, do some research there . . .”
JUST NOTES: Bonner said he has a verbal commitment from assistant coach Geoff Smith for next season, meaning the coaching staff should be returning intact. . . . The Blazers will continue to pursue F Sahir Gill of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, whose rights they obtained from the Vancouver Giants last season. Gill attended a camp held by the USHL’s Chicago Steel last week and his name now appears on the Steel’s roster. However, it is believed he hasn’t yet made a decision on where he will play next season. . . . While the WHL’s Western Conference teams have yet to hold their scheduling meeting, some dates are known. The Blazers, who open training camp Aug. 20, will start the regular season with a home-and-home series against the Chilliwack Bruins. They’ll play in Chilliwack on Sept. 18 and at Interior Savings Centre on Sept. 19. . . . The Blazers will play seven exhibition games, opening Aug. 28 in Ladner against the Vancouver Giants, with the Giants here the following night. The Blazers’ exhibition schedule is in Scoreboard. . . . Traditionally, the Blazers have made an East Division swing later in the season. This season, however, ISC is booked on consecutive weekends in October so the Blazers will out on a six-game swing in mid-month. . . . A memorial service in honour of former Blazers G Dale Masson, who died Saturday at the age of 36, will be held Friday, 3 p.m., at McInnis and Holloway Park Memorial Chapel in Calgary. Masson died while competing in a corporate relay race. He is survived by his wife, Tanya, and their two sons — Wyatt, 2, and Sam, two months. . . . Bonner and Masson were roommates at one time while both were with the Blazers. “It’s terrible,” Bonner said. “There is a guy in an athletic event who had run a (half-marathon) in April and must have been in decent shape. Boy, when your time is up . . .”

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
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