As usual, the Estevan Bruins got their recruiting done quickly. The team signed six prospects over the last week.
Bienfait's Lynnden Pastachak is obviously the jewel of the group, although Saskatoon products Brett Lewchuk, Keegan Allison and Chris Thorimbert are all expected to be key Junior A players as well.
As for Thunder Bay's Nolan Nicholas and Keaton Longpre, I wasn't able to see them at spring camp, but all reports were that they stood out. Bruins scout Cole Zahn believes they'll be impact players, and he's a good evaluator of talent, so I'll leave it at that.
Meanwhile, Lampman defenceman Edwin Hookenson has joined the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League, which is a surprise, considering he would have been one of the local cornerstones head coach Chris Lewgood described Pastachak as.
Estevan forward Daniel Wanner may follow Hookenson to the coast after his father, Cory, bought the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
The Bruins may be finished recruiting, although 1996-born forward Carter Folk and defenceman Carter Forsythe could still be targets.
As for the players they signed, it appears to be a strong group.
Pastachak needs little introduction. After finishing top five in Saskatchewan midget AAA last year in scoring, and with the Bruins not returning a particularly strong group up front, he'll get every chance to be a top six forward. There's zero doubt about that.
But the 17-year-old could end up with the Red Deer Rebels, who have been wooing him for the last year or so.
He would obviously get more ice time and opportunity with the Bruins, but that's a decision he needs to make for himself.
Needless to say, he would represent a significant scoring boost for the Bruins next year. Barring a trade, their top six figures to include last year's rookie standouts Hudson Morrison and Darcy DeRoose, along with Tanner Froese and Taylor Reich, who regressed last year as a sophomore. Austin Daae could also be in there if he comes back from the WHL.
Allison and Thorimbert also project as top-six guys down the road, and Allison could get a shot on the top two lines next year. He's been impressive at spring and fall camps and, coming off a year where he led the Saskatoon Blazers in scoring with 50 points, has strong offensive upside. The same can be said for Thorimbert.
Lewchuk is the club's goalie of the future. He cemented his top prospect status in February, when he was called up and turned aside 38 of 40 shots in a 5-2 win over the Battlefords North Stars. He's slated to back up this year, but with more starts than rookie backups normally get.
Of course, this is assuming Steven Glass's knee is 100 per cent. If not, all bets are off.
If Nicholas and Longpre can be the kind of players Zahn believes they will be, they should be strong additions as well.
Contact Josh Lewis at 306-634-2654 or [email protected]. The Canadian Hockey League just joined Hockey Canada in clown college by banning European goalies. Utter stupidity abounds in our hockey governing bodies these days.
