According to Ryan Kennedy, Associate Senior Editor and proclaimed prospect expert for The Hockey News, midget prospect Shane Bowers, who was selected by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 4th overall at this year’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft, will not report to the Eagles camp.
QMJHL draft: Don’t be surprised if Shane Bowers doesn’t report to Cape Breton. USHL Waterloo an option for him too.
— Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) June 6, 2015
Update on Shane Bowers: Definitely not going to Cape Breton. — Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) June 6, 2015
Bowers, just 15 years of age, had an exceptional season in the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League, scoring 52 points (23 goals, 29 assists) in 34 games, while scoring 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 17 playoff games, while also being named the season and playoff MVP of the year. Playing the centre position, Bowers has elite offensive capabilities at a young age and he became the first Nova Scotian-born player to be selected. Shortly after the draft, Bowers seemed to be pleased with his name being called.
“To be able to represent Nova Scotia and be the first one selected is awesome and it means a lot,” he said, following the draft.
He’s already got size and a frame to work with, standing at 6’0 and weighing 161 pounds (for a 15-year-old, not bad!). Bowers has great vision and IQ, as well as a solid understanding of the game at both ends of the ice. He was considered to e the consensus first overall pick and likely headed to the Saint John Sea Dogs, but Hockey Canada granted under-ager Joseph Veleno exceptional player status just 48 hours prior to the draft, completely changing everything.
Fortunately for Bowers, he was also eligible for the USHL draft last month and reportedly watched the draft by a live stream. Bowers was selected in the third round, 38th overall by the Waterloo Black Hawks. With two teams drafting the young centreman in a matter of weeks, the decision is left in Bowers’ hands and according to reports, it seems like he is headed to the USHL.
For now, at least. Should Cape Breton trade away his rights to a team he is willing to play for, Bowers may stick around and play in the CHL.
This wouldn’t be the first time something of this nature has happened. In 2011, Nathan MacKinnon was drafted by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. He publicly discussed playing in the NCAA as a wink-and-a-nod to the team that drafted him and shortly after those comments were made, Baie-Comeau traded him to his hometown Halifax Mooseheads in exchange for three first-round picks and two players.
Sticking with 2011, Max Domi was selected eight overall — the same spot MacKinnon was drafted in the QMJHL — by the Kingston Frontenacs, but was also recruited by Michigan State. Aware of his intent to no-show, Kingston traded Domi to the London Knights in exchange for the ninth overall pick in 2012.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Screaming Eagles will trade Shane Bowers, nor have they made any public comments on the matter. It does however raise the question: Should players be forced to report to the team that drafted them in the CHL? After all, Connor McDavid stuck around with the Erie Otters and when they drafted him, they finished the season before with just 10 wins in 68 games. Sidney Crosby did the same in Rimouski when the Oceanic finished with 11 wins in 72 games. He turned the team around and brought the Oceanic to the Memorial Cup finals.
It’s only normal for 15 and 16 year olds to want to stick closer to home where they can be around family but when opportunity comes knocking and you’re given a chance to take the next step to inching your way into becoming an NHL-level prospect, players should do what is asked of them and compete at the highest level possible. With the loophole around having an option to play for another league that has drafted them, it gives them full power to decide where they play in the CHL, regardless of who drafted them.
