Hockey people will tell you build from the back end.  Therefore the Prince Albert Raiders hope they have landed the defenseman that will lead them back to the promised land with the signing of Josh Morrissey.

 

The 5' 11" 170 pound rearguard from Calgary has inked a W.H.L. contract and got his first taste of P.A. on Wednesday.

 

Josh, his dad and younger brother made some stops around the city and got a tour of the Art Hauser Centre which Josh says has the best Junior dressing room he has seen.

 

Morrissey was excited to wear the jersey for the first time (number 10 to correspond with his draft year... Josh would like number 7 but expects last year's first rounder Mike Winther to grab it this season).   

 

There is no doubt about his hockey credentials.  Scouts in Edmonton on draft day agreed Morrissey has the skill and savvy to quarterback the power play one day and plays with the type of edge that will make him an unwelcomed sight for opposing forwards in the corners.  Just look at last year's stats for proof (21goals, 28 assists, and 108 pims in 32 games with the Calgary Royals Gold Bantams).

 

Josh takes this type of praise in stride calling it humbling.  He is very comfortable in the spotlight conducting himself like a veteran in front of the cameras and microphones.  Josh Morrissey definitely presents himself with poise and confidence in what must have been an intimidating atmosphere (mind you the P.A. press corps is hardly comparable to the muckraking mob in Montreal).

 

Morrissey wants to play the maximum five games in a Raider uniform next season and you get the impression that's part of Bruno Campese's plan.

 

The Raiders Coach and G.M. was beaming after spending the afternoon with Josh and his family.  He says Morrissey wants to be a player and is confident he will put in the work necessary to make the massive jump from Midget AAA (Calgary Royals) to the W.H.L. as a 16 year old.

 

Morrissey says he chose major junior because he can play in the dub at 16 and it's the most proven route to the N.H.L.   

 

Morrissey's signing comes as preparations continue for the Raiders spring orientation camp which will not include new draftees.  List and drafted players who are 17 and older will descend on the Art Hauser Centre on Friday the 28th.

 

Although Campese says he hasn't run into reluctance from players about joining the organization.  However, there is still the perception that prospects would rather play elsewhere.

 

There is no doubt some players coming for orientation camp are on Bruno's radar screen and the fast signing of one of the "cornerstones" of the franchise will be a definite selling point. 

 

Congratulations to everyone involved in the 900 CKBI/Kinsmen Sports awards banquet in the Ches Leach lounge.

 

Lance Alexander and his Kinsmen crew did an excellent job organizing and executing a tremendous night that went off without a hitch.

 

The lounge was packed, it was a chance to see several people who have departed since the end of the hockey season and it was a chance to meet one of my idols from Leaf lore.

 

Lanny McDonald gave a memorable yet casual performance at the podium and was gracious and friendly while interacting with the many who wanted pictures or just a chat about the old days.

 

It also appears to have been a big night for the bank accounts of the Kinsmen and Raider Education Fund.  Three Lanny McDonald jerseys fetched a total of $18,700.  His Flames jersey with his captain's "C" on the front went for $8,500.  Lanny then offered to get an identical jersey for the second place bidder for the same money, and he agreed.

 

Nathan Deck, Andrew Herle and Brandon Herrod were the returning Raiders in attendance while alumni included Dustin Cameron and Garrett Zemlak who is coming off a successful stint with Charlotte of the E.C.H.L.   

 

It was also a memorable night for award recipients Jayson Clunie, Erica Gavel and Jenn Ferguson who appeared to have more fans in the room than Lanny.

 

On the topic of alumni, Dane Byers is a frequent visitor these days to Four Horsmen Fitness.  Dane says his knee has fully recovered and is looking forward to spending more time in the show this coming season with the New York Rangers.

 

I also bumped into Aki Seitsonen in the gym.  Although he is planning on another season in his native Finland, Aki has some bigger business to attend to.  His wedding next month.   

 

Back on the Raider front...the team has called a News Conference for Wednesday at 4pm to a make major announcement about a player signing.

 

Stay tuned.

The WHL draft is always memorable.  This year's ironically took place the Edmonton's Fantasyland Hotel on a day where hundreds of 14 year old hockey players hope to continue to live out their dreams of playing one day in the NHL.
 
It's a day of anticipation, anxiety, elation and in some cases disappointment. 
 
There was no drama with the first pick overall as the Prince George Cougars reunited the Forsberg brothers by taking Alex who is already being pegged as a bona fide pro prospect.  The first piece of drama unfolded before the Regina Pats first pick, fifth overall.  There had been discussions about flipping picks with the Raiders in exchange for one of P-A's 20 year olds.  However both players that Bruno Campese coveted (his word) were still available so he was guaranteed one of them.  Therefore no trade and after the Pats picked forward Morgan Klimchuck of Calgary, the Raiders took defenseman Josh Morrisey ( also from Calgary) after which if there was sufficient talent at the Raider draft table it would have broken into an instant Micheal Flatley produced version of "Riverdance".
 
Most hockey people will tell you franchises are built from the backline and it was unanimous from many in the packed ballroom the Raiders have a defenseman with the potential of being a player you can build around.  Many had Morrison rated as the best defenseman available while others felt Winnipeg's Madison Bowey was the top rearguard.  However there appears to be some question as to whether Bowey will go the NCAA route.  He has apperently already (at age 15) recieved a full ride scholarship offer from North Dakota.  Kelowna rolled the dice by trading up to take Bowey with the first pick of the second round (23rd overall).


 
There was also a buzz about P-A's third round pick.  After Director of Player Personel Dale Derkatch called the name "Micheal Loronge" the immediate response from Kamloops Radio reporter Rick "the bear" Wile who has been around the league much longer than many of us now in our "fibre" years was... "good pick".  That was followed by a couple of conversations in the mens room (a place where you hear a lot of good stuff... which leaves me to wonder..do ladies also give up great information in thier facilities?).  The mens room dialogue on the 25 goal scorer out of Winnipeg was he not only plays with an edge, he is downright nasty.  One official from another team said Loronge is a prototypical Raider of the mid 80's when as a player this official knew he was going to get a licking every time he stepped on to Communiplex (now the Art Hauser Centre) ice.   
 
It was good to see the Raiders pick another P-A boy.  Goalie Tarayn Phenauf was taken in the fifth round on the heels of last year's selection of Sawyer Lange in the fourth round.  Derkatch also spoke highly of another Saskatchewan boy, E. J. Pfiefer, a North Battleford defenseman selected with their final pick of the day in the 12th round.   The Raiders also went to Brandon Herrod's home town of Meadow Lake to take Reagan Yew, a player who they also hope will develop into a WHL power forward.  He was an 8th round choice.
 
The Raiders point to fellow 8th round pick Arvin Atwal of North Delta B.C. (near Vancouver) as thier big steal of the draft.  Derkatch says he couldn't believe the good skating defenseman who was a captain of his team was still available 170th overall.
 
Players like Morrisey are still a full season away from playing full time in the WHL while most will need two seasons to develop.  However, all thirteen prospects will be invited to P-A later this month for an orientation camp which will also likely include veterans such as Ryan Button, Jordan Rowley and Nathan Deck to name a few. 
 
I ran into Button playing mini golf while strolling through West Edmonton Mall after the draft.  You have to think a chance meeting like that was uncanny given the fact you could fit an entire P-A neighbourhood into the shopping monolyth.  Ryan sends his best wishes to all Raider fans and can't wait to get back at it in August.
 
Me too.