On a sunny spring day, the Art Hauser Centre was mostly empty Wednesday as the Prince Albert Raiders introduced a blue-chip defenceman they believe will help to fill the rink within a few years.

Josh Morrissey, the sixth overall pick in the WHL bantam draft last month, has signed with the Raiders.

"We never thought we would get him at No. 6, to be quite honest with you, so we feel extremely fortunate to have his abilities," said Raiders coach and general manager Bruno Campese.

"He's extremely skilled. He's got the ability to make plays forehand and backhand, and he zips the puck. He's got really good hockey sense. I think that's his biggest attribute. He understands the game really well and he's able to make plays."

Morrissey, 15, captained the Calgary Royals this past season and led all Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League defence-men in scoring.

He plans to play with the midget AAA Royals this coming season, after which he would become eligible to join the Raiders full-time.

"Moving forward, in two years' time, when he's ready to play, we're not going to have (Nathan) Deck, we're not going to have (Jordan) Rowley, and we're not going to have (Ryan) Button, so it's extremely important that we're filling the gap with a player (like Morrissey)," Campese said.

Prince Albert's coach and GM gave Morrissey a tour of the Art Hauser Centre before they met the media Wednesday. Campese presented the nattily attired Morrissey with a No. 10 Raider jersey commemorating his draft year, 2010.

"It's really exciting, to say the least," said Morrissey, whose company included his father Tom and brother Jake.

"Coming up here with my family and getting to enjoy the experience, and meeting some of the people in the organization and viewing the arena, it's been great and it means a lot to me and my family as well."

His father said Morrissey has wanted to play in the WHL since he was five years old.

Morrissey is an A student and he sounded the part Wednesday as he conducted multiple interviews with the media.

"I'd say, definitely, they like the way I play," he said of the Raiders. "I'm an offensive-type defenceman, an all-around guy.

"I'd say, if you had to pick (a comparative NHLer), a lot like Drew Doughty or Kris Russell. I'll just continue working on my physical strength and getting bigger. Because obviously, next year, hopefully I'll be able to draw in the lineup for five games, and playing against kids who are five years older than me, I'll have to be a lot stronger."

Morrissey, five-foot-11 and 171 pounds, honed his skills while shooting on brother Jake, a goaltender who is entering bantam next season.

This weekend, Jake Morris-sey is playing in a spring bantam tournament in Saskatoon,

so Wednesday was a convenient time for the Morrissey clan to visit Prince Albert.

The Raiders have decided not to include their 2010 draft picks in their spring camp, which is set for the last weekend of this month.

"We're not bringing in our 15-year-olds," Campese said. "We're only bringing our 16- and 17-year-olds, so the (15-year-old) guys that were drafted this year, we're not bringing them to spring camp, because there's no on-ice stuff. It's all off-ice (physical testing), and we really felt that it was important to spend the most time with the guys that have the opportunity to make the team ( for the 2010-11 season).

"These guys (2010 picks) will get all the testing at the main training camp (in August), not the spring camp."