Camrose star has backup plan despite NHL attention
Just like NHLers Brock Boeser, Zach Parise and T.J. Oshie started their hockey careers, Jacob Bernard-Docker is committed to play for the University of North Dakota next season.
And the 17-year-old right-shot defenceman from Canmore would be happy to graduate from the NCAA school, appeasing his parents Thomas and Rolanda, who are real estate appraisers in the Bow Valley.
Then again, his time could be cut short because of other opportunities.
It could very well happen as Bernard-Docker — who played the last two seasons for the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League — is expected to be a highly touted draft pick at the 2018 NHL draft this weekend. Based on his rankings, he could potentially hear his name hollered Friday in the first round. International Scouting Services has him pegged at 25th overall, while the final edition of the NHL Central Scouting rankings has him at No. 33 among North American skaters.
Twenty-six of 31 teams interviewed him at the NHL Combine.
NHL scouts were always in the stands at the Pason Centennial Arena in Okotoks. Heck, there were bird-dogs in the stands anywhere the Oilers went.
“There’s a huge interest in Jacob’s ability,” said Oilers general manager Brad Robson. “The reason why is because of his skating. He’s got really good acceleration and agility, forwards and backwards. He’s a very smart hockey player and has a very high hockey IQ. He reads the play, sees the ice before plays are even happening. His anticipation — he knows where the play is going and where the flow is going. Going to the University of North Dakota will only elevate his game and it intrigues many teams. He’s going to a very good school.
“I don’t even know if he’ll finish his four years just because of the type of hockey player he is — he’ll be a two- or three-year student and then play pro hockey.”
It wasn’t just Bernard-Docker who created buzz.
Austin Wong, who is committed to play at Harvard in 2019-20, is a 5-foot-10, 189-pound centre who scored 25 goals and added 29 assists in 55 games last season. He was ranked No. 174 in the NHL Central Scouting list, while Oilers left-winger Ben Sanderson was pegged at 208th.
“Every hockey game we had, we had (scouts) in attendance. Home and away. They followed us on the road, too, because watching players on the road is just as important,” Robson said. “We had a following, all 31 teams this past winter. Because of what Jacob is and the high level he is at, I think that helped our other players. People started watching and started noticing.”
But Bernard-Docker, dubbed the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top defenceman, knows being drafted doesn’t guarantee you a single game at hockey’s highest level. At the end of the day, the plan is to play for UND this fall.
“There’s obviously still a lot of hard work to be done, even after I get drafted,” said the six-foot, 181-pounder who scored 20 goals and added 21 assists in 49 games last season. “It’ll be really exciting moment, but that will be just the start of the hard work. There’s a lot of people that get drafted and not a lot make it, so this is just the start.”
There’s one mission this weekend: enjoy every second of the experience.
“I’m just going to try and take it all in,” said Bernard-Docker, who’ll be joined in Dallas with his parents, 16-year-old brother Seth and 15-year-old sister Island. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I don’t think it’ll be agonizing.”