Evaluating the hockey talent
Western Capitals scout discusses preparing for a draft in a pandemic
SUMMERSIDE – Todd Richard is no stranger to preparing for the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) Entry Draft.
However, the P.E.I. scout for the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals said COVID-19 provided some challenges evaluating potential draft picks for this year's draft on July 10.
"We spent as much time watching the major under-18 teams on Prince Edward Island and the Mount Academy on the Island as much as we could," said Richard, a former assistant coach with the Caps, who is also the team’s governor.
Richard said COVID-19 provided an opportunity for Island scouts to watch the Charlottetown-based Mount Academy more than usual during the 2020-21 season because the Saints could not travel to off-Island events.
"I think they had 11 or 12 guys drafted into the Quebec (Major Junior Hockey) League," said Richard. "It's not hard to tell (director of hockey) Kenny MacDougall and his staff are doing a good job down there."
Richard said Capitals director of scouting Justin Harrison watched some Nova Scotia major under-18 games this past season. Richard was able to see a couple of the New Brunswick teams play on P.E.I. early in the season before COVID-19 travel restrictions went in place.
"With technology and being in the middle of a pandemic, a lot of games were streamed," said Richard. "You try to do the best you can to see them, but there are a lot of conversations with coaches."
Caps general manager Pat McIver is excited about draft day, an opportunity for teams to add key building blocks for the future.
"We've had a great success rate the last bunch of years of drafting players who play in our program," said McIver. "We feel Saturday we will be able to restock the cupboards and have some guys for the future and maybe some guys for the present. We feel it's a really strong draft."
The Capitals' first two picks are in the second round. The Caps recently traded their first-round pick to the Fredericton Red Wings to acquire 20-year-old centre Thomas Lacombe. Lacombe previously played with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
"We have the 15th and 24th picks and are content that we can get a couple of players who are junior A calibre," said
Richard. “We have been very successful the last number of years drafting local kids – kids who have a tie to Summerside and really understand that we are the only junior A team on P.E.I., and there is a connection there.
“But other teams have dabbled on the Island. We will take the best player available. Obviously, we like the local kids, but there is a good crop of talent across Atlantic Canada in that ‘05 group.”
Overall, and if no picks are dealt in trades, the Caps will make eight selections. The draft features eight rounds, not including two rounds of territorial picks or extra picks should teams pass on making territorial selections.
With the Capitals the host team for the 2022 Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian junior A hockey championship in May, McIver said he does not expect much trade action leading up to the draft. With the draft now held virtually due to COVID-19, he pointed out it’s a little different with teams not all in the same room.
“I think you may see a little bit more after the draft happens,” said McIver.
Earlier this week, the Capitals selected Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild goaltender Kiefer Thompson as a territorial selection.
“We are really happy to get Kiefer Thompson,” said Richard. “Kiefer is going to be a great goaltender at the junior level.”