Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper Archives Jun 6 2015, Page 63

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 6, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE C7 winnipegfreepress. com HOCKEY WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015 C 7 GET TICKETS JUNE 13 TH GREYCUPTICKETS. CA 204- 784- 7448 3 2011 SEA- DOO 230 CHALLENGER SE SPORT 2012 STARCRAFT SCX 220 I/ O 2013 STARCRAFT 172 RUNABOUT 2013 STARCRAFT LIMITED 2018 I/ O 2013 STARCRAFT STARDECK 216 CRUISE 2014 SMOKERCRAFT 172 PRO ANGLER © 2013 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. ( BRP). All rights reserved. ® , ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Always ride safely and responsibly. 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MSRP $ 47,000 ON SALE $ 33,995 .. .. .. .. .. $ 13,005 21’, Mercury 60hp Big Foot engine, water ready, trailer not included. MSRP $ 36,665 ON SALE $ 26,995 .. .. .. .. .. $ 9,670 TO celebrate their fifth draft in the NHL, the Winnipeg Jets 2.0 are planning a draft party at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre on Friday, June 26. That’s the night of the first round of this year’s entry draft, which takes place in Sunrise, Fla. As of today, the Jets have two picks in that first round, at No. 17 and No. 25. The event at 281 Donald St. will see the doors open at 5: 30 p. m. and the first round commencing at 7 p. m. Jay Richardson, the MTS Centre voice of the Jets, will be the host of the party, which will feature the draft broadcast on the facility’s big screen. The Jets also said Friday defenceman Ben Chiarot and goalie Michael Hutchinson will be in attendance at the party, and numerous prizes will be up for grabs. Tickets for the draft party event go on sale Monday at 10 a. m. atwinnipegjets. com. All tickets are $ 30 and will include a souvenir collector draft party puck autographed by Chiarot and Huchinson. The ticket price also includes food and a beverage. THE fourth annual Winnipeg Jets development camp is set for the MTS Iceplex July 3- 7. The camp, featuring prospect pros and draft picks from the upcoming 2015 NHL Draft, will come just one week after the annual selections, slightly earlier than usual. This year’s camp will begin with sessions on Friday and run to completion the following Tuesday. In the past, the team has run the camp with a Monday- to- Friday schedule. Expected to be in attendance will be this year’s crop of picks — the Jets currently have two first- round picks — and previous years’ drafted players from junior and college who haven’t played professionally yet, including the likes of 2014 first- rounder Nik Ehlers, 2013 first- rounder Josh Morrissey, forwards Nic Petan and Chase DeLeo and University of North Dakota defenceman Tucker Poolman. Party down during the NHL Draft Jets’ youth camp set for July 3- 7 Nik Ehlers B UFFALO, N. Y. — Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel have been linked as the NHL’s two top draft prospects since September. It wasn’t until this week at the league’s pre- draft scouting combine in Buffalo when the two finally had a chance to sit down and chat. “ We’ve had a pretty good rivalry,” McDavid said. “ We’ve been linked together so long, you start to feel like you know him. And he’s a nice guy.” The feeling was mutual for Eichel. “ Yeah, he’s a pretty good kid,” he said. “ It was nice to finally meet him.” Just don’t ask who’s better between two centres who possess distinct styles, and are both regarded by NHL scouts as having “ once- in- a- generation” ability. “ That’s not up to me to decide,” Mc- David said. “ I feel I’m the best player in the draft, but maybe you’ll get a different answer from Jack.” Eichel responded by saying: “ I’m pretty confident in my own abilities.” Officially, the Canadian- born McDavid finished first in the NHL Central Scouting rankings and is highly anticipated to be selected first by the Edmonton Oilers in the draft on June 26. He’s a speedy, playmaking 18- year- old who earned Canadian junior hockey player of the year honours after scoring 44 goals and 120 points in 47 games with the Ontario Hockey League Erie Otters. Eichel is the second- ranked prospect, and expected to be drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, who have the No. 2 pick. The American- born Eichel has a more hard- hitting style than McDavid and proved to be no slouch playing against older competition at Boston University. He led the nation with 71 points ( 26 goals, 45 assists) in becoming college hockey’s second freshman to win the Hobey Baker award. What’s not up for debate is each player’s ability. “ They both are going to be big contributors in the NHL,” Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. “ They’re going to make a difference for their team. They’re going to make an impact. They’re going to put up numbers. And they’re going to be special players.” The challenge for Marr and his staff was ranking the two. “ It’s a fine line,” Marr said, before noting McDavid earned the edge because he is regarded to have more potential. “ We feel the best is yet to come,” Marr said. “ There’s still room for growth in his game.” Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney called both “ foundationaltype players.” McDavid and Eichel are among 120 prospects attending the weeklong combine, which concludes with physical testing Saturday. Boston College defenceman Noah Hanifin is ranked third by Central Scouting, followed by McDavid’s teammate Dylan Strome. Hanifin acknowledged he would be shocked if McDavid and Eichel weren’t drafted first and second. “ All the attention they’ve gotten this year, they deserve,” Hanifin said. Strome, meanwhile, had the best comment of the day, when asked how opposing teams might defend against McDavid. “ Good luck, I guess,” Strome said. Players spent the early part of the week holding one- on- one interviews with team executives. McDavid had only had a few meetings, including interviews with the Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, who have the fourth pick. He acknowledged being surprised in April when the Oilers jumped two spots ahead of Buffalo and Arizona to land the No. 1 pick during the NHL draft lottery. “ It was more shock than anything,” McDavid said, noting he’s prepared to play for whichever team drafts him. “ There’s nothing to accept,” he said. “ If it’s Edmonton, it’s great. If not, it will be great anywhere in the NHL.” Eichel met with five teams, including the Sabres. “ I didn’t do any preparation, to be honest with you,” Eichel said of his approach to the meetings. “ I think the most important thing about going into interviews like that is just be yourself, talk from the heart.” He’s spent part of the week touring the city, and sampled some Buffalo chicken wings. Eichel has not decided whether he’ll turn pro next season or return to Boston University. — The Associated Press Big dogs McDavid, Eichel meet at last GARY WIEPERT / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Connor McDavid reckons he’s the best player in his draft class. GARY WIEPERT / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Jack Eichel says he is very confident in his considerable abilities. Projected top picks seem to like each other By John Wawrow C_ 07_ Jun- 06- 15_ FP_ 01. indd C7 6/ 5/ 15 8: 48: 42 PM