It may not be the big leagues, but a Powell River teen is one step closer to something bigger.
Tyler Carpendale, 15, was drafted 125 overall in Western Hockey League’s (WHL) 2015 Bantam Draft by the Seattle Thunderbirds, Thursday, May 7.
Carpendale, a grade nine student at Brooks Secondary School, plays centre for Powell River’s Bantam rep team. Ron Viglasi, head coach for the team, spoke to the Peak about Carpendale’s situation.
The draft position did not come as a surprise to Carpendale’s coach. “He’s a big kid and a good skater,” Viglasi said, adding that word of mouth had spread over the last half of the season about the teen’s skills and he was invited to a select under-16 BC Cup camp in Salmon Arm.
The coach added that he saw a real improvement over the last half of the season in Carpendale’s playing, something the teen chalks up to putting more focus on his playing and being the first on the ice in the morning and the last off after practice.
“Three or four months ago he was on the outside looking in,” said Viglasi. “[Carpendale] just had a good second half of the year and people came out to watch him.”
Carpendale said he had been getting phone calls over the last few months from teams which were interested in him, but he was surprised to go so high up in the draft.
“I’ve always just set my goal to play in the WHL, so I’m really excited,” Carpendale said.
Similar to the BC Hockey League, players in the WHL range from 17 to 20 years old.
Being drafted at 15 years old does not necessarily mean the teen will be getting an early start in the WHL, said his coach. “He’ll be protected by the team and could be asked to attend a rookie camp,” he said. What this means is that Carpendale will likely have to attend a hockey academy where he will find a higher calibre of players to challenge him and push his development, explained Viglasi.
“If you want to get ahead kids have to move away,” Viglasi said. “There’s so much out there now for that age group of kids.”
Carpendale said the Thunderbirds will watch his development and if they are still interested in him in a couple of years they will sign him to the team.
