The trend continues for players of the National Team Development Program. Ryan Bourque, the son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque (who’s my favorite athlete of all-time), will become a Quebec Rempart next season.
The Remparts are owned and coached by Patrick Roy. When the 2008 QMJHL Midget Draft took place, I did a live blog. At the time of the selection of Bourque in the seventh round, I remember saying I wander if the friendship between the two would lead to Ryan heading to Quebec City.
Ryan was originally committed to the University of New Hampshire for next season. The last few months UNH is being hammered for not being a great place for pro prospects. I remember Pierre McGuire saying during the World Juniors that James Van Riemsdyk would leave school to join the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League midseason.
Ryan’s move is adding more fuel to the fire. His older brother Chris of the Washington Capitals didn’t like school too much. I don’t want to speculate how well Ryan does in the classroom but people are throwing it out there.
Bourque joins Cam Fowler and Brandon Maxwell as confirmed players to the CHL. Jeremy Morin who’s one of the top players for the 2009 Entry Draft is all but a shoe-in to join Maxwell with the Kitchener Rangers. Jerry D’Amigo who’s committed to RPI might follow Morin to the Rangers. Kenny Ryan, a Boston College recruit, could end up in Windsor.
That’s just the Under-18 team. According to the Hockey Journal, Adam Clendening, a 2011 draft eligible player will be heading to the London Knights. The Windsor Spitfires are keeping an eye on goaltender Jack Campbell and defenseman Stephen Johns.
This summer could be real interesting to see who really does back out of their commitments and heads north.
That’s My Take
