Showing posts with label cam reid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cam reid. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2009

Western Wildcat recruit gaining traction

Out in British Columbia, a big, skilled forward has been developing quietly under the radar over the the past two seasons in the Junior "A" BCHL. Actually 'off the radar' would be more appropriate, as the emerging talent was ignored on North American Central Scouting's mid-term rankings. Cam Reid of the Westside Warriors is a 6'2, 185-pound center who finished his 17-year old season with 40 points in 58 games. After scoring 6-17-23 in 41 games for the Victoria Grizzlies, the Delta, BC product hit for a point-per-game after a January trade, and stayed hot through the BCHL playoffs with four goals and three assists in eight games. With the makeup of a fine skating power forward, Reid's consistent, playmaking game earned him a full scholarship to the University of New Hampshire back in October. A late August birthday (8/25/91), Reid was initially slotted to have minimal impact as an 18-year old freshman in 2009-10 until Ryan Bourque spurned his Wildcats commitment to instead prepare for the pro game with Quebec of the QMJHL. Now, it appears the early ice will be there for the taking if he adjusts quickly. Reid is a scoring, two-way pivot with loads of potential. He combines equal parts passing, skating, and stick skills with a team-first desire to get his hands dirty. In Hockey East, using his size and strength on his way to the net could give him game-breaking ability by the time he's an upperclassmen. The scheduled four-year gig will offer Reid ample time to add mass while rounding out his physical and defensive sides of his game. If the skill set sounds enticing, you just might be a Sabres watcher ready to re-stock the center position with size and skill. Here's a 17-year old sleeper with a strong foundation that should fall in the late rounds, or according to some scouting services, not at all. Five BCHLers made the 2009 mid-term rankings, and it looks like the table may be set for an under-scouted sixth to creep into the '09 mix. The league had six players drafted in 2008, after seven in 2007, and five in 2006. While the Regier-era Sabres have never selected a player from the BCHL, they are proponents of using late-rounds to maximize the longer developing college route, and are wise enough to look at a kid who has earned a full-ride to a reputable D1 program. It's worth noting that Buffalo's WHL scout (and Kelowna Rockets Asst. Coach) Kim Gellert has likely been watching more BCHL puck while his son, Alex, plays out his junior seasons with Cowichan Valley before joining Alaska-Anchorage of the WCHA in 2010.