JR A's Draft Local in 2008 Midget Draft

Left to right: Jr A GM Ken Wood, Shane Karset

and Jr A Head Coach Dan Perreault

The Coquitlam Jr Adanacs went into the 2008 Midget Draft looking to add to a solid stable of players it already has and they did not have to look far to find the type of players they wanted. With the seventh pick overall in the 2008 draft Coquitlam selected from Port Moody right-hander Shane Karest, a super hustle, ball hawk, spark plug of a player from down the road said GM Ken Wood. "With all seriousness, we did not expect to see Shane sitting there in the first round by the time it got to our pick. When it was our turn we knew things just might go well for us", continued Wood. Shane is expected to play in the line up of the Intermediate A Adanacs this season, "He'll add that grit and that desire that every team needs".

With their second pick, the A's stayed local again and grabbed another Port Moody player left-hander Steve McKeown. "Again high on our list, but another player we thought would go earlier and were very pleased to be able to pick up", added the Jr A's GM. "Port Moody has always been very, very good to the Jr Adanacs. We have traditionally had a lot of local players from down the hill and this season is no exception." The third player chosen by the Adanacs came from a little farther away, left-hander Brian Horning from Prince George. "Brian is another player we did not expect to be just sitting there for the picking in the third round. I mean he is a high school athlete of the year and a hard working player with lots of up side. I am telling you to have Brian added to our other Prince George players from last season, it makes us very happy," said a smiling Wood.

The good stuff kept on happening for the Coquitlam Junior Adanacs. With the fourth and fifth pick, the A's looked to Kamloops and selected two left-handers, Jordan Ellis and Chase Edwards. "Two fine players from everything we have heard and seen. I am serious; I am still shaking my head at our good fortune", said Ken. The Jr A's rounded out their selections with the sixth pick, right-hander Travis Paciejewski from Prince George, seventh pick was goaltender Morgan Brown out of Cranbrook and then with their eighth pick they took Jake Emms from Peninsula on the Island. The last two picks were Cole Williamson and Joshua Biogioni both from the Ridge Meadows Lacrosse Association. 

Summing up the 2008 draft and the overall picks made by the Adanacs, General Manager Wood said, "You know, typically, you go into these drafts knowing full well that you are not going to get exactly what you really want. With the exception of one player, I can honestly say we got every thing we targeted in our player selections. All of these young players will play Junior A; they will each contribute. You got to like that and we sure do." 

Wood also said the real reason they feel they did so well in the draft is the preparation and commitment that director of Scouting Frank Scigliano. “You know, when you have a guy like Frank Scigliano looking after scouting, we knew we would have the best information anyone was going to have about young players. Frank spends more time then any player, coach or GM living inside arenas talking to people and compiling information. Personally, I am so glad that he is part of our club, it makes my job literally easy".