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Bastien taken in 2nd round - Peroff and Pontes go too

Yves Bastien has been drafted by the Kitchener Rangers in the 2nd round of the OHL Draft. Photo by Chris Dawson. It was a stressful morning for Skyhawks forward Yves Bastien as OHL draft day officially began.


Yves Bastien has been drafted by the Kitchener Rangers in the 2nd round of the OHL Draft. Photo by Chris Dawson.

It was a stressful morning for Skyhawks forward Yves Bastien as OHL draft day officially began. Instead of traveling to an OHL arena much like the NHL draft and waiting to hear your name called from the podium, the OHL conducted its fourth internet version of the draft on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

So much like 100’s of other elite hockey players in Ontario, Yves Bastien was sitting by the computer waiting to see his name pop up onto the screen.

The speedy forward who scored 25 goals and added 21 assists in 46 regular season contests for the Skyhawks was hoping to see his name in the first round of the draft. A lot was going through his mind while he waited patiently by the computer.

“It was really nerve wracking,” said Bastien in a phone interview with BayToday.ca from his Dowling Ontario home.

“I was thinking hopefully I’d go to a place I want to play, but it was a good experience, tough but I enjoyed it."

Bastien, who made the jump from Bantam “AAA” to Junior “A” this fall was eventually selected late in the second round, 38th overall by the Kitchener Rangers; an organization that he has a lot of respect for.

“I’m not disappointed,” Bastien said about slipping into the second round.

“A lot of people thought I would be higher, so did I, but I’m glad I waited to go to a good team like Kitchener, they are a great organization.”

For the Rangers, picking Bastien in the second round was an easy decision. Rangers Scout Murray Hiebert says the club has done a lot of research on the Skyhawk forward.

"No brainer there for us, we jumped on the opportunity to pick a player like him," said Hiebert in a phone interview from the Rangers War Room in Kitchener Saturday afternoon.

"Obviously we liked his intelligence, we liked his numbers he put up in junior as a 15 year old, and we liked that he played in a lot of different situations (special teams)."

For North Bay Skyhawks fans the Rangers selection most likely spells the end of his junior days in North Bay.

“I’m going to try out and see if I can make the team,” Bastien said about heading to Rangers training camp this summer.

He will probably be gone, but won’t be forgotten.

“North Bay was great from start, I got a great first impression from the coaching staff, I knew I was in good hands, my billets were very supportive, overall it was a great season,” he said.

Longer wait for Pontes

Meantime, teammate Chris Pontes was taken in the 6th round by the Sudbury Wolves. The young blueliner had 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points in 40 games during the regular season for the Skyhawks. Pontes won't have to travel far to the Wolves training camp, as he is from the Nickel city.

Peroff joins the Army

West Ferris Trojans defenceman Ken Peroff was selected in the 7th round, 122nd overall in the OHL draft by the Brampton Battalion. Peroff, who had a great season with the Trojans, registering 20 points in 22 NDA hockey contests this season didn't do himself any harm with a solid Under 17 camp in Elliot Lake. The North Bay native was one of 10 Northern Ontario players selected to go to the Under 17 Team Ontario main camp in Ottawa this summer.

No Trappers snagged

The North Bay Trappers may have reached the Great North Midget League final, but they were shutout at the OHL Draft. The only Trapper on the OHL's media draft eligibility list, forward Adam Avison, was not selected in the 15 round draft.

More Northern Exposure

Two of the top three players taken in the OHL Draft are from Northern Ontario. Timmins Majors defenceman Marc Katic was taken 2nd overall by the Sarnia Sting, while Sault Ste. Marie's Zac Torquato, who played Jr. B this year in Stratford, was taken 3rd overall by the Saginaw Spirit.

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Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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