Brogan O'Brien saw his name on NHL Central Scouting's list of players to watch and it made his day.
But being the quiet, unassuming person that O'Brien is, he wasn't about to use being on the NHL's preliminary list of potential picks for the draft next June to prop up his ego. The 17-year-old is going to let his on-ice play as a centre for the Prince George Spruce Kings do the talking.
If the scouts were in the building at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack last Sunday they would have been impressed with O'Brien when he scored the Spruce Kings' fourth goal in a 6-5 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. O'Brien's finishing move, an inside-outside deke and roof shot, had big league written all over it.
That's just what the Kings coaching staff has come to expect from O'Brien, a six-foot-two, 195-pound native of Prince George playing in his second full season in the BCHL.
"I know he's excited about the way things are turning out for him with the NHL draft watch but he's not going to show his emotions at all," said Kings head coach Dave Dupas. "He's not talking about it with the guys, he's keeping it close to the vest, he doesn't want to be bragging or talking about himself.
"He's closing in on six-foot-three and 200 pounds already at 17 and he has great hands. He skates well, he's a big body, he has good vision and good hockey sense and he could go as far as he wants if he puts the work in. We're all excited for him."
As a BCHL rookie last season, O'Brien picked up eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 48 games. He's rated as a C prospect by the NHL, which means he's likely to go in the fourth, fifth or sixth rounds of the draft.
Just four other BCHL players - D Vincent Desharnais of Chiliwack, C Marcus Vela of Langley, D Carmine Buono of Powell River and G Stefan Wornig of Powell River - made the list, all with C ratings.
"It was really exciting for me," said O'Brien. "I was kind of hoping to get on there and it felt really good to get it. It's pretty special to know the scouts are looking at young guys from P.G. now. It feels good."
O'Brien and his wingers, Braiden Epp and Jake LeBrun, are all Prince George boys who grew up playing minor hockey in their city and that makes playing for the hometown Spruce Kings even more fun for O'Brien.
"We're playing really good as a line, moving the puck well, and hopefully we'll get lots of chances to put pucks in the net," said O'Brien. "I like our forwards a lot, we are really skilled. We have some young D but they're doing really well. They played well last weekend. We have high expectations this year and it should be a good season."
Dupas says having O'Brien under NHL consideration is good for the team. It means other Spruce Kings will also be under scrutiny this season when college and pro scouts come to see O'Brien. If he does get drafted into the NHL, he would become the third Spruce King ever to accomplish that feat, joining D Brad Fast (Carolina, third round, 1999) and C Jujhar Khaira (Edmonton, third round, 2012)
The Kings announced Thursday that 19-year-old goalie Jesse Jenks has agreed to terms on a scholarship arrangement to attend the University of Alaska-Fairbanks next season. Kings C Chad Staley will be joining Jenks on the Nanooks roster next season. As a rookie in the BCHL last season Jenks, a six-foot-two, 185-pound native of Crofton, played 10 games and compiled a 2.74 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.
