It was game No. 201 in Greg Fraser's Western Hockey League career Friday when his Prince George Cougars hosted the Kamloops Blazers.
Not a bad accomplishment for the last, and only, player selected in the 2007 WHL bantam draft (15th round, 318th overall).
"I was golfing when the draft was going," said the Nanaimo product. "I didn't find out I got drafted until I went to the baseball field that night and one of my friends said congratulations."
Fraser impressed the Cougars' coaches with his work ethic during training camp a few months later.
"I had a good camp as a 15 year old and made the team at 16," said Fraser. "I've been happy ever since."
In four seasons with the Cougars, Fraser has 32 goals, 52 points and 134 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he's accumulated four points in eight games.
"I want to be able to work as hard as I can every shift I go out," said the 19 year old. "I want to try and help out [head coach] Dean Clark as much as I can and, hopefully, I've been doing that. All I feel I need to do a bit more is score, but I can't really push anything until it actually goes in.
After putting up 27 points, including eight goals, last season, Fraser has three goals for the offensively challenged Cougars this season.
"I need to shoot the puck a little bit more," said Fraser. "I've been hearing that a lot."
It's not hard to figure out who has being whispering in Fraser's ear.
"He wants to do well, but if he just shoots the puck to the net a little bit sooner and does those simple things, I think he'd have a little bit more success," said Clark. "Digs is a hardworking guy and his intentions are always very honest. We expect him to be one of the leaders on our club."
One of the reasons Fraser may have been overlooked in the 2007 bantam draft is the location of his hometown.
"[The Cougars] said they didn't see me very much on the Island because it's tough to get any scouting down there," said Fraser. "Every time they saw me play they were happy with how I played."
Had the Cougars not liked what they saw in the hardworking centre as a two-way bantam player, Fraser may have followed the same path as Larry Walker and Jason Bay.
"My coaches in baseball were saying I was one of the best on the Island, but at the same time I always loved hockey," said Fraser, who quit baseball at 15. "I had to make the choice and I chose hockey."
Fraser knows his hockey future will likely be determined this season.
"This is my year to try and get an [NHL] contact and try to get something next year," said Fraser. "If not, after I'm 20, I want to go to school. I'm not too sure where. I want to go into physiotherapy - as long as I can play some hockey."
