WHL: Winter Hawks Fly South for 2008 Draft

The Portland Winter Hawks had a dismal season winning only 11 games while scoring a league-low 132 goals and giving up 318. There are no standout draft prospects for 2008, but the good news is that the Winter Hawks have a young team that should only improve. McKeen's correspondent Randy Gorman has notes on their draft hopefuls including Luke Walker.

Luke Walker (2008), RW, Portland Winter Hawks

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound winger has the most upside in this crop of 17-year olds .. he posted 9 goals and 21 points over 70 games and was the most consistent 17-year old in the lineup .. an average skater, nothing fancy but must improve on his foot speed to catch faster players .. is physical, but tends to take bad penalties and needs to play with more discipline .. defensively, Walker was a woeful minus –37, but on a team that did not have a single player on the plus side he will need to make improvements in this area of his game .. has a good shot with a quick release but needs work on his control .. he works hard as a grinder but has to bring that game every night .. communicates well with his teammates, wants to lead, and will be looked for next season to expand that role .. is not likely to get much attention on draft day but has a few years left in his junior career to blossom and work on his game.

Bo Montgomery (2008), D, Portland Winter Hawks

He has great size and strength but needs to work on his pivots and agility .. his hockey sense and play without the puck also need improving, as he tends to be caught out of position many nights .. has a good physical game, as he racked up 100 penalty minutes in 57 games and can be nasty to go up against in front of his own net .. defensive play needs some refining, as he was a minus–31 this season .. needs to work on his shot, as he has the velocity but no control, and if he can get a handle on that, he could be a regular contributor to the Portland powerplay next season .. as with Luke Walker, he demonstrates future leadership attributes from the rearguard position and he will be heavily depended on next season, as the Winter Hawks look to improve on a bad season .. he will likely not be drafted this season but with his size (6-5, 208) and physical play there is some untapped potential here if he can improve his game in other areas and he could be a late-bloomer.

Jason Grecica (2008), RW, Portland Winter Hawks

Like most of the young Winter Hawks, Grecica struggled and never really got his game on track after coming over in a trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors .. the 6-foot-2, 212-pound winger had a paltry 2 goals and 9 points in 31 games with the Hawks and 9 with the Warriors .. he must work on his skating and foot speed in the off-season, as this is a concern .. he competes hard and is a very good forechecker .. defensively, he is still learning and needs work in this area .. finished the season with a minus–10 rating .. he also needs to play a more physical game, punish opposing players along the boards, and go to the high traffic areas more often to look for loose pucks and rebounds .. he has a decent shot but should use it more as shot selection is a key when in the offensive zone .. likely will not garner much attention at the draft this season.

Taylor Jordan (2008), RW, Portland Winter Hawks

The 6-foot-7, 188-pound winger played only 52 games with the Hawks this season and scored only 2 goals but with a whopping 137 minutes in penalties .. was a minus–14 for the season .. he battled injuries and healthy scratch situations throughout the season and is another player that needs a lot of work .. he has the size to compete as a big d-man in the league, however he has to add more weight to his frame so the rest of his body can catch up with his size .. he does play physical, as his penalty minutes indicate but has to be smarter and pick his spots to drop the gloves with opponents, as to not pick up costly instigator or extra roughing minors that might cost his team in shorthanded situations .. his outlet passes are average, as he has to make better decisions with the puck and to move it quicker. .. he has a booming shot from the point with decent accuracy but he has to utilize it more .. he is a good puckcarrier and an offensive-type d-man but often holds onto the puck too long and has to be able to make better decisions .. he has some upside but not enough to be considered for this year's draft.

Lee Morrow (2008), D, Portland Winter Hawks

Another young d-man playing on a rebuilding team .. the 6-foot-2, 186-pound blueliner played in limited game situations getting into only 20 games adding 2 assists and having minus–8 rating .. defensive-type-d-man with decent mobility but skating and foot speed still need improving if Morrow is going to make it to the next level .. his outlet passes are okay and he joins the rush on occasion .. needs to work on his competitiveness, as it looked like he wasn't competing every night and that can sway scouts that are looking for a consistent overall game each night .. he needs to work harder for loose pucks along the boards and be stronger on the puck so he can set up his teammates for better scoring chances .. his shot is erratic and must learn to control it .. defensively, he blocks shots and works and battles in front of his own net but must do this on a more consistent basis .. will not garner much interest at the draft this season.

Phil Gervais (2008), RW, Portland Winter Hawks

Bounced around the league this season starting the year with Lethbridge before he was traded to Vancouver and at the WHL trade deadline was dealt to the Winter Hawks .. a prototypical third or fourth-line grinder, Gervais played in 48 games producing 3 goals, 6 points and had a minus–16 rating to go along with 55 penalty minutes .. Gervais is a good skater with a solid work ethic .. plays a physical game but needs some improvement defensively .. he has decent passing and stickhandling skills but positionally, he is not sound and frequently finds himself caught up ice or out of position .. he needs work on his shot, as it does not carry much velocity at this level ..he is a good role player and is good in the dressing room but needs to improve in many areas of the game to garner any interest on draft day.

Colin Reddin (2008), C, Portland Winter Hawks

Saw limited action appearing in just 23 games producing 3 goals, 3 assists, and a minus–19 rating .. the 5-foot-10, 170-pound pivot is a good skater with good speed through the neutral zone and when he is carrying the puck .. he is always looking to set up his wingers but he constantly is knocked off the puck and needs to add a little muscle in the off-season .. he grinds it out but needs work defensively away from the puck .. he has good hands and often takes punishment in front of opposing team's nets .. small forward will not likely be taken at the draft this year.

Travis Bobbee (2008), D, Portland Winter Hawks

Another player that was acquired in a trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes .. the 6-foot, 200- pound rearguard had 7 goals and 14 points in 65 games between the two teams .. had a minus–28 rating and like most players on the Hawks his defensive play must improve .. he has the potential to develop into a prospect, however it may take a few more years of developing .. he needs work on his pivots off the back skate and his foot speed has to be better .. he does demonstrate good ability to read plays and jump into the rush .. he has a hard shot but needs better control and must learn to keep it low through the heavy traffic areas .. the coaching staff commends him for working hard in practice and leading by example for other players .. likely will not be drafted this season.