Scouts Already See Plenty Of Promise In 14-Year-Old Hockey Hopeful

A 14-year-old rarely plays two games alike.

A hockey scout knows that inconsistency goes with the territory.

So on a July Monday when Walter Prawdzick put together strong games back-to-back at the Whistler International All-Star Hockey Tournament, Spokane Chiefs head scout Ray Dudra was impressed.

A 6-footer or close to it, Prawdzick is likely to surface in the top end of next April’s Western Hockey League bantam draft.

He comes from hardy stock in Redcliff, Alberta, a small town near Medicine Hat. His 60-ish grandfather, Prawdzick’s uncle said, still works on an oil rig.

Young Walter has other ideas for his future. Like everyone else on the ice here, his dream is to play in the NHL.

When he takes two kids into the wall, Dudra smiles.

“Strong kid,” the scout says. “Real strong. Uses his head out there. He’ll be a fine player. Not to say he’s going to be a No. 1 (bantam pick), but when it’s all said and done he’ll be up there high enough.

“We haven’t seen enough but right now I’d say second round might be a pretty good projection for this kid.”

The Chiefs may or may not wind up with Walter. If they don’t it won’t be for lack of information.

Prawdzick will play bantam hockey in Medicine Hat. Terry Bartman scouts that area for the Chiefs. Bartman’s brother coaches the team Prawdzick is scheduled to play for.

“We’ll be able to get a pretty good read on this kid,” Dudra said.

Nervous at first, realizing he was being watched, Prawdzick said “after a while it was great, after I put everything out of my mind. “I played better my first game,” he said. “My second game I don’t know what was wrong.”

Ray Dudra does. He was tired, maybe. Distracted, perhaps. He’s 14.

On this day Prawdzick for the first time is evaluated, photographed and interviewed.

It won’t be the last time.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo