Chiefs Ference, Jones 1st-Round Nhl Picks
What was a long Saturday for many of the late picks came quickly to a head for Brad Ference, one of two Spokane Chiefs chosen Saturday in the first round of the National Hockey League entry draft.
“A long day? Nah,” Ference said from Pittsburgh after going to the Vancouver Canucks as the 10th pick of the draft. “That 10th pick came up pretty quick. I’m excited. My family and I have waited a long time for this. It’s good to get it over with.”
Only one other Spokane player, Pat Falloon, has gone higher in the draft. He was taken second in ‘91.
A rough 6-3, 185-pound defense man from Calgary, Ference was chosen before Chiefs right wing Ty Jones, who went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the 16th pick.
“I had a gut feeling Chicago might take me but I was shocked when I heard my name,” Jones said. “I just sort of blacked out. It was the greatest moment of my life. Everything I’ve seen and heard about Chicago - the city, the organization, the arena - is awesome.”
Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz was on hand for the draft. “It’s great to have two players go that early,” he said. “We’re very pleased for them and proud of their success.”
Chiefs center Derek Schutz went to the Calgary Flames in the third round, the 60th player selected.
Ference, the Western Hockey League West Division rookie of the year, led the Chiefs with 324 penalty minutes. As the season wore on he became more than an instigator who skates well.
In the WHL playoffs he showed a disciplined side to his physical game. In the Chiefs’ first-round series win over the Kelowna Rockets, Ference stepped away from confrontation and tried to stay out of the penalty box, keeping the Chiefs at even strength in an intense series.
Nearly half of his points came on the power play. Three of Ference’s six goals and nine of his 20 assists came with the man advantage.
The Hockey News quotes an un-named scout as saying, “He plays the same shift of every game whether it’s preseason, regular season or the playoffs. He doesn’t pick favorites. He’ll go after anyone. He doesn’t win every fight but he always shows up.
“He plays hard, with an agitating style. Guys like that are invaluable.”
The NHL’s high regard for Ference was no secret - Hockey News had projected him as the 10th pick - but Jones was a surprise mid-first-rounder. He was expected to go in the second round.
Chicago used its second pick of the first round to take the 6-3, 210-pounder from Eagle River, Alaska.
Jones is a strong candidate to make the U.S. team that will compete at the World Junior Tournament in Helsinki over Christmas.
“It’s all right there for me,” Jones said. “If I play well in Spokane next season and at the tournaments (the world juniors and the Memorial Cup) the contract stuff will take care of itself.”
Jones said he plans to cap the day with a memorable night.
“I’m going to a Blackhawks party and then I’ll try to hook up with Ference and Schutz,” he said. “It’s going to be a great night. All of us are just pumped.”
“They - Ference, Jones and Schutz - are the cornerstones of our organization in their age group (18-year-olds), Speltz said. “We’re hopeful that this is a springboard to our Memorial Cup season.”
The Chiefs will play as the host team in next May’s Memorial Cup tournament, the four-team championship of major junior hockey.
One other Spokane player, defenseman/left wing Curtis Suter, was selected. Suter went in the fifth round to the Phoenix Coyotes as the 123rd pick of the draft.
The Associated Press reported that Ference - described as a “junkyard dog” by Vancouver management - is upset with Canadian hockey officials over not being invited to the camp used to evaluate players for the next world junior championships.
“I don’t know if the Canadian world junior team has any bias (but) you look at my penalty minutes and I think that deterred them a bit,” Ference was quoted as saying.
He talked about that later on the phone.
“I didn’t take a shot at anybody,” Ference said. “I just feel that I should have been invited. There’s a chance I still might be.”
Ference plans to attend Vancouver’s training camp in September, then return to Spokane and play well enough that Canadian Hockey may reconsider him.
First, he’ll wrap up the last of his high school work.
“I’ve got two exams next week (in Calgary) and I’m finished,” he said. “It’s not really summer yet for me.”
The fourth defenseman chosen in the draft, Ference may be a perfect fit for the Canucks, who need a stronger physical presence.
“I’ll always be a 200-PIM guy,” he said. “Last year I had to set a precedent in the league. This year will be different. People know I’m tough. The team needs me on the ice.”
Vancouver GM Pat Quinn likes the leadership qualities.
“Our priorities were center and defense,” Quinn said. “This was the kid our scouts liked the best. Brad has the potential to be an everyday, solid, dependable player.”
Ference will be represented by Pittsburgh agent Tom Reich.
The Canucks have not signed a first-round pick since Mike Wilson in 1993. Wilson was later traded to the Buffalo Sabres. Unsigned are Swedish defenseman Mattias Ohlund (1994) and Regina center Josh Holden (1996). The Canucks did not have a first-round choice two years ago when they shipped Wilson, Mike Peca and the 1995 pick to Buffalo for Alexander Mogilny.
“That’s OK,” Ference said. “I’m not worried (about a contract). I’m excited that Vancouver took me.”
The three divisions of the Canadian Hockey League - the Western, Ontario and Quebec - came up big in the draft.
After the Boston Bruins made Joe Thornton of Sault Ste. Marie the top pick, the San Jose Sharks went for Seattle Thunderbirds center Patrick Marleau, a 6-2, 190-pound goal-scorer with quickness and speed.
Also selected in the first round from the WHL were defenseman Eric Brewer of the Prince George Cougars (New York Islanders), right wing Stefan Cherneski of the Brandon Wheat Kings (New York Rangers), center Mike Brown of the Red Deer Rebels (Florida), defenseman Scott Hannan of the Kelowna Rockets (San Jose), and left wing Brenden Morrow of the Portland Winter Hawks (Dallas).
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