In choosing to draft Ethan Bowen earlier this month, the Kelowna Rockets knew there would be some stiff competition to land the services of the young centre.
The Chilliwack Chiefs announced this week that Bowen has committed to the B.C. Hockey League club for the 2018-19 season.
In a media release, the BCHL team said the 15-year-old forward will also play for the Chiefs this coming season as an AP when Chilliwack hosts the RBC Cup championship.
Bowen was a consensus top-10 prospect for the 2017 WHL bantam draft, but because the NCAA was a serious consideration for the Yale Academy product, WHL clubs were reluctant to jeopardize one of their earlier selections.
When Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 first choice arrived in the second round, 39th overall, the Rockets decided it was worth the risk to take Bowen.
Because Bowen害羞草研究所檚 commitment to the Chiefs isn害羞草研究所檛 binding, Kelowna assistant GM Lorne Frey said his club will continue to pursue the Chilliwack native.
害羞草研究所淎s far as we know, he害羞草研究所檚 still coming to our training camp this fall,害羞草研究所� Frey said of Bowen. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 up to us to sell him on our program, have him meet our coaches and see our organization, and convince him this is the place for him to be.
害羞草研究所淲e knew he had options when we drafted him, so we害羞草研究所檒l see where it all goes.害羞草研究所�
Upon being drafted by the Rockets, Bowen reacted this way: 害羞草研究所淜elowna is a great organization and I害羞草研究所檓 very happy to have a great WHL option,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 really appreciate the opportunity to be associated with the Rockets. It害羞草研究所檚 a great organization with a great history of success.害羞草研究所�
The Chiefs害羞草研究所� release also indicated Bowen has accepted a full scholarship from the University of North Dakota for the 2020-2021 season.
Bowen explained his decision to opt for the BCHL and NCAA route. 害羞草研究所淭hanks to guys like Tyson Jost, Dante Fabbro and Dennis Cholowski, the BCHL has demonstrated to younger players like myself that you can play Junior A and college and not fall off the radar with Hockey Canada and the NHL,害羞草研究所� Bowen said.
Last season with Yale Academy害羞草研究所檚 Bantam Prep team, Bowen had 33 goals and 62 points in 29 games.
