| Original Message |
Kelly Moore - CJOB Sports
Posted Jun 26, 2001 10:05 PM
Monday, June 25th, 2001 (Atlanta GA)—For the third year in a row, the Winnipeg Warriors have selected a defenceman with their first round pick, taking Carlo Covaiacovo of the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters.
"We are pleased with the selection," said Warriors GM Lee Hutchison. "We didn’t think he would be available at the number twenty-four pick." Covaiacovo, who some scouts ranked him as high as thirteenth overall, was recently voted the best defensive defenceman in the OHL’s Western Conference. "We like the fact that he is very mature for his age," Hutchison said. "He’s not physical, but he’s steady on the blueline and doesn’t make many mental mistakes."
In the second round, the Warriors picked center Yared Hagos from the junior team of AIK Stockholm. Hutchison believes that Hagos has what it takes to be a team player in the NHA. "He’s not flashy," said the Warriors GM, "but he’s a solid player with hockey smarts who can play both ends of the ice."
The Warriors then selected another defenceman, Aaron Johnson of L’Océanic de Rimouski, for their third round choice. While Johnson isn’t overly physical with his play, Winnipeg GM Lee Hutchison likes his overall game. "He’s a great skater, he works hard, and he is reliable in any game situation. That’s the kind of player any team would want."
The NHA draft will continue in a few days, but don’t expect GM Hutchison to stop selecting rearguards. "I love defencemen," he said. "You can never have too many of them."
In other news, the Warriors made a trade late last night with the Vancouver Voodoo. Going to the Voodoo are Winnipeg’s fifth round pick in this year’s draft as well as Winnipeg’s sixth round pick in the 2002 draft. In return, the Warriors pick up Vancouver’s fourth round pick in this year’s draft.
Kelly Moore - CJOB Sports |
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