Alex Newhook admits he was asked the question a lot during interviews with 27 teams at the recent 2019 NHL Scouting Combine: why did he remain in junior A hockey this season and commit to Boston College next year rather than join the Halifax Mooseheads and play in the Memorial Cup in his draft year?
“Every meeting,” Newhook said this week, “teams were asking me that. They were curious as to what the circumstances were.”
Which were …?
“It’s the path I chose,” said the St. John’s native, the 13th-ranked player by NHL Central Scouting Bureau for tonight’s first round of the NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver. “I wanted to finish what I had started in Victoria. I didn’t see a point in leaving, and I have no regrets.
“And the NCAA is something that I’ve always to play since I was a kid. I like the idea of combining hockey with academics.”
Newhook is ranked 15th by The Hockey News, and Sportsnet has him going 19th in its mock draft. TSN’s mock draft has him being selected in the 14th slot.
The 5-10 centre cleaned up this season in the junior A British Columbia Hockey League, winning the scoring title (38 goals, 64 assists for 102 points in 53 games) and MVP honours. Further to that, he was named the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s MVP.
At the world under-18 hockey championship in Sweden, Newhook was named as one of Canada's top three players at the tournament after tying with Peyton Krebs (ranked 10th for the Draft by CSB) for the Canadian team's scoring lead with five goals and five assists in 10 games playing the wing (he’s normally a centre).
Earlier this week, he was invited to the national junior team’s summer development camp next month in Plymouth, Mich.
“This is one of those days that you build towards your whole life. To think it’s here now is pretty surreal. But I don’t think it will really hit me until I hear my name called.”
Alex Newhook
Despite the impressive resume, there was a question mark hanging over him this season regarding his decision to return to Victoria.
The Mooseheads owned Newhook’s rights after drafting him 41st overall in the 2017 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft — he had been ranked as the fifth-best player, but slid to No. 41 because of his intentions of going the NCAA route.
Halifax, which staged the Memorial Cup last month, pushed hard for Newhook last summer following his BCHL rookie of the year performance in 2018.
Undaunted, Newhook reaffirmed his commitment and Victoria and Boston College. However, scouts have also pointed out if he is, as expected, to be a first-round draft pick today, there’s a better-than-even chance he’s not completing his four years of NCAA eligibility.
If he goes the full four years at BC, that would mean Newhook will be 22 before he turns pro.
“Right now,” he said, “realistically speaking, I probably won’t play that fourth year, but who knows.
“Really, it will be a year-by-year thing. I’m just glad that I have that (pro) option, and I’m developing in a pretty good program along the way.”
It’s been a crazy busy time for Newhook, who attended the Combine in Buffalo a couple of weeks ago.
In between it all, he had to prepare for final exams in Victoria. On Tuesday, a day before he left for Vancouver, Newhook wrote his biology final.
“It’s tough concentrating when you’re trying to study,” he chuckled. “I have to tell you, it wasn’t easy.
“But they’re all done now,” he said of his finals.
While in Buffalo, he didn’t get the feeling from the interviews any one team was favouring him over another.
“I don’t know if there’s one interview that stuck out,” he said. “And it’s not like they’re going to tip their hand.”
It’s an exciting time for Newhook and his family — parents Shawn and Paula and his sister, Abby, a fine player in her own right, who is also committed to Boston College — who will be in Vancouver.
As a youngster, he recalls watching the Draft, specifically the 2015 event, or the Connor McDavid Draft.
“This is one of those days that you build towards your whole life,” he said. “To think it’s here now is pretty surreal. But I don’t think it will really hit me until I hear my name called.”
Teams selecting in the 10 through 20 spots in the draft tonight are 10. Vancouver 11. Philadelphia 12. Minnesota 13. Florida 14. Arizona 15. Montreal 16. Colorado 17. Vegas 18. Dallas 19. Ottawa (from Columbus) 20. NY Rangers (from Winnipeg).
There’s also another Newfoundlander ranked for the Draft. Brett Budgell of Paradise is slotted in the sixth round, 156th overall, by CSB when it comes to North American skaters. That is separate from Central Scouting lists for Europeans and goaltenders. The draft lasts just seven rounds.
Budgell played for the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders last season, scoring 18 goals and 33 points in 67 games.
Twitter: @telyrobinshort
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