MOOSE JAW WARRIOR NOTEBOOK

Under an agreement between the NHL and Canadian Hockey League, NHL teams are required to compensate a junior team if they keep an under-aged player (anyone under 20) on their roster.

Although Lundmark - who was drafted ninth overall by the New York Rangers during Saturday's entry draft in Boston - is likely to land back in Moose Jaw this fall, it's possible he might stick on Broadway as an 18-year-old.

"I think it could mean anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000 for us," Warriors general manager Ralph Schmidt said Monday from Ottawa, en route back to Moose Jaw from the draft.

Schmidt wasn't certain of the exact figures, but was citing the compensation the Warriors received when winger Ryan Smith stuck with the Edmonton Oilers as a 19-year-old in 1995-96.

Smyth remains the highest-drafted Warrior. He was picked sixth overall in 1994.

Although Warriors defenceman Dayle Wilcox and goaltender Tim Barlow were rated as late draft selections, Schmidt still expected NHL teams to bite - but nobody did.

Wilcox was ranked 141st by the Central Scouting Bureau, while Barlow was rated 23rd among North American goaltenders.

"I thought somebody would take a crack at them," said Schmidt. "I guess the thing that surprised us was the number of Europeans. In the mid to late rounds there were just a ton of Europeans who went."

This year's draft marked the first time since 1990 - when Hartford picked Chris Bright 78th overall - that only one Warrior was selected. Moose Jaw has been shut out only once, 1988.

Speaking of Europeans, the Warriors will delve into that talent pool July 8-9 during the CHL Import Draft. The Tribe picks 36th overall via conference call.

"We've got a few guys picked out and hopefully they're still there when we pick," said Schmidt, adding he's considering talent from five different countries.

The Warriors selected Slovakian goaltender Rastislav Stana with the 50th pick last year after trading their 13th overall pick to Portland. This year they'll go after a forward who can play on the top two lines, said Schmidt.

Richard Cihak was the last forward taken by the Warriors, 12th overall in 1996. He collected 10 goals and seven assists in 53 games as a rookie before being released early in the 1997-98 campaign.

Will the Warriors be looking for Cihak the second?

"No, Pavel Brendl the second," said Schmidt, referring to the Calgary Hitmen forward who was WHL scoring champion last season and the fourth overall pick by the Rangers in Saturday's NHL draft.

Ironically, the Warriors could have snagged the Czech standout last season if they had kept their original 13th pick. Brendl wasn't taken until 34th by the Hitmen.

The Warriors have two front-runners in the race for the full-time assistant coach's job. Schmidt said neither is a WHL coaching veteran but at least one - perhaps both - has junior 'A' experience.

Notes from Saturday's Draft

Jamie Lundmark grew up watching the hometown Edmonton Oilers win five Stanley Cups and wears No. 17 in honour of ex-Oiler sniper Jari Kurri. "He told me Jari Kurri was his favorite player," Rangers head coach John Muckler said Saturday. "Jari's my idol too."

Although Lundmark was the highest-rated Canadian going into the draft, he was the third Canadian picked. The Nashville Predators picked goaltender Brian Finley of the OHL's Barrie Colts sixth, three picks before Lundmark. Washington then picked Calgary's Kris Beech. The lowest that the top Canadian previously had ever gone was third.
-Mike Rathje to San Jose in 1992
-but Finley, a Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., native, now holds that honour.

by Darrell Davis