NHL Clubs Draft Bear And Pilon

A pair of Aboriginal teenagers were among those who were selected at the recent NHL Entry Draft held in Florida.

Ethan Bear, from the Ochapowace First Nation in Saskatchewan, was selected in the fifth round, 124th overall, by the Edmonton Oilers.

And Ryan Pilon, who grew up in Duck Lake, Sask., home to the Beardy’s and Okemasis Willow Cree First Nation, was also chosen in the fifth round, 147th over-all, by the New York Islanders.

The seven-round draft was staged June 26 and June 27 in Sunrise, Fla. Bear, a defenceman, had spent the past two seasons toiling in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Despite being a blueliner, this past year he finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in club scoring, collecting 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 69 regular season contests.

Bear managed to double the 19 points he had earned during his rookie campaign with the Thunderbirds.

As for Pilon, who also plays defence, he has spent the past three seasons in the WHL. This past year he was a member of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Pilon racked up 52 points (11 goals, 41 assists) in 68 games. He had joined the Wheat Kings the previous year, following an early season trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the club Pilon had kicked off his junior career with during the 2012-13 season.

Pilon is the nephew of former defenceman Rich Pilon who appeared in 646 NHL matches, primarily with the Islanders, before retiring in 2003.