The News talked to Joel Lowry, who was drafted 140th overall from the Victoria Grizzlies to the Los Angeles Kings in the June 24 NHL Entry Draft.
Born in 1991, Lowry was passed up at last year’s draft, his first year of eligibility.
Thanks to a successful B.C. Hockey League season, scoring 67 points in 42 games, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound forward earned the attention of the Los Angeles Kings.
Lowry was part of a unique draft for Victoria Western League and BCHL fans as Joel’s 1993-born brother Adam (6-foot-4, 187 lbs) was also selected on Friday, 67th overall to the Winnipeg Jets from the Swift Current Broncos.
Joel is headed to the Cornell Big Red of the NCAA for the 2011-12 season along with teammate Madison Dias, where they'll link up with fellow Grizzlies product Dustin Mowrey.
Q: Your father Dave is an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames. What kind of interest did you get from them and how did it go compared to the Kings and other teams?A: I know my dad talked to them about (Adam and I). A couple of other teams talked to me. Mostly I was (just) hoping there were teams interested. I never actually talked to Calgary.
Q: Did you go to the NHL Draft in Minneapolis?A: Adam and I didn’t go - Adam was iffy about going. Even though (our) dad was there we never really talked about it. I actually went to the gym (near our Calgary home) and missed the beginning of the draft. I watched just in time to see my brother (Adam) and myself get picked.
Q: What was it like watching the NHL Draft?A: It was both really exciting and relieving to have it over with. Sitting and watching, I was getting sick to my stomach. I don’t know how those (projected) first rounders do it when they slip (to lower spots) and don’t go so high.
Q: Only two current BCHL players were drafted. Were you surprised there weren’t more, considering your competition this year?A: I was a little surprised. Josh Manson (of Salmon Arm) was drafted (160th) but wasn’t even ranked. I was really expecting Destry Straight (Coquitlam) to get drafted after being so highly touted.
Q: Have you talked to former Grizzly and future Cornell teammate Dustin Mowrey about what to expect this year?A: I just talked to Mowrey for a long while the other day on what to do this summer to get ready. I’ll also know a bit more about how it’s going to go with the Kings in the next couple of weeks. I’m sure they’ll have high expectations.
Q: Have you talked to fellow Grizzlies who were talked about but weren’t drafted?A: Madison Dias said he wasn’t expecting anything but I had my fingers crossed for him (and for Pearce Eviston). They go back into the draft (just like Joel did) next year and I’m sure there’ll be more interest.
Q: Do you feel any added pressure going to your first training camp for the Cornell Big Red as NHL property?A: You still have to earn your ice time going in (to camp). There’s already a few guys who’ve been drafted and I’m one of three freshman coming in who were just drafted, and we’ll all be fighting for spots.- Lowry’s soon-to-be Cornell teammates who were also drafted are Brian Ferlin (121st, Boston Bruins) and Philippe Hudon (145th, Detroit Red Wings).