Oilers pick Abney
Cameron Abney has been picked by the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.
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Updated: June 30, 2009 2:49 PM
A hard-hitting up-and-comer with the WHL Silvertips of Everett, Washington, was the third round NHL entry draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
Cameron Abney, an 18-year-old defenceman from Aldergrove, has been eyed by scouts for some time this past season, and was thrilled to be the 82nd overall selection by the Oilers.
"It's crazy," Abney, reached while vacationing in Hawaii, told Everett Herald reporter Nick Patterson. "I wasn't even drafted into the WHL, so I was just happy to make the WHL. The NHL is just a crazy place to me. It's still sinking in."
Abney is an example of the hockey rags-to-riches story as he doesn't have the profile of your typical top prospect. Not selected in the bantam draft. No buzz surrounding him when the season began. Not even guaranteed to make Everett's roster last season. Yet he will be headed to the Oilers camp in the fall.
"He worked hard and is now reaping the rewards," said Everett general manager Doug Soetaert, who also attended the draft. "It shows that just because you get passed over in the bantam draft doesn't mean you have no shot at the NHL."
Though being drafted, Abney should return to the 'Tips next season. The Oilers own his rights for two years before having to sign him, and players from the WHL are not eligible to play professionally in the minors until their 20-year-old seasons.
Abney was thought to be a fringe candidate for the draft, a player who would be picked late, if at all. His numbers were underwhelming this season as a rookie — one goal, three assists and 103 penalty minutes in 48 games — and his name was nowhere to be found on any of the scout rankings.
However, Abney improved as the season progressed, becoming a physical force toward the end of the season and earning the team's most-improved award. Enforcers also have a history of being picked higher than expected, and the 6-foot-4 Abney was one of the best available.
Abney has been impressing the ‘Tips since Christmas, and has played all but one game in which his size and style has been knocking down opposing players and creating turnovers for his team.
Edmonton, a team that's publicly stated its desire to get bigger and tougher, decided to take the plunge with the 82nd-overall pick, surprising even Abney, who was awakened at 5 a.m. by a phone call from the Oilers.
"I talked to an Edmonton scout not too long ago, so I thought they were interested," Abney said. "But it blows my mind to get drafted that high. I did not think I'd be taken that high. I didn't think I'd even be taken at all."
The D-man is a graduate of Aldergrove Junior B Kodiaks’ coach Rick Harkins’ 2007 AA Aldergrove Midgets provincial champions. He also played last year for the North Delta Devils before he was called up to the ‘Tips after his performance at their prospects camp.
Harkins says Abney was a first line player in the bantams and, "worked his way up with the midgets to become a full, all-round player, a points producer for our championship year.
"He's worked very hard and made a lot of sacrifices the last few summers to get where he is now, an enforcer with the Silvertips. They need a tough guy on top, to protect his team mates.
"I'm sure they'll be giving him more ice time and he'll be able to show his talents," said Harkins.
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