Cochranite and Edge School Bantam Prep Mountaineers defenceman Josh Mettimano was selected in the eighth round (156th overall) by the Winnipeg ICE in the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Bantam Draft on May 2.
Mettimano who was one of only two defencemen picked by Winnipeg said it was a huge honour to be drafted into the organization who recently relocated from Kootenay to the comfy confines of Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg this off-season.
The 14-year-old defenceman previously played with the Bantam AA Bow Valley Timberwolves, where he scored four goals and added eight assists for 12 points in 34 games before moving onto Edge this past season. During his year with the Mountaineers, he suited up in 28 contests for the Prep team where he had one goal and six assists while also getting called up to play two games for the Edge Varsity team, gaining one assist.
Bantam Prep coach Jeff Shantz, who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche as well as playing overseas before becoming a coach, had nothing but good things to say about his young defenceman.
"It was a great pleasure coaching Josh this season," Shantz said. "To see him start his journey by being drafted to Winnipeg is a great feeling. Fans of the ICE can expect a good skating, puck moving defenceman who is also a good defender."
"Josh progressed nicely this season along with the other boys on my team. I tried to teach them some concepts that they will need moving up in levels, and they were able to apply by the end of the season."
