Being selected fifth overall by the Prince Albert Raiders in the Western Hockey League’s Bantam Draft on May 5 was a monumental step for Estevan hockey player Cole Fonstad, but according to his bantam coach Tom Copeland, the sky is the limit for the 15-year-old star.
“It’s what I say to everyone else, hockey is going to happen for Cole,” Copeland said.
Though he steered away from comments involving Cole’s long-term future in hockey, which for many young players in the province involves an intense dedication to becoming a National Hockey League player, Copeland said he has no doubt that Cole’s work ethic and recent draft selection are big positives for the young man going forward.
“If you look at his situation, I think he’s basically set up to give it his best shot,” he said.
When asked about Cole’s strengths on the ice, Copeland was quick to note his strong puck handling and decision-making skills.
“Cole just falls right into that new wave of hockey players,” he said. “He really likes to play with puck possession and doesn’t want to give it away. He’s not a dump and chaser. He wants to keep the puck on his team’s tape, whether that’s his teammates’ or his own. It’s what scouts are really looking for like crazy right now.”
Fonstad has been a standout centre in the Estevan Minor Hockey Association for years. He spent the last two years with the Estevan TS&M Bantam AA Bruins.
Fonstad finished seventh in league scoring in 2014-15 with 36 goals and 67 points in 29 games. He added 10 points in five post-season games.
During the 2013-14 season, he was fourth in scoring with 35 goals and 68 points in 31 games, and added 15 points in seven playoff games.
Since his selection to the WHL, he’s modestly redirected praise aimed at him back at his parents, his coach, and the Bantam AA league he played for. Cole said the league is filled with high-calibre players, many of whom are just as hungry as he is when it comes to becoming the best.
“It’s a very high-competitive league with many games to play,” he said, adding the long season and various road trips contribute to his improvement as a hockey player as they vaguely mimic the grind high-level players.
Copeland said the upper-end of players in the Bantam AA league, in terms of talent, are “most definitely” AAA calibre players, a compliment that’s also reflected in the officiating, which Copeland described as “top notch.”
“Hockey Canada, Sask Hockey and, in our case, the Estevan Minor Hockey Association each do a pretty good job of making sure we have the tools to develop these kids,” he said, noting two players from the league were drafted into the WHL this year, an improvement over last year’s single WHL entrant.
“It’s exciting to see the league cater to so many young hockey players,” Copeland said. “They’re in a totally different world these days and all they think about is hockey.”
According to the Raiders’ website, Raiders director of player personnel Dale Derkatch said Cole will make a valuable addition to their team.
“Cole is one of the best skating players in this draft. His stride is effortless and he is shifty and quick,” Derkatch said. “He is a very skilled playmaker who can also score. What we really like about him is that he makes players around him better.”
Cole will play with the midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals in 2015-16, and then hopes to join the Raiders the following season.
Cole is looking forward to improving his physical toughness and overall speed before playing for Prince Albert.
