WHL Spokane Chiefs

Cowen Selected by Ottawa in 1st Round

Published on June 26, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Spokane Chief defenseman Jared Cowen was selected by the Ottawa Senators with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft today.

Cowen was the first overall selection in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft, the highest ever selection by the Chiefs, and appeared in six games in 2006-07 and registered a pair of assists. He also played in six playoff games.

As a rookie 16-year-old in 2007-08, Cowen finished as a +27, tops for all WHL first year players, in 68 games. He also scored four goals and 18 points and had 62 penalty minutes.

After winning the Memorial Cup in 2008, helping Spokane earn the title with an empty net goal in Kitchener in the final game, Cowen was named an Alternate Captain for Team Canada and helped them win a gold medal at the 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka under-18 World Championships.

This season, Cowen had appeared in 48 games for Spokane, scoring seven goals, 21 points and 45 penalty minutes. He was also +16 prior to suffering a season ending knee injury at the end of January.

Cowen appeared at the CHL's Top Prospect game this season, an event reserved for the top 40 draft eligible players in the Canadian Hockey League.

The Allan, Saskatchewan native will attend Team Canada's World Junior Selection Camp in August.

Cowen is the fifth first round pick in Chiefs history and the highest defenseman selected by an NHL team in Spokane history. Defenseman Brad Ference was taken with the 10th overall selection in the 1997 draft by Vancouver. Pat Falloon, second overall in 1991, is the highest Chiefs pick all-time. Forward Michael Grabner was the last Chief first round pick, 14th overall to Vancouver in 2006.

Round one takes place tonight with rounds two through seven scheduled for Saturday.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from June 26, 2009


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