Like many 15-year-olds, Justin Sourdif was surfing the internet while on his way to school.
Unlike most students, he was looking to see where hockey is going to take him a year from now.
A highly-ranked prospect from the Delta Hockey Academy, Sourdif鈥檚 name appeared quickly on the Western Hockey League鈥檚 Bantam Draft Tracker. The Surrey resident was claimed third overall by the Vancouver Giants, and was the first player from British Columbia to be selected.
鈥淚 thought I was going to Edmonton (fourth overall), then I saw my name pop up when the Giants picked,鈥� said Sourdif, who was following the draft Thursday morning while on the bus heading for school at Delta Secondary. 鈥淚鈥檓 pretty excited, I got a call from (Giants general manager) Glen (Hanlon), saying they were excited to have me and that he would be in touch with more information a little later.鈥�
A five-foot-nine, 158-pound centre, Sourdif tallied 32 goals and 66 points in 29 games played with the Delta Hockey Academy鈥檚 Bantam Prep team. At last month鈥檚 B.C. Cup in Salmon Arm, Sourdif scored five times and added four assists in four games and was selected to the tournament鈥檚 first all-star team.
A top prospect heading into the draft, the Western Elite Hockey Prospects website said Sourdif has 鈥渁 superb defensive foundation鈥� and has displayed 鈥渟peed and offensive prowess.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 a strong, puck-moving forward,鈥� said Sourdif. 鈥淚鈥檓 confident, and I consider myself a leader.鈥�
Sourdif will attend a Giants orientation camp in May, and will see some familiar faces on the ice. 鈥淚鈥檝e played with Cole Shepard, and I鈥檝e played against Krz Plummer and Tanner Brown,鈥� said Sourdif. 鈥淪o I鈥檒l know a few of the guys.鈥�
Shepard, a teammate at the Delta Hockey Academy, was drafted by the Giants in the second round, while Brown was also a second-round selection and Plummer was claimed in the third round. Brown and Plummmer are members of the Bantam Prep team at the Pursuit of Excellence Program in Kelowna.
Sourdif said he needs to improve his consistency next season, and to 鈥渨ork hard game in and game out.鈥�
He will join the Valley West Hawks of the BC Hockey Major Midget League next season.
