Manson’s Bray Rookes learned about his hopefully future hockey home while sitting in a baseball dugout.
The son of Leanne and Mike Rookes was drafted in the first round, fifth overall, by the Virden Oil Capitals in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Draft. Rookes, who was playing in Virden on June 4, said his friends were using the MJHL’s live draft follower and congratulated him.
“My first reaction to the news was excitement! I wanted to be drafted in the MJHL and Virden was the perfect fit,” Rookes wrote in an email interview. “I am so excited to be a part of the community and Oil Caps family.”
The soon-to-be 15-year-old impressed the Oils Caps scouting staffs with his talent and abilities. Last winter the 6-foot, 193-pound blue liner accumulated 15 goals, 35 points, and 75 penalty minutes in 34 games for the Yellowhead Chiefs bantam AAA team.
“We get a kid that is a very strong defenceman who shoots the puck hard and brings a real physical element to our list,” said Virden head coach and general manager Troy Leslie, who also praised Rookes’ character.
Rookes certainly has some familiarity with the Oil Caps organization. Leslie and director of player personnel Chad Leslie are his uncles on his mother’s side. Troy Leslie stated that the team’s scouting staff, which it leans on for the draft, rated him highly.
Rookes was quick to praise his family’s support of his hockey career. “My family supports me so much in everything … driving to rinks and camps, helping me with being the best I can be to pursue my hockey career,” said Rookes, who has an older brother Cody and a younger brother Kurt. “I appreciate everything they do so much.”
The Oils Caps came away from the draft with a defenceman, a goalie, and three forwards. The team snagged La Salle netminder Brock Moroz in the third round. Troy Leslie said it is the highest the Virden team has taken a goalie and said the scouring staff, including former Oak Lake product and ex-Brandon Wheat King netminder Brian Elder, was excited about him.
Due to deals, Virden did not pick in the second or fourth rounds. Added to the drafted group are Virden’s two auto protect selections: hometown products Hunter Andrew and Ryan Colon. Former auto protects such as Tanner Lewis, Tyler Kirkup, Wyatt Kalynuk, Tristen Cross, and Derek Cross have all played at least a season for Virden.
In regards to success with auto protects, Troy Leslie said, “That’s a tribute to Virden Minor Hockey and the coaches in town.”
Since the start of the Oil Capitals program in Virden, the Leslie brothers have emphasized character when drafting and acquiring players.
“It is important to have good kids in our community,” Troy Leslie said. “It is also important to have kids who see the value of being involved in the community.”
