As the Neepawa Natives approach MJHL Draft 2010, their management team and staff believes that they have practiced what they preach.

 

"We tell our guys (players) to work as hard as they can and to pay attention to details," said Natives' coach Bryant Perrier. "When it comes time for our staff to do its job, we better make sure we are operating the same way."

 

In the case of MJHL Draft 2010, Perrier and his staff of scouts and administrators are doing everything they can to ensure success.

 

"Our scouts have done a great job of identifying talent," offered the coach. "Fortunately, we have a very good grasp of the players available to be picked on May 30th."

 

Those players - born in 1995 - are "a very strong overall group of players" according to Perrier.

 

The sophomore coach also concedes "there are very few superstars in the group."

 

The depth of the group, and the parity in the skill set of the province's 1995 born players are the reasons why The Natives are doing an inordinate amount of research.

 

"There are a lot of players who are at the same level," he said. "We are looking for things that separate players from the peer group in a positive way."

 

While the coach would not "tip his hand" as to how his group defines a player's merit, he said all teams will look for some common attributes.

 

"Everyone likes skating and intelligence," said the coach. "Beyond that, we have a weighted criteria that we feel will give us a good handle on each prospect."

 

The most important factor is the way a player is projected to play the game at the age of 16.

 

"It's speculation for the most part. The more information you have, the better. We have seen all of the players. Now, we weight each prospect and see where we end up."

 

The draft will take place on May 30, 2010 at Canad Inns in Winnipeg.

 

Perrier will make no guarantees on the type of players the organization will draft, but he does make one promise.

 

"There will be Neepawa players drafted by our team," he said, adding that "the Neepawa Bantam Natives program has some of the province's top prospects" among its 2009-2010 roster.

 

The draft allows for The Natives to have first right to its hometown players in the first five rounds of the draft - a luxury Perrier says will be of benefit to this year's draft prospectus.

 

"We are fortunate to have some great hometown players," he said.

 

The Natives have also made some deals within the league in order to better themselves at the draft table.

 

Perrier believes MJHL Draft 2010 will be a pivotal day for the organizaton.

 

"We believe we have a chance to really have a significant day for our organization."