By Jeff D'Andrea

‘Surreal’ start of career for Pilon

Nov 8, 2011 | 6:51 AM

He’s barely 15-years-old, but Ryan Pilon has already accomplished more than most can dream about in his young hockey career.

This summer, the Duck Lake-born defenceman was drafted third overall by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL Bantam Draft and has since been dubbed one of the future faces of the franchise.

Last weekend, Pilon was named as a Tournament All-Star at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup in Moose Jaw and will be attending the first ever Winter Youth Olympics this January in Austria.

“It’s surreal, you know, not everything’s kicked in,” Pilon said. “It’s a great stepping stone into my hockey career and I’d like to just go with it.”

Pilon, who casts a large shadow at 6’2, 197 pounds, reached another milestone in his hockey career, making his WHL debut Friday at the Art Hauser Centre in a 5-2 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders.

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Pilon, who has eight points in 12 games with the SMAAAHL’s top ranked club, the 12-2 Beardy’s Blackhawks, said it meant a lot to him to make his Dub debut close to home and in a familiar rink.

“It’s definitely great. A lot of family came out to watch and it’s a great experience in a barn I’ve played in before,” said Pilon. “I’ve played here a couple times with Beardy’s already, just knowing the boards, knowing the bounces, knowing the little high glass and stuff, it works out in our favour.”

In the game, Pilon wasn’t exactly glued to the bench. He saw a ton of ice in all situations, even some power play time in the last two periods.

Although he didn’t get any points, Pilon did show some of the tools he possesses, like a heavy booming slap shot that actually knocked the stick out of the trapper of Raiders goaltender Eric Williams at one point in the third period.

Hurricanes head coach Rich Preston said when he called up Pilon for the game, he had no intentions of burying one of the brightest WHL prospects on the bench.

“If you’re going to bring somebody up, you have to play him,” said Preston. “We have the upmost confidence in him and you can tell, he doesn’t play like a rookie.”

Pilon impressed the Hurricanes coaching staff of Preston and assistant Matt Kabayama despite being only 14-year-old during camp as he didn’t turn 15 until Oct. 10.

“He came to camp and you can tell he’s a special player,” said Preston. “He’s going to be a real good player, a heads-up player, confident player doesn’t get rattled with the puck.”

Pilon didn’t make the trip to Saskatoon with the Hurricanes as he was reassigned back to the Blackhawks for the weekend for a two-game road trip. Pilon and the Blackhawks won both games, 6-4 against the Regina Pat Canadians Saturday and 4-3 over the Notre Dame Hounds Sunday.

jdandrea@panow.com