Former Juan de Fuca bantam T1 Grizzlies head coach Jason Mohr vividly remembers the first time View Royal product Payton Mount caught his attention.

It was a fall 2015 exhibition game against Cowichan and Mohr decided to give his second-year players a rest while testing the mettle of his young guns, which included Mount.

B次元官网网址淲e beat them 8-0 and he had five goals and probably two assists. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 even believe it B次元官网网址� I was in awe just watching this kid play,B次元官网网址� Mohr said.

Mount, a forward, was recently taken by the Western Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round (19th overall) of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 annual bantam draft, a result that was anything but surprising for Mohr, who praised his former playerB次元官网网址檚 work ethic and commitment.

B次元官网网址淭hroughout the season, whenever you needed those big goals, he got them for you,B次元官网网址� he continued. B次元官网网址淲hen he would come down one on one, heB次元官网网址檚 looking for a place to score. Most players are just looking to get a shot off on net at that age. HeB次元官网网址檚 picking a spot in the net where heB次元官网网址檚 going to snipe it.B次元官网网址�

Mount helped the Grizzlies to a regular season title and a playoff runner-up finish in 2015-16 before taking his talents to the Lower Mainland and the Delta Hockey Academy.

B次元官网网址淚 think (JDF minor hockey) helped me improve every year. I think I got better every year that I played and it just helped me for this season that I just had, where I think I did pretty well,B次元官网网址� Mount said.

He put up 30 goals and 37 assists in 30 regular season games in Delta, adding seven points in five playoff games.

He was in Philadelphia playing for the Western Canada squad in the U15 World Selects Invitational when he received a text from his dad that heB次元官网网址檇 been taken by Seattle.

B次元官网网址淚t was very exciting to get drafted by Seattle. (ItB次元官网网址檚) definitely one of (my) dreams come true to play at the junior level. ThatB次元官网网址檚 just one step of making it all the way to the NHL,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that heB次元官网网址檚 happy to have a chance to remain fairly close to home.

The pros might seem like a lofty goal, but Mohr wouldnB次元官网网址檛 dismiss the possibility for his former star centre.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a tough call, because you have to see him at the next level first B次元官网网址� but I always said that (heB次元官网网址檚) the first kid IB次元官网网址檝e coached that could actually make it to the NHL,B次元官网网址� he said.

Mount credits Mohr with teaching him a solid 200-foot game and teaching him the physical side of the game, with bantam being the first year that players are introduced to hitting.

At 15, Mount wonB次元官网网址檛 be eligible for a full-time position with the Thunderbirds next season because of his age. Instead, heB次元官网网址檒l be eligible to join the big club for a handful of games while continuing to develop with Delta. The ThunderbirdsB次元官网网址� camp will likely take place towards the end of August.

B次元官网网址淚 just hope to showcase myself as best as possible. Show them that IB次元官网网址檓 a team player that works hard,B次元官网网址� he said.

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com

Twitter:@joelgazette