Gregory Bates Junior Review.

[Tyler 885]

Gregory Bates

LW/RW

USA

5'11

170 lbs

Projection: 2nd/3rd round VHL Draft

 

 

Gregory Bates is a 2003 born winger from Bangor, Maine. He grew up playing local hockey at a varying of levels before eventually playing for a premier preparatory school in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. At the age of sixteen, he was drafted in the third round of the USHL draft by the Chicago Steel where he signed to play immediately. He is a player known for his skating, offensive instincts as well as a gritty mindset. He can often struggle at five on five and will need to work on that part of his game if he wants to become a star, but, even immediately, he can be a contributor on the power play and add points to his total. He is currently projected as a mid round pick in the VHL but in a league always looking for the next offensive dynamic talent, it wouldn't surprise anyone if a team reaches on him. The following is, as barebones as is allowed, his career up to this point. 

 

His first hockey of note was as a freshman for Biddeford High School in Maine. He scored 7 goals and added 11 assists in 28 games in his freshman year, winning the county award for freshman of the year. He showed promise as a power play exploitations player, but obviously, due to his age and size, did struggle at five on five sometimes. His next season, as a fifteen year old sophomore, he improved his all around game, scoring 14 goals and adding 22 assists in 26 games. He was one of the states best being named to its all star team. He had some interest in, as aforementioned, the USHL as well as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was drafted in both leagues, by the Steel, and by the Halifax Moosehead of the QMJHL. He decided to stay in the United States and signed with the Steel, wanting to keep his possible NCAA options open. 

 

In the USHL, he struggled at first, he only scored 3 goals in his first 10 games, but broke out in a big way when an injury let him play on the top line. He scored 6 goals in his next 10 and showed flashes as a potential star in the premier American junior league. However, he suffered a pretty serious knee injury and was out for the rest of the season. He returned as a seventeen year old, but it did take quite some time to get back to anything resembling his previous form. He only scored 8 goals and had 8 assists in his seventeen year old season. There were rumors he would leave for the Quebec League or even a European team as some tensions developed between his camp and the Steel hierarchy. It was a bit of a surprise when, at the last minute, he declared for the VHLM Draft. He was selected by the Philadelphia Reapers where he has agreed to sign and will report, ending his USHL career.

 

[Tyler 885]

Fwiw no idea if that projection is true sue me