Bigos Makes College Leap:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:


Bigos makes college leap

Published: June 16, 2009

No one’s stock rose more at the Royal Bank Cup National Junior A Hockey Championships than the Vernon Vipers’ Kyle Bigos.
The towering blueliner was the second leading scorer behind teammate Mike Collins in Victoria. He posted 2-7-9 and 18 penalty minutes in six games, earning tournament MVP and Top Defenceman.
The end result – the Upland, Calif. product’s services are in demand.
With the NHL Entry Draft going June 26-27 in Montreal, the question isn’t whether he’ll get selected, but how high?
The Merrimack Warriors, who Bigos committed to for the 2010-11 season, want him now. Vipers’ head coach/GM Mark Ferner would dearly love to keep him in Vernon.
But after much deliberation, Bigos has decided he is ready to play NCAA hockey next season.
“It was a tough decision for myself and my family, but I think I’m ready to play college hockey,” said Bigos, who recently attended a New Jersey Devils combine with the Vipers’ Cory Kane. “To end (last season) on a note like that – we were undefeated at the RBC.”
Ferner admits the chances are slim Bigos will stay in Vernon, but thinks he still has a chance of retaining the gentle giant’s services. Depending on which NHL team drafts him, Ferner believes they may want Bigos to stay in the B.C. Hockey League for another year of seasoning.
“If he does get drafted, which we feel he will... it depends on what team drafts him and what they want him to do,” said Ferner.
Added Bigos: “It’s pretty much my future, so if they wanted me to do that, then I’d do it. You can’t really worry because it’s out of your hands right now.”
If Bigos, 20, does move on to the NCAA, Ferner says it’s a credit to the Vipers’ organization.
“His scholarship wasn’t until next year, but he’s obviously improved to the point where they (Merrimack) think he’s ready. If he doesn’t stay, it means we’ve done our job. We’ve helped him develop ahead of schedule.”
The Vipers already have three veteran d-men graduating – Cameron Brodie (Colgate), Cody Ikkala (Army) and Mike Leidl. Losing Bigos, would mean another significant hole to fill on the back end.
“He’s 6-foot-5, 230 pounds – it’s tough to replace a player like that,” said Ferner. “If we lose him, it’s a big hole, but everyone loses their 20-year-olds.”