Toews Shuns WHL

Center Jonathan Toews, the first-overall pick in the 2003 Bantam Draft by the Tri-City Americans, has apparently spurned the WHL. Toews, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who attends high school in Minnesota, made a verbal commitment to attend the University of North Dakota. Toews is the first No. 1 bantam pick to shun the WHL

Why should it be seen as "shunning" the WHL?

So he decided to play in the NCAA. Big deal.

Teams don't pick anyone in the first round without finding out if they intend to play in the CHL. You can't tell me for one second that Toews didn't indicate there was a strong probability that he would play in the WHL, and after the draft he and his family had a change of heart. I could see how the team selecting him would feel shunned.

It's a huge investment - teams don't make blind investments with a 1st overall pick.

Dan Bertram was more keen on going ot the NCAA than the CHL when the Giants drafted him #2.