The Los Angeles Kings used their fifth pick in Saturday's NHL Entry Draft to select Victoria Grizzlies playmaker Joel Lowry.
Lowry, the son of former NHLer and current Calgary Flames assistant coach Dave Lowry, was the highest-rated BCHL player available according to the most recent NHL Central Scouting list. He put up 24 goals and 43 assists in just 42 games this year for Victoria while accumulating 35 penalty minutes.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder is committed to attend Cornell University in September along with Grizzlies teammate Madison Dias.
Calgary-raised but born in St. Louis, Mo., Lowry spent the past two seasons in the BCHL. In 2009-10, he scored 15 goals and 29 assists while taking 55 penalty minutes. He was especially strong in this year's playoffs, scoring five goals and 12 assists in 12 games for the Grizzlies who were upended by the Powell River Kings in the Coastal Conference semifinals.