Ryan Bowen was hoping to make his Western Hockey League debut on the weekend, but circumstances dictated otherwise.
The 15 year old Chilliwack native was called up to join the Moose Jaw Warriors on a western road swing, but coach Mike Stothers opted to not dress the rookie Friday night against a stacked Portland Winter Hawks squad.
And though they lost that game 8-2, they played well enough for Stothers to keep the lineup intact for a Saturday night game in Everett.
The road trip continued Tuesday night (after Progress deadlines) with a stop in Seattle, and Bowen will have two more chances to get into the lineup this week when Moose Jaw visits the Tri-City Americans (tonight, Wednesday) and the Spokane Chiefs (Friday).
Fifteen year olds are limited to five games during the season.
In the meantime, the Chilliwack Minor Hockey Association product is logging practice time with the major junior team.
After this week he’ll return to Penticton and his Okanagan Hockey Academy midget prep team.
Bowen was Moose Jaw’s fifth round pick in last spring’s WHL bantam draft. He scored a goal in a 5-4 preseason loss against Swift Current.