It's likely the only reason Samuel Schofield isn't playing in the Western Hockey League this season is because he's just 15 years old.

In any case, Schofield must have made quite the impression on the Swift Current Broncos, because the team named him to its 50-player protected list in the final days of August. His listing means no other WHL team can make contact with him this season.

Schofield even skipped the Broncos rookie camp entirely and was instead invited to the team's main camp, something which surprised him.

鈥淢ost players go through rookie camp when they get invited and if they're good enough, they get invited to main camp,鈥� he said.

The Broncos have had their eye on Schofield since he played with Burnaby Winter Club's bantam prep squad last season in B.C. They were in contact with him and his family several times leading up to camp.

Jamie Porter, Swift Current's head scout, said the team felt Schofield was worthy of a spot at main camp.

鈥淪amuel has a very good hockey sense and great skills,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淗e seems to pop into the right situation at the right time and manages to get himself plenty of good opportunities in front of the net.鈥�

Main camp was the furthest Schofield could have gotten this season given the minimum age to play in the WHL is 16 -- even though over the years some younger players have received special dispensation.

鈥淭his was just a chance for me to show my skills for the future,鈥� said Schofield. 鈥淭here's the potential for me to play there in the future and I hope I can.鈥�

Scholfield played in the Blue/White intrasquad game on Aug. 28 where he scored a goal and added an assist to help his team win 3-2.

鈥淚 wasn't sure what to expect going into the game but I knew it was going to be at a high level,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 lot of people were watching the game and it was fun to play.鈥�

鈥淵ou can never be completely satisfied but I'm happy with how I did.鈥�

Schofield isn't the biggest player on the ice, standing only 5' 1鈥�, but he makes up for his lack of height with a fierce style of play, something Porter said was noticed by the coaching staff during camp.

鈥淗e's small in size but size isn't an issue in hockey anymore,鈥� he said. 鈥淪amuel showed he can survive playing against older and bigger players and he willed himself to be as good as he is.鈥�

Schofield is back in Burnaby this season and is playing with the Elite 15 bantam squad, which will give him plenty of chances to be seen by the team.

鈥淲e have scouts in all of the places where Samuel will be playing this coming season,鈥� said Porter. 鈥淲e'll give him feedback when we need to but we just want him to continue doing what got him to camp. Our philosophy is all about patience and we're going to give him all the time he needs to grow into a good, young player.鈥�

Porter also said Schofield will definitely get an invite back to main camp next season.