 He moved to North America for his draft year in 2006–07 to play major junior in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Chilliwack Bruins.Producing at a point-per-game pace with 69 points in 68 games, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round, 52nd overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.He returned to the Bruins for one more season and improved to 83 points, earning him a spot on the WHL West First All-Star Team.