IT would be easy to discount the graduates of CBC's Making the Cut as novelty items at pro hockey training camps around North America right now, but to lump James DeMone into that group would be unfair.

"I really liked what I saw of DeMone in camp in Vancouver. He did a lot of nice things. He's a big defenceman with some skill and he has real chance of playing with us this season," Manitoba Moose head coach Alain Vigneault said after yesterday's opening scrimmage at Moose camp.

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound DeMone was among the final six from the television show who were offered tryouts with Canadian NHL teams.

DeMone was selected second by the Vancouver Canucks in the show's final episode and attended camp with the rest of the club's prospects. The Moose saw enough of DeMone that they liked and invited him to come to Winnipeg and battle for a job at the AHL level.

"I'm here to prove I can play at this level," said the 23-year-old DeMone. "Vancouver thinks I can and so do I. I had a solid year in the ECHL last season and proved I can play at that level. This is the next step and I'm excited about the challenge."

DeMone spent four seasons in the Western Hockey League before moving on to the University of Lethbridge for a season. Then came the siren call of big-time television. "I had built up four years of scholarship money while I was in the WHL and I thought I'd get an education and maybe play some hockey," says DeMone. "Then one of my buddies told me he was going to the open tryout in Calgary. We went and in the morning it was a lot of beer-leaguers and old-timers. I was a little concerned with the quality. But by the time they cut it down to the afternoon sessions it was obvious there was a lot of talent there and some real good players that had slipped through the cracks."

DeMone was invited to the summer camp in Vernon, B.C., and lasted the entire process and finally heard his name called by the Canucks.

"It was a great experience. Something I'll never forget. And about two-thirds of the guys that were there, in the final 68, they all got hockey jobs somewhere. Whether in the AHL, the ECHL or in Europe. And that's what everyone was looking for, a second chance."

DeMone had 19 assists and no goals in 61 ECHL games with the Texas Wildcatters last season and was so busy with his new future in hockey he's hasn't even seen the TV show that put him back on the map.

"I saw the first episode at my in-laws but then had to leave for hockey. They sent us a disc with 'The Best of Making the Cut' but I want to see the whole show," said DeMone. "At least I'd like to have it so someday I can show it to my kids."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca