A standout junior player in the Western Hockey League, Bodger was twice named the best defenceman on the Kamloops Junior Oilers. He was also named a WHL all-star in both his junior seasons. He also represented Canada at three World Championships, winning a silver medal at the 1996 tournament.\n', '

Bodger played his minor hockey with the Cowichan Midget Capitals before joining the Kamloops Junior Oilers of the Western Hockey League. In his first season with Kamloops, he scored 26 goals and 92 points, being named to the WHL Second All-Star Team. The following season, Bodger scored 21 goals and added 77 assists for 98 points, earning First All-Star Team honours. Both seasons he was named the team\'s top defenceman. With 190 points in two seasons of junior hockey, Bodger was one of the top prospects going into the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, being ranked the seventh greatest prospect by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.\n', '

As a top prospect, Bodger was expecting to be selected early in the draft. He had earlier conversations with the Detroit Red Wings, who told Bodger there was a "90 per cent chance" they would pick him at seventh overall, going so far as to ask he wear a red tie to match the team colours. However, the Red Wings instead chose Shawn Burr. Instead, the Pittsburgh Penguins made Bodger their second choice of the draft; they had selected Mario Lemieux, who would become one of the greatest players in NHL history, first overall.\n', '

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