Sea Dogs Dominate Final NHL Central Scouting Draft Rankings
April 11, 2011 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN, NB - Nine Saint John Sea Dogs eligible for the upcoming National Hockey League draft found their names on the final rankings released by NHL Central Scouting Monday.
Forward Jonathan Huberdeau, ranked third among all North American skaters, was the top Sea Dog on the list, which forecasts the best prospects available for the 2011 NHL draft. NHL Central Scouting considers Huberdeau the top prospect from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, behind No. 1 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Western League's Red Deer Rebels and No. 2 Gabriel Landeskog of the Ontario League's Kitchener Rangers.
Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu checked in at No. 5, behind Dougie Hamilton, a blueliner with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario League. Both Beaulieu and Huberdeau were nominated for the QMJHL Michael Bossy Trophy as the league's top professional prospect, but the league gave the award to forward Sean Couturier, who plays in Drummondville. Couturier, who played his minor hockey in Bathurst, checked in at No. 6 on the NHL list, third among QMJHL prospects.
Two other Sea Dogs found their names in potential first-round territory: forwards Zack Phillips (No. 15) and Tomas Jurco (No. 20). Rounding out the Sea Dogs contingent are forwards Scott Oke (No. 44), Ryan Tesink (No. 47), Aidan Kelly (No. 94), and Jason Cameron (No. 124), and defenseman Gabriel Bourret (No. 92).
To view the complete rankings, visit http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm'id68892&navidDL|NHL|DraftMicrosite2011
The NHL draft will be held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. on June 24 and 25. Sea Dogs who have previously been drafted into the NHL include superstar blueliner Simon Després (Pittsburgh Penguins, 2009), veteran forward Steven Anthony (Vancouver Canucks, 2009), Russian forward Stanislav Galiev (Washington Capitals, 2010), and talented two-way forward Stephen MacAulay (St. Louis Blues, 2010). At 30th overall, Despres holds the team record for the highest Sea Dogs selection in NHL draft history.
The Sea Dogs are locked in a 1-1 tie with the Victoriaville Tigres in their best-of-seven President's Cup quarter-final series. Victoriaville also boasts some highly touted draft-eligible talent, with forward Phillip Danault (No. 27) and defensemen Troy Vance (No. 149) and Bohumil Jank (No. 181) on the North American skaters list. Goalie David Honzik, meanwhile, checks in at No. 13 on the North American goalies list, second in the QMJHL behind Christopher Gibson of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. At No. 2 on the list, Gibson ranks behind only John Gibson of the United States National Team Development Program.
The series continues with Games 3, 4 and 5 in Victoriaville on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, all 8 p.m. Atlantic Time starts. Tim Roszell will have the call on News 88.9 FM http://www.news889.com/ Fans can also catch all the action online via the official TELUS QMJHL webcast (click http://qmjhl.mytelus.com HERE to order; charges apply). Games 6 and 7, if necessary, will be back at Harbour Station on April 18 and 19, both at 7 p.m.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2011
- 33 QMJHL Players in Final NHL Central Scouting Draft Rankings - QMJHL
- Sea Dogs Dominate Final NHL Central Scouting Draft Rankings - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Cataractes Sanctioned - QMJHL
- MAINEiacs Join Tigres as Road Winners to Start Round 2 - Lewiston MAINEiacs
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