LATEST CROP OF SEA DOGS CHOSEN AT DRAFT

Saint John picks Noel at 3rd, Thompson at 17th from talented pool; 16 prospects added

June 8, 2013,

CHICOUTIMI, QC - The Saint John Sea Dogs had three selections in the top 22 picks at this year's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft and added 16 prospects to the system.

The team used their first pick, third overall, to select St. John's, NL-born Nathan Noel. The 5-foot-10, 169-pound Noel attended the prestigious Shattuck-St. Mary's prep school in Faribault, Minnesota, the same school attended by Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby prior to their selection in the QMJHL draft.

"He battles in the corners, in front of the nets and scores a lot of goals in those areas," says Doug Jackman, the Sea Dogs Newfoundland and Labrador scout. "I think with him you're getting the full package who will be a franchise player down the road."

During the 2011-12 season, the talented centre racked up 45 goals and 59 assists for 104 points in only 56 games with the Bantam T1 team at Shattuck. He followed that up playing at the midget prep level with a 10 goal, 30 assist, 52 game campaign.

Saint John added another solid prospect in the deep 2013 Entry Draft, selecting defenceman Will Thompson with the 17th pick. The Fredericton native was a standout at Rothesay Netherwood School in the 2012-13 season, putting up 11 goals and 25 assists in 47 games. He is listed at 5-foot-11 and 152 pounds.

"We see Will as a complete defenseman," says the Sea Dogs New Brunswick Scout Stephane Leblanc. "He's got good offensive skills, but he's also good defensively and he competes very hard. He's got some grit, good size and a right hand shot. We liked everything about his game."

"We're thrilled with the guys we got in the first round," says Sea Dogs Head Coach and General Manager Mike Kelly. "They're both very dynamic players, hard working and very competitive. They're exciting players to watch, they're offensive and are players people will want to come out and watch."

At No. 22, the Sea Dogs picked Thomas Chabot, a 6-foot, 169-pound defenseman out of Levis in the Quebec Midget AAA ranks. The Dogs picked again at No.41 and chose Joey Richard of the Moncton Flyers, a forward with a nose for the net. Richard is six feet tall and 190 pounds and had 26 goals and 29 assists in 35 games with the Flyers.

The Sea Dogs flipped a 2014 2nd-rounder to the Drummondville Voltigeurs to pick No. 47 in their first draft day deal. They proceeded to select Samuel Dove-McFalls, another sizeable forward at six feet tall and 183 pounds. The Dogs made another deal with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to move up and grab Mathieu Joseph at 51st overall. The trade saw the Sea Dogs 58th and 74th picks go back to Rouyn-Noranda.

Saint John had pick No. 59 in the 4th round and selected Alexander McQuaid from the Cornwall Thunder. With the 3rd pick in the 5th round, the Dogs selected their first goaltender in the draft, Christopher Smith of the St. John's Privateers.

Without a pick in the 6th round, the Sea Dogs grabbed another Cornwall Thunder defenseman, Bailey Webster. Saint John then picked up Chris Sarault of the Ontario Hockey Academy in the 8th round, 131st overall. Seventeen year old goaltender Antoine Landry of the Miramichi Rivermen was taken with the team's 9th round selection, 149th overall.

Jack Eichel, drafted by the Mooseheads in 2012, was released by Halifax this week and reentered the draft. The Sea Dogs pulled a low-risk, high-reward move and grabbed Eichel with a 10th-rounder. They followed that up with another potential steal, taking goaltender Joel Daccord in the 11th round.

Wrapping things up, the Sea Dogs took Charles Corriveau in the 12th, Cody Johnston in the 13th  round and selected Gabriel Tessier in the 14th round with their final pick of the draft.

The newest crop of Sea Dogs will be competing for spots in training camp in August.