Canadian teams look to CHL for top picks
By Aaron Bell
There was a definite Canadian flavour to the first round picks of the NHL's Canadian teams at the NHL Entry Draft on Friday in the Nation's Capital.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames all dipped into the Canadian Hockey League pool for their first round picks.
The Maple Leafs traded up for the fifth overall pick and used it to nab Kelowna Rockets defenceman Luke Schenn. Schenn helped Canada win the gold medal at the World Junior Championships last Christmas and could be the team's captain if he were available to play in the tournament next year in Ottawa.
Schenn said that he didn't know what to expect when he heard that the Leafs moved up but was excited to be their top pick.
"I didn't really have a strong idea of what was going on," Schenn said. "It's pretty cool that Toronto traded up and wanted to get me. I'm proud to be wearing this jersey right now and I couldn't be more excited."
Schenn is from Saskatoon and said that he grew up watching the Maple Leafs on television.
"It feels unbelievable," Schenn said. "I grew up watching the Leafs on TV and I've never actually been to a Leafs' game but I'm looking forward to being part of the organization in the future."
Schenn said that hopes to have a shot at making the Leafs' roster in the fall.
"I have to have a good summer and go into camp ready to compete for a spot," Schenn said. "We'll see when September comes. I'm so excited. I'm looking to come here to contribute and help turn things around."
The Canucks used the 10th overall pick to claim Brampton Battalion forward
Cody Hodgson.
"This is just a great experience," Hodgson said. "It's a great day for my family and I. I'm just really excited. Vancouver is a great hockey city. They have tons of great fans and it's a great organization to go to."
Hodgson said that he suspected Vancouver might take him when their pick came up.
"I met with them a few times and really got a good feeling," Hodgson said. "They told me beforehand that I had a really good interview with them. I'm really looking forward to getting training camp."
The Oilers used the 22nd overall pick to select Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats. The Regina native said that he grew up cheering for the Oilers and was thrilled to be selected by his favourite team.
"I'm a big Oiler fan," Eberle beamed. "Being a big Oilers fan and growing up watching them, I think it will even be a bigger jump. Obviously the pressure is there, but with pressure comes opportunity."
The Flames selected
Greg Nemisz from the Windsor Spitfires with the 25th pick. The big right winger said he didn't have any expectations about where he would be selected.
"I didn't think about the draft too much until the season was over," Nemisz said. "You just try to do your best for the team. After the season my friends and family were talking about being drafted and it was exciting from then on."
Nemisz said that the draft experience was overwhelming at times.
"It was a great experience and I just tried to soak it all in," Nemisz said.
The Ottawa Senators selected Swedish forward Erik Karlsson with their first round pick and the Montreal Canadiens didn't have a first rounder.
20 CHL players were taken in the first round of the draft on Friday and 110 were selected during the entire process. The OHL led the way with 46 players while 37 players were selected from the WHL and 27 players were selected from the QMJHL.
The Sarnia Sting, Kelowna Rockets, Swift Current Broncos, Windsor Spitfires and Mississauga St. Michael's Majors all led the way with four players selected from their clubs.
NHL Entry Draft Notebook: It was a busy week for many of the top prospects eligible to be selected this weekend. They spent most of the week in Ottawa attending clinics with minor hockey players, interviews with teams and countless media requests. "It's been pretty hectic," said Peterborough Petes' defenceman
Zach Bogosian, who was selected third overall by the Atlanta Thrashers. "They are pretty long days but everyone I've ever talked to about it said it only happens once and you have to cherish it. You have to sit back and look at the big picture. I definitely did that and enjoyed the whole experience so far. It's been fun."
Mikkel Boedker may have grown up half a world away, but that didn't stop him from being in awe of Wayne Gretzky when the Phoenix Coyotes' co-owner and coach met him on the draft stage. "Walking up there and shaking Wayne Gretzky's hand was a special feeling," said Boedker, the Kitchener Rangers' forward that went eighth overall to the Coyotes. "And then going down to the table to talk to him a little bit was unbelievable."
Photos: Aaron Bell/CHL
OHL players selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
Round 1
1. Tampa Bay --
Steven Stamkos, Sarnia
2. Los Angeles -
Drew Doughty, Guelph
3. Atlanta -
Zach Bogosian, Peterborough
4. St. Louis -
Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara
8. Phoenix -
Mikkel Boedker, Kitchener
9. NY Islanders -
Joshua Bailey, Windsor
10. Vancouver -
Cody Hodgson, Brampton
20. NY Rangers -
Michael Del Zotto, Oshawa
23. Minnesota -
Tyler Cuma, Ottawa
25. Calgary -
Greg Nemisz, Windsor
30. Detroit -
Thomas McCollum, Guelph
Round 2
33. St. Louis -
Philip McRae, London
39. Anaheim -
Eric O'Dell, Sudbury
49. Phoenix -
Jared Staal, Sudbury
50. Colorado -
Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
59. Dallas -
Tyler Beskorowany, Owen Sound
Round 3
68. Chicago -
Shawn Lalonde, Belleville
70. St. Louis -
James Livingston, Sault Ste. Marie
71. Anaheim -
Josh Brittain, Kingston
74. Los Angeles -
Andrew Campbell, Sault Ste. Marie
77. Boston -
Michael Hutchinson, Barrie
80. Florida -
Adam Comrie, Saginaw
82. New Jersey -
Adam Henrique, Windsor
Round 4
97. Boston -
Jamie Arniel, Sarnia
100. Florida -
A.J. Jenks, Plymouth
105. Carolina - Michal Jordan, Plymouth
114. Calgary -
T.J. Brodie, Saginaw
116. Montreal -
Jason Missiaen, Peterborough
120. Pittsburgh -
Nathan Moon, Kingston
Round 5
142. Jew Jersey -
Kory Nagy, Oshawa
146. San Jose -
Julien Demers, Ottawa
147. Tampa Bay -
Kyle De Coste, Brampton
148. NY Islanders - Matt Martin, Sarnia
Round 6
153. Los Angeles -
Justin Azevedo, Kitchener
154. Atlanta -
Chris Carrozzi, Mississauga
155. St. Louis -
Anthony Nigro, Guelph
164. Buffalo -
Nick Crawford, Saginaw
165. Carolina -
Mike Murphy, Belleville
171. NY Rangers -
Mitch Gaulton, Erie
175. NY Islanders -
Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia
178. Philadelphia -
Zac Rinaldo, Mississauga
180. Pittsburgh -
Patrick Killeen, Brampton
181. Detroit -
Stephen Johnston, Belleville
Round 7
189. Phoenix -
Tim Billingsley, Mississauga
202. New Jersey -
Harry Young, Windsor
204. Washington -
Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie
