Martin Bartos, David Stich, and Robert Mayer. What do these names have in common?
Do you give up?
Well, you probably guessed that they are all import players that have played for the Saint John Sea Dogs. All also played in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. But most importantly, none were drafted by an NHL team.
On December 21, 2009, Russian import Stanislav Galiev was named to the 2010 Top Prospects game. The Sea Dogs import that is widely projected to go in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, will try and break the curse by being drafted into the NHL this summer.
Two Sea Dogs have played in the game and have been drafted. Yann Sauve went in the second round of the 2008 entry draft to the Vancouver Canucks. Last year, Simon Despres went in the first round to the Pittsburgh Penguins. But neither of the Quebec natives have links to Europe.
Bartos, Stich, and Mayer were not as highly touted as Galiev, however. Bartos is now playing in Europe, Mayer in the East Coast Hockey League after signing a contract with the Montreal Canadiens, and Stich is an overage defenseman for the Montreal Junior. Even Sauve and Despres slipped a bit the draft.
Galiev is looking to go through the front door on his way to the NHL by hearing his named called at the NHL draft.
Breaking the curse - something to watch for this June in Los Angeles.
Imports in Sea Dogs history:
2005-06: Martin Bartos and Felix Schutz
2006-07: David Stich and Felix Schutz
2007-08: Robert Mayer and David Stich
2008-09: Robert Mayer and David Stich
2009-10: Stanislav Galiev and Tomas Jurco
Photo credit: The photo above is of Galiev and his billet family. The group in the Buckley's Billet Family competition.
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