SIX DOGS TAKEN IN MHL DRAFT

The league formally known as the Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League held its annual entry draft on Saturday. This past week, the MJAHL held their annual meetings and announced that the circuit will from here on in be called the "Maritime Junior Hockey League."

This year, the annual draft was held in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia with several Saint John Sea Dogs prospects and players being selected on the day.

MHL teams often select players who are already associated with a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club. If that player is to not make their ‘Q’ team in training camp, he will most often be assigned to the junior ‘A’ club that owns his rights to further his developement.

The first Saint John prospect selected in the draft was Brock Morrison who was taken by the Yarmouth Mariners with the fifth pick of the second round. Morrison was selected by the Sea Dogs in the eighth round of this year’s QMJHL draft. The forward scored 30 goals and added 31 assists with the Cape Breton Tradesmen last year and finished third on team scoring.

Current Sea Dog Aiden Kelly was taken with the ninth pick of the third round by the Woodstock Slammers. While spending the majority of the first half with the Saint John Vito’s, Kelly appeared in 19 games with the Dogs and scored one goal and added five assists. In the post-season, the Saint John native registered no points in three appearances.

Richard Tingley was taken in the fourth round by the Amherst Ramblers. Tingley, a Halifax native, was selected by the Sea Dogs in the fifth round of the 2009 QMJHL Entry Draft.

In the fifth round, 2010 Sea Dogs draft choice Jason Thorpe was picked by the MHL Champion Slammers. With the Saint John Vito’s last season, Thorpe had a goal and six assists in 19 games.

Fast forward to round eight, Alex Simpson was taken by the Mariners. The Saint John native was taken by the Sea Dogs with the 162nd selection of the QMJHL draft held last weekend. At 6’4”, 162 lbs, Simpson was the biggest player chosen by Saint John on player picking day. In 34 games with the Saint John Vito’s last year, the 17-year old scored one goal and five assists in 34 games. He was also the only Atlantic Canadian born defenseman taken by the Dogs.

With the third overall pick in the territorial draft, Yarmouth selected Colin Campbell. Campbell – who played with the Cape Breton Tradesmen last season – recorded 30 goals and 38 assists in 35 games.

To view the full list of selections, click HERE.

Station Nation recently discussed Saint John’s Atlantic Canadian born prospects with AtlanticProspects.com.