DRAFT COMBINE NEWS & NOTES

While most of the attention has been put on the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft this weekend in Victoriaville, several Saint John Sea Dogs are participating in the National Hockey League’s Draft Combine in Toronto.

Sea Dogs that were invited to attend the event include Jonathan Huberdeau, Nathan Beaulieu, Zack Phillips, Tomas Jurco, Ryan Tesink, and Scott Oke.

Today was the big day at the combine as the infamous physical testing went down inside the ballroom of some hotel.

Phillips was in a group with Sean Courturier, Nikita Kucherov, Connor Murphy, Matthew Nieto, Brandon Saad, Tyler Wotherspoon, and Mika Zibanejad. Huberdeau and Jurco were in a group with Joseph Labate, Adam Larsson, Matt Mahalak, Xavier Oullet, Mike Reilly, and Michael St. Croix. Tesink was paired with Seth Ambroz, Phillip Danault, John Gibson, Dougie Hamilton, Adam Lowry, Ryan Murphy, and Brett Ritchie. Beaulieu was with Philippe Hudon, Colin Jacobs, Lucas Lessio, David Musil, Stefan Noesen, Robbie Russo, and Ryan Strome. Oke was with Adam Clendening, Christopher Gibson, Shane Prince, Matt Puempel, Jonathan Racine, Ty Rattie, and Mark Scheifele.

Here are some news and notes from today’s combine events:

• From TSN’s Bob McKenzie: “Huberdeau had 2 on the bench press. Which means? Not much. Obviously needs to get stronger but kid is worn down too. Just finished playing.”
• From Bio Steele Sports: “Huberdeau: exciting prospect, if he plays that well in the shape he's in, imagine how he'll do with a couple summers of proper training!”
• From TSN’s Matt Cade: “Getting a good look at Zack Phillips' hair at the combine right now. I think it could bring peace to the middle east.”
• From Bruins 2011 Draft Watch’s Kirk Luedeke: “Saint John defenseman Nathan Beaulieu- impressive with his answers to questions. Well-spoken and poised you can tell his dad's a coach.”
• From NHL.com: “Body fat -- Rogle defenseman Rasmus Bengtsson measured in with only 3.6-percent body fat. The next leanest players were U.S. National Team forward Rocco Grimaldi and Saint John Sea Dogs forward Ryan Tesink at 6.8 percent.”
• From NHL.com: “Bench press -- Clendening, McNeill and Saint John Sea Dogs forward Tomas Jurco each did 13 reps with the 150-pound weight on the bench. Omaha Lancers forward Seth Ambroz and Northeastern defenseman Jamie Oleksiak were next with 12.”
• From NHL.com: “Following the first day of testing here at the Toronto Congress Center, linemates Jonathan Huberdeau and Zack Phillips of the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League earned the lowest fatigue index scores in the Wingate test. That's quite an accomplishment considering both players went the distance in capturing the Memorial Cup championship on Sunday against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.”

Here some videos from NHL.com:

Tomas Jurco



Zack Phillips



Jonathan Huberdeau