DOGS TAKE SJ NATIVE WITH FIRST PICK

With their first selection in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft on Saturday morning, the Saint John Sea Dogs didn’t look too far.

With the last pick of the opening round, the regular season champion Sea Dogs took Saint John native Ryan Tesink.

The native son played with the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League last season, scoring 10 goals and adding 19 assists in 44 games played. In the post-season, he added four goals and six assists in 14 playoff games.

"I'm excited and proud to be a member of the Sea Dogs,” said Tesink to the Sea Dogs’ official Twitter page after the selection.

Tesink was ranked by QMJHL Central Scouting as the 22nd best player available in the draft. Rumours had been flying all week that the Sea Dogs were going to select PEI native Darcy Ashley with their first round pick. But with both players still available when Saint John’s pick came around, the team chose Tesink.

With an entire season of junior ‘A’ hockey under his belt, Tesink will adjust to the major junior level much more quickly than most rookies would.

Tesink describes himself as a 'strong skater that doesn't back down from anyone.'

The left winger played with Sea Dogs forward Aiden Kelly and Team Atlantic at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Championships in Timmons, Ontario this past winter, helping the squad to a seventh place finish.

Tesink, who is listed at 5’11” and weighs 160, is the brother of former QMJHL first round draft pick Brad Tesink.

The elder of the two had a difficult career however, spending time with three different clubs. In 233 career QMJHL games, the defenseman scored 19 goals and recorded 34 assists. He was released by Cape Breton this past season as an overager and fell into the junior ‘A’ ranks.

Also of note, this is the first time is franchsie history in which the Sea Dogs have not taken a defenseman with their first pick in the draft.

Tesink joins the club below as players who have been taken in the first round by the Dogs:

2005 – Alex Grant
2006 – Yann Sauve
2007 – Simon Despres ans Steven Anthony
2009 – Pierre Durepos and Jonathan Huberdeau