GORMLEY SLIDES TO PHEONIX

By Bert Richardson
Station Nation Staff

Moncton Wildcats defenceman Brandon Gormley was the only Quebec Major Junior Hockey League player selected at the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft in Los Angeles on Friday.

Gormley was expected to be taken in the top five if the first 30 selections at the Staples Center but slipped all the way down to 13th overall. He was not alone, as Windsor Spitfire defender Cam Fowler fell alongside him and heard his name called just one pick prior.

Gormley had nine goals and 34 assists in 58 games last season for Moncton. He also had a plus-31 rating, which ranked third best on his team.

In the playoffs, Gormley had two goals and 15 assists in 21 games as the Wildcats took the QMJHL title.

Gormley won a gold medal with Team Canada at the under-18 tournament in the Czech Republic last year and was the only 17-year-old defenseman to attend this year's World Junior evaluation camp.

The Saint John Sea Dogs’ Simon Despres will remain the only player in franchise history to be selected in the opening round for at least one more year. Stanislav Galiev, who many had going in the late stages of the round one, was not selected.

“Another scout I talked to said he's pretty sure Galiev is going in the first round, not a huge surprise,” said Corey Pronman on Twitter prior to the draft.

Unsurprisingly, the Edmonton Oilers used the first pick of the draft to select two-time MasterCard Memorial Cup MVP Taylor Hall. Then, the Boston Bruins took Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers.

Once again this year, the Canadian Hockey League led the way in terms of the top selections. Nine of the top ten players selected were taken from the CHL (WHL, OHL & QMJHL).

Rounds two through seven take place tomorrow in California.

For a complete list of the first 30 selections, click HERE.

- With files USA Today and QMJHL.com