NHL Draft tonight and tomorrow, Mark MacMillan ranked, U17 Alumni, Trent Dorais at the World Championships, Angel's BBQ

The 2010 NHL Draft gets going in Los Angeles tonight with Round 1 getting underway tonight. The subsequent rounds go tomorrow. Mark MacMillan was ranked 135th amongst North American Skaters when the final Central Scouting Rankings came out.

If Mark ends up getting selected by an NHL Club, he will be the first ever Alberni Valley Bulldog drafted by an NHL team. No doubt some anxious moments in the MacMillan household. Good luck Mark!

One more note about Mark - someone raised the topic in the comments section below as to whether or not he has committed to the University of North Dakota. I too have heard the rumours for some time now, but however, I haven't seen anything CONFIRMED. It was quickly mentioned at the Bulldogs Corporate Night on Tuesday night, but as of yet nothing has been confirmed by the Sioux or the Bulldogs. Until then, I'm like you in that I have just heard the rumours, I'm hoping for a Press Release or some confirmation soon!

Local Hockey fans might remember the 2009 World U17 Challenge being promoted as a chance to see the stars of tomorrow, today. It certainly seems that the statement was right on the money....read on.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2010

2010 NHL Draft Top Prospects Participated in 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

PORT ALBERNI – Friday night’s televised first round of the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft is a “who’s who” of the world’s best young hockey talent and Alberni Valley residents may recognize many of those names as participants in the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.  With players like Tyler Seguin, Erik Gudbranson, and Brandon Gormley all likely to be Top 5 picks, Port Alberni had the privilege of watching the NHL’s future stars up close and personal in the highest level of competition possible at their age group.

Event organizing committee chair, Ron Paulson beams with pride when he says: “Hockey Canada and the committee promised that we’d see the best young players possible who would eventually join the likes of current NHL stars, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Henrik Sedin and Alex Ovechkin. Friday’s NHL draft is just the next step in the process and I think we can all be a proud of being a small part in the development of those players.”

Other players to watch for in the first round to be televised live from Los Angeles on TSN are: Brett Connolly who competed here for Team Pacific and 2009 Team USA U-17 Goalie Jack Campbell. Russian Evgeny Kuznetsov and Finn Mikael Granlund also have strong potential. Along with Canadian players Mark Pysyk and Jeff Skinner.

When asked who Ron would pick from this group for his favorite team, the Edmonton Oilers, he said, “Brett Connolly has all the talent and speed in the world to be an impact forward.”  Director of Sponsorships, Dave McCormick, on the other hand, would select “the next Niklas Lidstrom,” in his assessment, Brandon Gormley. Whether it’s Taylor Hall (played in 2008 U17s) or Tyler Seguin that goes first overall to Edmonton or any of the others on the long list of prospects that played in the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge there is no doubt that we got to watch the best that our game, our future, had to offer!

A complete list of top eligible players can be found at www.tsn.ca/draftcentre

-30-

For more information please contact:

Ron Paulson
250 720-2803

Bulldog forward Trent Dorais and his teammates on Team Canada are having great success at the 2010 World Ball Hockey Championships in Austria.....Canada has already secured first place and a spot in the Gold Medal Game. They play the US tonight, but it won't impact their place in the standings. The update on Trent - he has been playing defence, he has two goals, and he's managed to stay out of the penalty box. Way to go Canada, and way to go Trent!

I almost forgot - thanks to Laurie Smillie for the heads up on this, as you can watch some of the games! Read below....

Just to let you know that Trents ball hockey games in Villach are to be broadcast over the web at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/2010-world-junior-ball-hockey-championships

Don't forget to make your way to Quality Foods tonight between 4pm and 7pm for Angel's Celebrity BBQ to raise much needed funds for Pediatric Care on Vancouver Island. I'll be there, haha, as will King Richard Brodeur, Global's Steve Darling, Olympian Travis Cross, and more! 

Hammer