STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS
Cole Chandler got the day rolling for Nova Scotia at the QMJHL draft in Sherbrooke, Que.
The talented Dartmouth Steele Subaru forward went 16th overall to the Shawinigan Cataractes, who have a rich championship history. They won the league title in 2022 and the Memorial Cup in 2012.
“I know they like to win so I’ll try to help bring that,” Chandler said in a league interview. “I think I’ll adjust to the (major junior) game pretty well.”
Bedford’s Chandler finished fourth in Nova Scotia Under-18 Hockey League scoring last season with 51 points in 31 games. Weeks Majors defenceman Owen Conrad was the next local selected. He went 20th overall to the Charlottetown Islanders to wrap up the first round.
“I just come to practice every day looking to make a good, positive vibe in the locker room and just try to make everyone better around me,” Stellarton’s Conrad said to the QMJHL interviewer.
The Cape Breton Eagles landed Valley Wildcats forward Luke Foley early in the second round (24th overall) and then grabbed local forward Rory Pilling 10 picks later. Pilling played for Rothesay Netherwood School last season but is from Glace Bay.
Also taken early were: Weeks forward Logan Roop, Rimouski (third round, 44th overall); Antigonish defenceman Brady Peddle, Gatineau (third round, 50th); defenceman Drew Allison, Baie-Comeau (fourth round, 62nd); Halifax Macs forward Easton Schlender, Moncton (fourth round, 70th); Dartmouth winger Jacob Rhyno, Bathurst (fifth round, 77th); Cole Harbour defenceman Ben Lindsay, Moncton (fifth round, 86th) and Weeks defenceman Logan Quinn, Cape Breton (fifth round, 89th).
CAM MACDONALD TRADED TO CAPE BRETON
Nova Scotia’s Cam MacDonald will get to finish his QMJHL career close to home.
The 20-year-old from Hammonds Plains was traded to the Cape Breton Eagles by the Gatineau Olympiques for defecnceman Owen Arnold, a second-round pick and a sixth. MacDonald spent his first two-and-a-half seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs before being dealt to Gatineau in December.
🔁 TRADE ALERT 🔁
We’ve acquired Forward Cam MacDonald from the Olympiques in exchange for Owen Arnold and a couple draft picks#QDraft #QMJHLTrades pic.twitter.com/1yWc9IxcTB
— Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) June 10, 2023
DESNOYERS PICKED FIRST OVERALL BY WILDCATS
As expected, the Moncton Wildcats picked centre Caleb Desnoyers first overall.
He’s the younger brother of former Halifax Mooseheads captain Elliot Desnoyers, who spent his first two QMJHL seasons with the Wildcats. Desnoyers’ Quebec under-18 league teammate Emile Guite went second overall to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.
“I want to bring some cups to Moncton,” Desnoyers said in a league interview. “I want to win and I am pretty sure we are going to do it.”
Congratulations to first overall pick Caleb Desnoyers who was quickly congratulated by older brother Elliot. Both are now draft picks of the Moncton Wildcats. #QDraft pic.twitter.com/lB7c5eGM5s
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) June 10, 2023