Islanders selected in Maritime draft
Landon MacDonald is excited to be taken in second round by Edmundston Blizzard
SUMMERSIDE – Sixteen players from Prince Edward Island were taken in Saturday's Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) Entry Draft.
Defenceman Sid McNeill of Summerside was named a territorial pick of the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals on June 8. Forward Jonah Jelley of Charlottetown and defenceman Landon MacDonald of Stratford were the first two Islanders to see their names posted in the second round during
Saturday's online draft.
Jelley was selected 21st overall by the Capitals while the Edmundston Blizzard drafted MacDonald 23rd overall.
“They are obviously a top contender with them and Summerside and their fan base, I hear, is one of the best around,” said MacDonald. “It’s pretty cool to be drafted by the organization.”
The right-handed-shooting MacDonald, who was one of 11 Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights to be drafted, had four goals and 15 points in 35 regular-season games in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major
Midget Hockey League.
“I am an offensive defenceman and a two-way guy,” said MacDonald, who is five-footnine and 140 pounds.
“I like to make a good first pass and use my speed to my advantage and go for a lot of rushes and stuff.”
MacDonald, who was drafted by the Charlottetown
Islanders in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft on June 6, said he is looking forward to both training camps.
“I will try my hardest but I am not expecting to make either team,” said an honest MacDonald.
“I will probably come back to the Knights and hopefully have a good year there and work my way up.”
With teams only allowed to sign two 16-year-olds, a lot of this year’s draft picks are a year away from playing in the MHL.
“There are a lot of ’04-born kids here,” said Caps general manager Pat McIver.
“A lot of them are future guys and some of them we hope will go back to major midget, have good years, be good affiliate players for us and be able to practise with us some and be future Capitals.”