The big day is here for Bulldogs

Now the wait begins.

Starting tonight, more than a handful of Hamilton Bulldogs will be glued to the NHL draft in the hopes of hearing their names.

Two of them — Matt Strome and Mackenzie Entwistle — aren’t expected to wait too long.

Mock drafts and ratings from the NHL’s scouting service project both forwards will be snapped up between the first and third rounds. The first round kicks off at 7 p.m., with the second through seventh rounds continuing Saturday morning at the United Center in Chicago.

On top of Strome and Entwistle, forward Marian Studenic is also in the mix, as is goalie Kaden Fulcher. The former, an import player from Slovakia, is expected to go somewhere between the third and fifth rounds.

Three others — defenceman Reilly Webb, who missed most of his rookie season and draft year with a shoulder separation and other injuries, as well as veterans Ben Gleason and Brandon Saigeon — also have a shot at being chosen, despite flying under the radar in the lead up to the event. Gleason, a blueliner, and Saigeon, a forward from Grimsby, were passed over at

the draft a year ago.

Strome and Entwistle will be in Chicago with their families this weekend, while their teammates plan to watch from home. It will be Strome’s third time attending — his brothers Ryan, who was traded to the Edmonton Oilers Thursday, and Dylan, an Arizona Coyotes prospect, are both former first round picks.

The Spectator’s Teri Pecoskie will also be there. Follow her on Twitter at @TeriatTheSpec or check out her blog at e2e.thespec.com for the latest Bulldogs news, including podcasts and draft previews.

The draft will be broadcast live on Sportsnet.