Wild picks
Campbell, Arsenault discuss getting drafted by QMJHL teams
Bradley Campbell had a good reason for missing his selection in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft.
The 16-year-old Summerside native was actually on the ice during the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild’s spring identification camp in Pownal on Saturday afternoon. But it didn’t take long for Campbell to learn he had been drafted.
“As soon as I came off the ice from my shift my coach (Kyle Dunn) came up to me and said, ‘ninth round, Gatineau,’” explained Campbell, who was selected 152nd overall. Campbell was one of five Prince Edward Islanders drafted on Saturday. Brad Morrissey of Seacow Pond was taken in the third round, 53rd overall, by the Charlottetown Islanders; left-winger Declan MacEachern of the Charlottetown Pride went in the sixth round, 98th overall, to the Rimouski Oceanic; Pride centre Josh MacDonald was taken by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the 10th round, 164th overall, and Wild defenceman Zac Arsenault was selected by the Islanders also in the 10th round, 179th overall.
The Wild and Pride play in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League.
“I was pretty excited,” admitted Campbell, who is expected to talk to Gatineau team officials this week and is looking forward to attending training camp in August.
“I will go up and see the calibre of hockey, where I stand and what I can work on to maybe make that team one year,” said Campbell, who noted one priority for his off-season training will be working on speed. Campbell, a Grade 10 student at Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside who recorded five points in 35 regularseason games in his rookie year
with the Wild during the 201617 campaign, said the only team he spoke to before the draft was the Halifax Mooseheads.
Arsenault
Arsenault admitted it was a long day sitting into the 10th round, but the wait was worth it when the Islanders announced his name.
“It was an unbelievable feeling,” said Arsenault, 16. “After sitting there all day waiting, I was getting very anxious. Finally, I heard my name called to Charlottetown, and I was super ecstatic.”
Arsenault, who lives in Montague, described the experience of attending the draft in person: “Just being there was an unbelievable experience. It’s a great life experience for anybody if they ever get the chance to go. I highly recommend it. Just being there is great, and when you hear your name called it’s unbelievable.” Arsenault, who battled back from a serious upper-body injury last season and recorded 14 points in 25 regular-season contests, confirmed he will be at the Islanders’ training camp. His goal this summer is to get bigger, stronger and quicker. “It’s my dream to get to the next level,” said the Grade 10 student at Montague Regional High School.