Moore on the Moose with John Moore at the QMJHL Entry Draft
Saturday, June 6th, 2009

The 2009 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is about to officially get underway.  I'm sitting here in the Moncton Colliseum, a snapshot away from the Mooseheads table and will provide frequent updates throught the draft.   The Moose have 2 2nd round picks and 2 4th round picks in first 5 rounds. 

10:07 - We are underway and the Val d'Or Foreurs have selected a high scoring forward, Olivier Archambault with the first overall pick.   Central Scouting had him ranked no 1 - so no suprise.  5 foot 9 157 pounds, he is blessed with loads of offensive talent.  Coach/GM Cam Russell must wonder how nice it would be to have that pick, which was traded to the Foreurs in the Brad Marchand deal.  He is sitting alongside owner Bobby Smith and I have a hunch they may try to move up in the draft.  They're first pick is 19th overall. 

10:50 am - Ripples across the draft floor as the Saint John Seadogs take Moncton native Pierre Durepos with 10th overall pick.  He had declared he was going the NCAA route but is here and received a warm embrace from Sea Dogs coaching staff.  Somethings never change.   All quiet at Moose table but  still wondering if they strike a deal to move up.

11:05 am - A stir across the floor as the Mooseheads have struck a deal with Rouyn-Noranda.  They have dealt defenceman Gabriel O'Connor to Rouyn-Noranda for the Huskies 1st round pick, 15th overall. GM Russell has just selected Brent Andrews from the Cornwall Thunder (PEI).  He is a 6 foot 1 183 pound forward who was ranked 11th overall by Central.  He claimed he was going NCAA route but must have had a change of mind.  International Scouting Service had him rated as top pro prospect from the Q earlier this season.  

11:45 - 2nd round begins.  Mooseheads take defenceman Jamie Bishop of Saint John Vitos.  6 foot 168 pounder who was ranked 7th overall of Central Scouting.  Hard to believe he was still available.  He ran their powerplay last season with a big shot and coach Russell is thrilled with his 2nd pick.  He also is confident he can convince Andrews to report to camp instead of going stateside.  He says discussions with the family over last 48 hours have been encouraging. 

12:05 - Another Mooseheads trade.  Tipper LeBlanc announces they give up their 33rd overall pick to Rouyn for two picks,  44th and 49th overall.   Huskies take Jeffery Noonan - not Cole Hawes as some suspected.   Russell is over to Victoriaville table and now returning.   Just saw Gabriel O'Conner in a Rouyn jersey.  He seems okay with trade and is watching the proceedings with Gabe Desjardins, Jessyko Bernard and Alex MacDonald.

12:45 - Are the Mooseheads about to take twins with their upcoming 3rd round picks, 44th and 49th overall?  Allan and Alex Saulnier set scoring records the Moncton this season and are still available.  Allan is ranked 22nd  and brother Alex 42th.  They're available and claim they will only only report if taken by same team. 

12:50 - Mooseheads make another trade.  This time sending their 44th overall pick to Victo for a 2nd round pick next year (2010). This means the team will have a 1st round and 3 2nd round picks in 2010.  Now the Moose take 15 year old Mathew Boudreau with the 49th overall pick.  Smallish (5 foot 8 149 pounds) but very quick he played with St. Eustache.  He is slipping into the Moose jersey and being lead off to Mooseheads booth.  He was ranked 37th overall by Central and Moose get him 49th.  3rd round comes to a close.   Moose with two picks in 4th round - stand by.

 1:20 - A couple of Nova Scotians were just taken in 4th round.  Cape Breton taking Ian Saab from Halifax Lions and Shawinigan selecting Cole Hawes.  He was projected to be early 2nd round pick.   The Eagles also took a goaltender in 2nd round, Jordan Kennedy from Sydney.

1:30 - Mooseheads select 5 foot 10 170 pound defencman, Trey Lewis from Moncton Flyers.  It raises some eyebrows as he is not on Centrals list of players projected to be selected in first 5 rounds.  Then Moose take forward Karl Gelinas from Thois Rivieres with 2nd 4th round pick.   Moose do not have 5th round pick.

 2:20 -Coaching staff and scouts having a hard time concealing their excitement after first 5 rounds. Its pretty obvious they are thrilled with the selections and understandably so.  In Andrews  (1st) and Bishop (2nd) they have two players who Central Scouting had ranked in top 12 overall.  Another player, who might have been a 1st round selection is Trey Lewis off West Kent.  The Moncton Flyers defenceman had ACL surgery and missed most of the season.  Many teams obviously weren't prepared to take a chance but Russell assurred me he has been cleared by several medical teams and will be ready to lace em up in September.  Tipper calls him "one tough nut" and a puck moving defenceman.    

2:45 - Late in 6th round, Moose take Sawyer Hannay of the Moncton Flyers.  He is a  16 year old 6 foot 3 190 pounder and is the 3rd defenceman selected by the team today and 2nd from the Flyers program.  A glancing nod of approval from the Titan draft table moments ago.  Former Moosehead, Jason Troini, a scout with Bathurst smiles as his completes his final day with the Titan.  He becomes a Mooseheads assistant coach tomorrow.  Moments ago, the Wildcats selected Colby Pridham's kid brother Lance in the 7th round.

3:30 - Mooseheads take 3 more players in rounds 9, 10 and 11.  Goaltender Joel Grondin from College Notre Dame, Brett Bernard from Fredericton and Stephen Gillard from St John's.

Couple of final notes -

Emotional day for Gabe O'Connor.  I just wished him well in Rouyn. He had a tear in his eye but understands the world of junior hockey.

The Cormier family is awfully excited.  Former Moosehead, Kevin Cormier and younger brother Patrice (Rimouski) signed pro contracts with the New Jersey Devils organization earlier this week.  Patrice inked  a 3 year deal, Kevin a 2 year.