Rocket selects Yarmouth defenceman ninth overall
CHARLOTTETOWN — Ryan Graves had no problem with the travel time between Charlottetown and his Yarmouth, N.S., hometown after the P.E.I. Rocket selected the 16-year-old defenceman ninth overall at the 2011 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft on Saturday in Victoriaville, Que.
“Actually it’s the perfect distance from home. Not too close and not too far,’’ said Graves on Saturday. “I’m so excited I can’t even begin to explain it.’’
The six-foot, two-inch, 200-pound blue-liner had five goals, 12 points and 58 penalty minutes in 32 regular season games for the 1223 Mustangs.
He added six assists in five playoff games.
Before the draft for midget age players, Serge Savard Jr., Rocket president and governor, said he wanted a d-man to put into one of the top two defensive pairings.
Graves was rated 15th overall by QMJHL Central Scouting. Higher rated defensive prospects Justin Guénette and Matt Murphy, who went fourth and fifth overall, respectively, were taken off the board early, but Graves remained.
And when the ninth pick came, the Rocket pounced.
“ We feel we are very fortunate to have had the opportunity of drafting a player like Ryan. He is a highly talented, pro prospect who should be a dominate player in our league in the near future. He is the type of player Islanders will love,” said Savard.
P.E.I. selected centreman Yan Pavel Laplante from Chateauguay in Quebec midget AAA in the second round, 33rd overall. Laplante had six goals and 14 points in 25 games with Chateauguay last season.
Cole Harbour native Nathan MacKinnon went first overall to the BaieComeau Drakkar while the Halifax Mooseheads moved up from fourth overall to second overall and selected forward Jonathan Drouin from Lac St-Louis in Quebec midget AAA.
The Herd sent its fourth overall pick, a third round pick and a third round selection in 2012 to the RouynNoranda Huskies for the second overall pick. Halifax also received defenceman Simon Desmarais.
The Rimouski Océanic, in the third slot, selected forward Guillaume Gauthier from St-Eustache while Guénette from St-Eustache of Quebec midget AAA went fourth to Rouyn-Noranda and Murphy of the Fredericton Canadiens in the N.B.P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League went fifth to the Vald'Or Foreurs
Ryan MacKinnon of the Notre Dame Argos was the first Island player taken. Rimouski selected the Summerside native in the fifth round, 86th overall.
“It was a rewarding experience for myself to be involved (in the draft) for the first time as a coach. It’s always exciting selecting players that have the potential to help build a winning team,’’ said Gordie Dwyer, who signed on as Rocket head coach last month. “ We are pleased with our selections and look forward to them competing for roster spots in camp.’’
As for Graves, who said he has a “defence-first mentality’’, the next level of development, especially for defenceman, is never easy.