2021 Draft Recap

Amherst CIBC Wood Gundy Ramblers made 12 selections at the 2020 MHL virtual draft yesterday.

The Ramblers selected one goalie, five defensemen and six forwards.

With the 19th overall pick Amherst selected defenceman, Matheas Elles from the Halifax Mac’s midget program. Matheas was selected in the 6th round by Cape Breton in the QMJHL.

The two picks in lieu of territorial picks were Sydney native, forward, Drew Macintyre and Sackville, NB native, defencemen Matteo Mann. Macintyre was selected by Shawinigan in the 5th round and Mann in the 3rd by Chicoutimi.

Amherst selected forward, Chris Reardon from the Tri-Penn, NL in the 4th round. In the 5th round Amherst had 3 selections and took a pair of Charlottetown Knights with their first two picks, goalie Jack Howatt, and forward Colby Huggan. With the other 5th round pick Amherst selected 17 year old forward Chris Lewis from Harrison Trimble High School.

The Ramblers used their 3 – 6th round picks to select Dman Josh O’Connor from the Halifax Macs, Dman Coen Strang Moncton Flyers, and Forward Donovan Arsenault who played last season with the Kensington Wild. In the 7th and 8th rounds Amherst selected Notre Dame forward Tyler Guy, and picked Riverview native Cole Fraser who played for Lakefield Prep last season.

General Manager Jeff LeBlanc said the Rams gambled a little more this year than in previous years but felt they could with 13 picks entering the draft.

“I think we had a great day, in saying that you really only know in two-three years from now. This is only the first part of the process. LeBlanc continued. We needed to replenish our protected list and had a plan to draft 11-12 players and we did that. Given how many picks we had our staff agreed that this draft we could take a few more gamble picks then we normally would have.”

Amherst picked some players that have a good chance to play QMJHL next season. LeBlanc is hopeful if they don’t they could be effective JrA players possibly as early as this upcoming season.

“We feel half of our selections are Q bubble guys that we might only see for one year or sometime down the road. We think if these guys don’t make the Q jump next season they could be ready to step in now and play JrA right away.”

Rams also made one trade yesterday moving an 8th round pick in 2020 to Pictou for a 6th round pick in 2021.