2023 Draft Recap

It was a busy first draft for new General Manager and Head Coach Phil Fife. 

The Ramblers started with 13 draft picks, however early in the day the team would send off the 2nd overall pick to the Miramichi Timberwolves in exchange for two players, Jack O’Blenis and Anthony Gaudet. 

The Rams would make three more trades before the draft got underway, the team making another trade with the Timberwolves getting Owen Sparkes for a 6th-round pick, as well as making a trade with the newest MHL team receiving Liam Dutcher from the West Kent Steamers for prospect Cam White. Amherst fans would finally know the future considerations from the Riley Dubois trade last season with Campbellton, it was forward Cooper Cormier. 

Once the dust had settled from the trades it was time for the draft. The Ramblers now held 11 picks starting at number 5 where the team would pick Jack Hayne, the 16-year-old from Antigonish who played with the Cape Breton West Islanders finishing just over a point a game in his first U18 season scoring 34 in 33. Nine picks later the team would make its second pick in Jameson George of the Saint John Vito’s, the 5 ‘7 Dman played a clean season on the blue line for the Vito’s only taking two penalties in 39 games, including playoffs.

With the first two rounds complete the Ramblers would have their next pick at number 26,  and with that pick the team would select an Islander, Kayden McGuigan from the Charlottetown Knights, after McGuigan the team picked up Liam Daigle of the Moncton Flyers 38th overall, the first of two Flyers the team would pick. 

The Ramblers would head to Newfoundland for their next three picks, selecting Ryan Dawe with the 41st, Elliot Wright at 50 and Noah Boland at 62nd overall, all three were teammates last year with the Pinnacle Growlers all of them winning the NLU18MHL championship last season. 

Amherst would pick up another Vito’s player, Chase Kerr, with pick number 74, Ramblers would stay in New Brunswick for the next two picks, grabbing Jacob Pineau from Riverview 91st overall, as well getting Zach Wheeler of the Moncton Flyers 98th overall. The team would get one more Growler before the night ended, selecting Andy Knight at 110.