The Maritime Junior Hockey League Entry Draft was held Saturday with the Rapids making a total of 9 selections, including six forwards and three defensemen.
With the second overall pick in the draft, the Rapids chose Riverview NB native JAXON SOMERS, a 2006-born forward who played in 43 games last season with the Moncton Flyers in Midget AAA, including 8 games in the playoffs where he registered 2 goals and 2 assists.
Rapids’ general manager Danny Braun describes Somers as a versatile and complete player.
“Jaxon has good size, skates well and has offensive upside. For a young player, he plays a complete 200-foot game and can play wing or center in a power forward type of role”.
It is the second consecutive year that the Rapids select with their first pick a player from the Moncton Flyers organization. Defenseman Luc Morais was the Rapids first selection in the 2023 MHL draft.
Following are the other draft selections from the Rapids made last Saturday:
With the 12th pick overall in the first round, the Rapids selected 2008-born forward IAN LOVETT of Halifax Nova Scotia who played last season with Rothesay Netherwood School U-18.
With the 14th overall pick in round two, Grand Falls selected defenseman CALEB CYR, a 16-year-old Dieppe native and a product of the Moncton Flyers in U-18 AAA.
With the 24th pick overall in round no.2, the Rapids selected 2007-born defenseman ALEX CULLIGAN of Quispamsis, NB. Culligan played last season with Mount Academy Saints (U-18).
With the 26th pick of round 3, the Rapids selected forward JACOB HARTLIN, a 2008 native of Williamswood, Nova Scotia. Hartlin played last season with the Halifax MacDonald’s U-18 AAA team.
With the 50th pick overall in the 5th round, Grand Falls selected forward SHANE DELAMAIRE, a 2008 native of Moncton NB. He was a product of the U-18 Mount Academy Saints.
With the 62nd pick overall in round 6, the Rapids selected defenseman SEBASTIEN SAVOIE, a 2008 native of Dieppe who is also a product of the Mount Academy Saints in U-18.
With the 68th overall pick in round 6, the Rapids selected 2007-born forward BRODY HARNUM of Whiteway, Newfoundland. His previous club was the Tri-Pen Osprey (U-18 AAA).
With the 72nd overall pick in round 6, Grand Falls selected forward CAMERON MILLER, a 2008-born native of Bathurst NB. Miller played last season in U16 AAA with the OHA Mavericks.
Patrick Thibault