Murray River's Brandon Gormley prepares for QMJHL draft
CHARLES REID The Guardian
First overall draft pick Brandon Gormley, puts on a Moncton Wildcats hat during the QMJHL draft in Sydney, N.S., on Saturday. Gormley is from Murray River. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Dembeck
At the ripe old age of 16, Brandon Gormley understands what living in a fishbowl means.
That comes from the Murray River native being the top-rated prospect in today’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft in Sydney, N.S.
He’s been watched and evaluated by scouts, general managers, coaches and media for nearly three years. Heck, probably even Zamboni drivers, team mascots and beer vendors have an opinion.
And maybe 16 seems a little young to grasp a complex philosophical problem . . . but maybe it isn’t.
“There’s always people watching. Just the way you carry yourself (matters). It’s part of your life,” said Gormley in an interview earlier in the week from Wilcox, Saskatchewan’s Notre Dame Academy. “People are going to say what they’re going to say.”
And most people say Gormley, a six-foot, two-inch, 180-pound defenceman, is a can’t-miss QMJHL prospect.
His pedigree includes a 56-point 2007-08 season at the Notre Dame hockey factory (the Hounds count NHLers Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier and Rod Brind’Amour as alumni), a Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League championship and a stint with P.E.I.’s men’s hockey team at the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
The Moncton Wildcats have the first overall pick followed by the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The P.E.I. Rocket selects fifth, but have no real chance at Gormley unless serious deals are made leading up to the draft.
That’s unlikely, so Gormley is probably destined for the New Brunswick end of the Confederation Bridge rivalry between P.E.I. and Moncton.
Still, the ’Cats could select the number two-rated Sean Couturier, Bathurst, N.B., native and Gormley’s Hounds teammate, with the first pick and Gormley might wind up with the Volts in eastern Quebec.
Or if he drops to the third pick, Victoriaville — with ex-Rocket coach and former Chicoutimi defenceman Yanick Jean as head coach — would be all over Gormley, without a doubt.
It’s a crowded house, but Gormley isn’t concerned — first, about skating for a nearly-home crowd in Moncton, although the rugged feud would likely cancel out some of the Island fan’s good feelings.
“I think it would add a little bit more pressure, (but) playing close to home I’m fine with that. You go through a lot of pressure being a hockey player today anyway.”
Or second, about a possible language barrier with a Quebec-based team. He points to Island successes like Richards and former P.E.I. Rocket Danny Stewart, both English players coming out of Murray Harbour but blossomed with the Océanic in Rimouski, Que.
Or third, about larger, stronger and faster players in the Q. He’s punched above his weight class for several years, the most recent as a 14-year-old versus 17-year-olds at the Canada Winter Games.
“I think it’s something you get used to,” he said.
Gormley has options, too, such as college or Saskatchewan’s junior A hockey league. And although he’s not 100 per cent committed to the QMJHL, it’s a proven path to the NHL — Gormley’s ultimate goal.
“I haven’t ruled out the college route, (but) I’m definitely leaning toward the Q,” he said, adding his parents Darren and Sharon will play a major role in his choice.
“It’s more of a family decision for us.”
P.E.I. has 10 picks in 12 rounds. It selects fifth, 23rd, 51st, 59th, 77th, 97th, 113th, 149th, 167th and 185th.
The draft starts at 10 a.m. Eastlink Television is broadcasting the first round. Its coverage begins at 9:30 a.m.
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Bubba MacDonald from Lower End of King St, pei writes: go get 'em, devil...
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Proud from PEI from PEI writes: Way to go Brandon- You have made PEI very proud!
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Josh from pe writes: I've been reading your name in the guardian since you were in novice. Hopefully someday I'll read about your draft pick to the nhl. You seem like a real good kid.
P.S. He come from Murray River, am I the only one who thinks he looks like Brad Richards little brother? Are they related?
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Chris from Sask writes: Josh, I've never noticed it before but he does look a lot like Brad Richards. He has tons of talent, I've seen him play a few games here last year. A real natural in both ends of the rink. The Wildcats are really going to be happy with their pick.
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Arnie from Pe writes: Please let him be himself with no comparisons.
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Kim from North Vancouver, BC writes: Congratulations Brandon! From your proud fans on the Pacific side!
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