Carson MacKinnon will have a good resource for any questions he has about his new team.
The 15-year-old Summerside native was selected in the fourth round of Saturday’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft by the Rimouski Oceanic. MacKinnon’s brother Ryan played his first three seasons in the league for Rimouski and was the Oceanic captain in 2013-14.
“Going to Rimouski is definitely a huge honour considering the path of my brother and all the past players they’ve had, like (Sidney) Crosby, (Vincent) Lecavalier and (Brad) Richards. It’s definitely one of the big organizations in the league,” MacKinnon said Saturday.
MacKinnon was the first of seven Island natives to be drafted on Saturday.
MacKinnon watched the draft with a couple of Notre Dame Hounds teammates in Saskatchewan.
“The first round took about two hours, just refreshing the laptop,” the centre explained. “Once I saw Rimouski had that pick in the fourth round I was leading towards it, considering the past with them and they were one of the teams I’d like to go to.”
MacKinnon’s linemate, Jeremy McKenna, went the following round to the Moncton Wildcats.
“It’s a great feeling to get drafted by a first-class organization in Moncton and being close to home will be great too,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
The draft is only the start of the process for midget players looking to make the jump to the next level.
“I will be working as hard as I can (to) try and make the team next year. That’s my goal,” McKenna said.
MacKinnon said this summer is a big one for his development.
“I’m going to have to train really hard. I’m going to have to get a lot stronger. I’m going to have to get mentally tougher to be able to play in that league,” he said.
Local flavour
A look at where the Prince Edward Island players went in Saturday’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft.
Fourth round
61. Carson MacKinnon, F, Rimouski Oceanic.
Fifth round
86. Jeremy McKenna, F, Moncton Wildcats.
Eighth round
143. Kallum Muirhead, F, Saint John Sea Dogs.
11th round
182. Jack DesRoches, D, Charlottetown Islanders.
188. Dallas Farrell, F, Halifax Mooseheads.
12th round
200. Zach Thususka, F, Charlottetown Islanders.
13th round
234. Brodie MacArthur, F, Moncton Wildcats
Carson MacKinnon will have a good resource for any questions he has about his new team.
The 15-year-old Summerside native was selected in the fourth round of Saturday’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft by the Rimouski Oceanic. MacKinnon’s brother Ryan played his first three seasons in the league for Rimouski and was the Oceanic captain in 2013-14.
“Going to Rimouski is definitely a huge honour considering the path of my brother and all the past players they’ve had, like (Sidney) Crosby, (Vincent) Lecavalier and (Brad) Richards. It’s definitely one of the big organizations in the league,” MacKinnon said Saturday.
MacKinnon was the first of seven Island natives to be drafted on Saturday.
MacKinnon watched the draft with a couple of Notre Dame Hounds teammates in Saskatchewan.
“The first round took about two hours, just refreshing the laptop,” the centre explained. “Once I saw Rimouski had that pick in the fourth round I was leading towards it, considering the past with them and they were one of the teams I’d like to go to.”
MacKinnon’s linemate, Jeremy McKenna, went the following round to the Moncton Wildcats.
“It’s a great feeling to get drafted by a first-class organization in Moncton and being close to home will be great too,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
The draft is only the start of the process for midget players looking to make the jump to the next level.
“I will be working as hard as I can (to) try and make the team next year. That’s my goal,” McKenna said.
MacKinnon said this summer is a big one for his development.
“I’m going to have to train really hard. I’m going to have to get a lot stronger. I’m going to have to get mentally tougher to be able to play in that league,” he said.
Local flavour
A look at where the Prince Edward Island players went in Saturday’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft.
Fourth round
61. Carson MacKinnon, F, Rimouski Oceanic.
Fifth round
86. Jeremy McKenna, F, Moncton Wildcats.
Eighth round
143. Kallum Muirhead, F, Saint John Sea Dogs.
11th round
182. Jack DesRoches, D, Charlottetown Islanders.
188. Dallas Farrell, F, Halifax Mooseheads.
12th round
200. Zach Thususka, F, Charlottetown Islanders.
13th round
234. Brodie MacArthur, F, Moncton Wildcats
