Zach Dean of Mount Pearl is ranked ninth overall for the 2019 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Entry Draft June 8 in Quebec City.
QMJHL Central Scouting released its final rankings Wednesday.
Dean, who plays for the Toronto Young Nationals minor midget squad in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, is the only Newfoundlander ranked in the first round.
Ryan Greene of Paradise, who toiled this season for Connecticut’s Selects Academy U15s, is ranked in the third round, 43rd overall. Greene may have received a higher ranking had he not recently committed to attending Boston University.
Connor Shortall of St. John’s, an undersized defenceman (5-8, 150 pounds), is ranked as a fourth-rounder. Three players are ranked to go between the ninth and 12th rounds — Kobe Burt of the Tri-Pen Osprey (provincial major midget league) and major midget goalies William Dyke (East Coast Blizzard) and Evan Martin (St. John’s).
Another 15 players are listed as possibilities for Rounds 13 and up, though few, if any, will be selected. There are 14 rounds in the draft.
Last year, six players from Newfoundland and Labrador were selected in the QMJHL draft, the fewest number of players from this province to be picked since 2011.
