Mount Pearl’s Zach Dean will be a first round draft pick today, and quite possibly a top 10 selection, when the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League stages its Entry Draft in Quebec City.
Dean is ranked ninth overall by QMJHL Central Scouting. He is the only Newfoundlander ranked in the first round.
Dean played for the Toronto Young Nationals minor midget team this past winter, finishing the year with 89 points. He also played with the province’s entry in the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.
Since 2000, four Newfoundlanders have gone third overall in the QMJHL Draft — Colin Escott of St. John’s in 2005, Brandon Hynes of Norris Point in 2008, Clark Bishop of St. John’s in 2012 and Nathan Noel of St. John’s the following year, in 2013.
Evan Fitzpatrick of Mount Pearl was selected fourth overall in 2014.
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 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.