Eagles ownership excited for “options” now available with first overall pick
Photo: Vincent Ethier
In a turn of events very few saw coming, the Cape Breton Eagles will choose first overall at this summer’s Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League entry draft.
On Thursday night, despite having only a 14 per cent chance of winning the top pick, the Eagles were declared victors at the league’s draft lottery in Montreal, beating out the definitive favourite Val-d’Or Foreurs who held a combined 71 per cent chance of winning the top pick.
This will be just the fourth time in franchise history where the Eagles will choose first, with the latest occurring in 2022 when the club drafted defenceman Tomas Lavoie.
Despite finishing seventh overall in league standings, the Eagles were inserted into the draft lottery by holding ownership of the Saint John Sea Dogs first-round pick, which was acquired in a January 2022 trade which saw the Eagles deal then 18-year-old forward Connor Trenholm, a 2022 3rd round selection (Cape Breton), 2023 2nd round selection (Cape Breton), 2023 3rd round selection (Blainville), and a 2024 3rd round selection (Cape Breton) for Charles Savoie, Carter McCluskey, a 2023 2nd round pick (Saint John) and Saint John’s 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 8th round selections in 2024.
“At the time, I can understand that some fans may have been worried about how that trade would play out, but we can see now that it was certainly the right move for our club back then and now for the future of our team,” said Eagles majority owner Irwin Simon. “With this pick, we have a lot of exciting options to consider.”
Simon credited former Eagle General Manager Jacques Carrière for making the trade in 2022; a trade which now rewards the Eagles a valuable asset for next season and beyond.
“I can’t take any credit for that trade, but it will play a big part in improving this team next season and in the years to come,” said current General Manager Sylvain Couturier. “The value of a first overall pick can be very beneficial for a hockey team…just look at the last time we chose first, we got Tomas Lavoie in 2022, someone who has been great for us over the past two seasons.”
The first time the Eagles chose first overall was in 2004, when the club chose Lower Sackville’s James Sheppard as their number one pick in that year’s draft. Sheppard would go on to score 225 points in 187 games with the Eagles across three seasons before playing professionally in the NHL and AHL for eleven seasons.
The 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft will take place on June 7-8 at the Avenir Centre in Moncton.