Spirit Players React to Selections in 2013 NHL Draft
07/01/13 Spirit Players React to Selections in 2013 NHL Draft
It was another good day at the draft table for the Saginaw Spirit in the 2013 selection process as the franchise now has six players aligned with NHL teams. Jimmy Lodge (Winnipeg), Nick Moutrey (Columbus) , and Eric Locke (Buffalo) have joined teammates Jake Paterson (Detroit), Justin Kea (Buffalo), and Cody Payne (Dallas) as NHL drafted players, and the trio now has had a few hours to let the moment sink in after hearing their names called in New Jersey.
The highly skilled Lodge was the first Spirit player to slip on an NHL jersey donning the colors of the Winnipeg Jets after the NHL club selected him in the 3rd round, 84th overall. Then it was power forward Nick Moutrey’s turn one round later as he was taken by the Columbus Blue Jackets, 105th overall. Finally, Eric Locke, the OHL’s fourth leading scorer from this past season, was claimed by the Buffalo Sabres in the 7th round, 189th overall.
After the process ended, no NHL team took more Canadian Hockey League players than the Winnipeg Jets, whose Director of Amateur Scouting is longtime Saginaw Gear Marcel Comeau. Lodge perhaps solidified his standing with the Jets at the NHL Combine as they were the first of 20 NHL teams he spoke with in Toronto, and he explains the draft itself is just one aspect of the total experience. “It’s all a build up the whole season, with the rankings and that, and finally the day came and I am happy to be with Winnipeg.” The Downingtown, PA product will take a few days to enjoy the draft experience before another major step in his hockey career which will come in early August at the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp, and he believes his selection by an NHL team will add to his confidence level in Lake Placid.
Meantime, Moutrey was doing some sightseeing in New York City when we caught up with him for his reaction to his selection by Columbus, a team that he had some familiarity with going in. “I met with them at the NHL Combine and we had a good talk, and after I was chosen they brought me up to their suite to meet the team’s management, which was great.” The Shelburne, ON native admits there were some anxious moments waiting for his name to appear on the big board, but it was all worth it in the end. “It’s a surreal experience, and putting on the team hat and jersey was very memorable.”
Not unlike the situations of former Spirit forwards Josh Shalla and Garret Ross, Locke had to wait a little longer to link up with an NHL team, but that did not take away from the moment for the Toronto, ON native. Locke says he was able to share the experience when his name came up. “I was at home with my family watching the draft, and actually it was a little weird because my name was shown during a commercial, but I got a text from my agent to let me know.” A 97 point campaign with the Spirit certainly enhanced Locke’s chances in the draft, and he will not be alone in attending the Sabres Training Camp in a few weeks. “I think it will be a real positive to go to the camp with Justin (Kea). He has been there before and I expect that will help me a lot.”
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