Pedan and Sparks grabbed in NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft wrapped up on Saturday afternoon with a pair of Storm players picked up by NHL clubs.
Andrey Pedan’s breakout performance in the OHL Playoffs saw him make a big jump from his NHL Central Scouting Ranking of 85th as he was grabbed by the New York Islanders with the 63rd pick of the draft.
Later in the afternoon, goaltender Garret Sparks was picked by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 7th round. The Illinois native was the 17th ranked North American goaltender heading into the draft. Sparks played only 19 games during the 2010-11 regular season compiling an 8-6-0-1 record with a 3.64 goals against average. The Storm’s winner of the Paul Fendley Scholastic Player of the Year, Sparks selection by the Leafs was no doubt part of Brian Burke’s plan for the draft.
“Our big focus was on character,” said Leafs GM Burke. “Every team says that, but really it’s part of our DNA. We’re looking for players that are going to get better, that are going to work hard and are coachable, guys that will handle adversity well.
“That’s why I think we have kind of a shotgun spread on position and players this year. But I think we found character people. I’m convinced that you cannot win a championship in this league unless you have character people in the room.”
