Soo Greyhounds draft report

In just one day, the Soo Greyhounds made years worth of decisions.

On the most important day of the year for any team, the Soo Greyhounds selected 11th overall and took big defenseman Jacob Muzzin from the Brantford 99'ers Minor Midgets at the 2005 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection draft on Saturday morning.

Listed at six-foot-two and 200 pounds at only 16 years of age, the Greyhounds are hoping Muzzin can develop into the rock that anchor the team on defense over the next few seasons.

In 69 games this past season, Muzzin, regarded as having the hardest and best shot in the draft, scored 21 goals and 25 assists for 46 points to go with 112 penalty minutes.

In all, 15 players became property of the Soo Greyhounds including two local products in defenseman Michael Quesnele, taken in the fifth round, and right winger Brad DiCandia, taken in the 13th round.

The Greyhounds selected five defenseman, two goaltenders, three right wingers, two left wingers and three centres.

Additional photos of players are posted in the photo gallery, which is linked at the bottom of this story. All statistics listed are for the regular season only unless otherwise noted.

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* SECOND ROUND:

No pick.

* THIRD ROUND:

With the 14th pick in the round, the Greyhounds took six-foot-three, 215 pound right winger Josh Moes (pictured) from the St. Catherines Sabres Minor Midgets.

Moes, selected 54th overall, is a Sabres teammate of Jordan Nolan, the son of Ted Nolan, who was taken four picks earlier by the Erie Otters at 50th overall.

In 27 games this season, Moes scored 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points.

* FOURTH ROUND:

With the fifth pick in the fourth round, the Hounds grabbed centre Grant McGee from the Mississauga IceDogs Minor Midgets.

McGee is listed at six-foot-two and 180 pounds. In 36 games, McGee posted 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points to go with 79 penalty minutes.

* FIFTH ROUND:

With the 11th pick, 91st overall, the Hounds dipped into their hometown pool by taking defensman Michael Quesnele from the Soo North Stars.

Quesnele is a skilled defenseman with plenty of offensive upside and is listed at five-foot-nine and 180 pounds. In 33 games with the North Stars, Quesnele posted eight goals, 17 assists, 25 points and 51 penalty minutes.

* SIXTH ROUND:

The Greyhounds took their first goaltender of the draft at 111th overall in Ben Smith from the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midgets.

In 32 games, Smith posted a 2.35 goals-against-average and a .903 save percentage.

* SEVENTH ROUND:

With the 137th pick overall, the Hounds took six-foot-two, 160 pound defenseman Bryan Cooper from the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midgets.

In 53 games, Cooper potted 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points to go with 78 penalty minutes.

* EIGHTH ROUND:

In the eighth round, the Hounds grabbed American centre Anthony Perdicaro, who stands at six feet and 180 pounds, from the Long Island Gulls Under-18 Midgets at 151st overall.

* NINTH ROUND:

The Hounds then took their second American of the draft by selecting five-foot-eight, 150 pound centre Matthew Thurber from the Madison Capitals Midgets.

* 10TH ROUND:

In the 10th round, the locals took left winger Chris MacKinnon, who measures in at five-foot-eight and 170 pounds, from the Mississauga Senators Minor Midgets.

MacKinnon scored 29 goals and added 39 assists for 68 points and 80 penalty minutes in 56 games.

* 11TH ROUND:

Nick Borg became property of the Soo Greyhounds in the 11th round. Borg, who played left wing for the Minor Midget Jr. Canadiens, stands at six-foot-two and 175 pounds.

Borg scored 20 goals and 25 helpers for 45 points with only 12 penalty minutes in 30 games.

* 12TH ROUND:

In the 12th round, the Hounds went for six-foot-two, 170 pound defenseman Dylan Tice from the Peterborough Petes Minor Midgets.

In 39 games, Tice, who racked up 50 minutes in penalties, scored six times and set up 17 others for 23 points.

* 13TH ROUND:

With their first of two picks in the round, the Greyhounds went back to their Sault Ste. Marie roots and grabbed scrappy right winger Brad DiCandia from the Soo North Stars.

In 34 regular season games, DiCandia scored 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points and 113 penalty minutes. In nine playoff games, he scored three times and assisted on four others to go with 40 penalty minutes.

Seven picks later, the Hounds took six-foot-one, 180 pound defenseman Nick Holmberg from the Ajax-Pickering Minor Midgets.

Holmberg scored six goals and four assists for 10 points and just four penalty minutes in 24 games.

* 14TH ROUND:

In the 14th round, the Soo grabbed American goaltender Josh Robinson from the Midland Midgets.

* 15TH ROUND:

With their final pick of the draft, the Greyhound selected five-foot-ten, 155 pound right winger Mike Nedilsky 291st overall from the St. Catherines Sabres Minor Midgets.

In 54 games, Nedilsky netted 21 goals and 36 assists for 57 points and 60 penalty minutes.

(PHOTO: Greyhounds third round pick Josh Moes.)