MacKinnon drafted first by Colorado Avalanche
Posted Jul 1, 2013 06:28:45 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mooseheads center, Memorial Cup MVP, and Cole Harbour native Nathan MacKinnon was selected by the Colorado Avalanche with the first pick of the 2013 NHL Draft on Sunday.
“I’m a pretty competitive guy,” said MacKinnon. “It’s always be my dream as a kid to go No. 1, I’d be lying if I told you anything different. Obviously going up against a guy like Seth Jones is very motivating, but my main goal was to win, I’m so happy I did that, this is crazy right now.”
17-year-old MacKinnon was the consensus top player available after scoring 32 goals and 75 points in 44 games for the Mooseheads.
“It’s amazing how things have worked out in my hockey career,” adds MacKinnon. “It’s so exciting, and hopefully it’s just getting started. This is unbelievable, being apart of the Colorado Avalanche. I can’t wait to get to training camp.”
Tampa Bay used the third pick to select Halifax winger Jonathan Drouin, and Nashville grabbed Portland defenceman Seth Jones. Mooseheads goalie Zach Fucale was drafted 36th overall for the Montreal Canadiens.
The big surprise came later, when Vancouver sent goalie Cory Schneider to New Jersey for the ninth overall pick, using it to take London centre Bo Horvat.
The draft finishes off a golden year for the Halifax Mooseheads, after winning the Memorial Cup for the first time in franchise history.
