Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Drouin doesn't report to Mooseheads camp

Players arrived to training camp Wednesday morning but one face was missing.

Jonathan Drouin, the Mooseheads 2nd overall pick in the entry draft this year, did not report.

“We recieved a call from his agent two days ago saying that they were having second thoughts,” says General Manager Cam Russell. “His father wanted him to stay back and finish his high school in Quebec and play another year of Midget.”

The decision came as a surprise to Russell. He says Drouin donned the Mooseheads jersey at the June draft and committed to team.

“It’s just in the last week or so,” says Russell. “I don’t know if its nerves or schooling but that is what we’re talking to the agent and the family about right now.”

Russell says at this point Drouin may still report adding he believes making the jump to junior hockey is the best possible way for him to develop.

“He was a high pick in the draft. We feel that he can obviously come in here and be an impact guy right now,” says Russell.

Drouin was fourth in Quebec midget AAA scoring last year with 35 goals and 57 assists for 92 points in 60 games.

The Mooseheads paid a price at the June draft to acquire Drouin, dealing their fourth and 40th overall picks, a third round pick in 2012 and 17-year-old defenseman Simon Desmarais to the Rouyn-Noranada Huskies.



Jennifer Casey was born and raised in Halifax. She loves all sports but tries to stick to writing about hockey for sanity purposes. You can follow her on twitter @jenncaseyhfx or find her on her blog National Passtime