Two current Victoria Royals players recently saw their dream to someday play in the National Hockey League (NHL) come a little closer to fruition at the annual league draft in Pittsburgh on June 23.
Royals forwards Steven Hodges and Logan Nelson were the first two players for the new Victoria franchise to be selected by NHL teams in the draft. Hodges was selected by the Florida Panthers in the third round, 84th overall, while Nelson was scooped by the Buffalo Sabres, 133rd overall in the fifth round. Both players are excited to join their new teams.
“Growing up I always liked Buffalo and Philly,” says now-Sabre prospect Nelson. “It’s kind of funny how it happened, but I’m definitely excited. I couldn’t be happier with the team that took me.”
Both players gathered with their families to watch the draft on television (players in the first two rounds usually attend in person) and experienced a mixture of nervousness and anticipation while waiting for their names to be picked.
“It was a good feeling to be drafted at all,” admits Hodges. “After I was picked I waited to see Nelson’s name picked as well. My family and I are very excited and it’s been a very positive experience.”
The two players are currently preparing for their respective new teams’ prospect camps. Nelson’s prospect camp will include a reunion with former Royals star veteran forward Kevin Sundher, who mentored Nelson last year in his rookie season.
“[Sundher] took me under his wing and we all looked up to him,” says Nelson. “It’s going to be good, we get along really good. Hopefully we get to be teammates some day.”
This year’s NHL draft featured a large number of Western Hockey League (WHL) players among its selections. A total of 32 WHL players were picked, including six players in the first round and 19 in the first three rounds. Everett Silvertips star defenseman Ryan Murray was picked second overall, the highest-ranking WHL player ever to be picked in the big league draft.
“The WHL is a top league and there’s lots of good hockey players that come out here,” says Hodges.
Prospect camp will be a chance for the two forwards to shine and both of them feel they will adapt easily to the systems of the franchises that selected them.
“It should be a good fit,” says Nelson. “Buffalo has got some bigger guys who play the body and play fast. I’m hoping to go in there and get my name out and make a good impression, and let them know I’m the real deal.”
Meanwhile, Hodges and Nelson are both looking forward to another year with the Royals after they get back from the NHL prospect camps. The players feel that with more experience this year the Royals should be able to make a deeper run in the playoffs next season.
“I’m very, very excited for next year,” says Hodges. “We had a young team last year and the schedule was really tough on us and now we all know what needs to be done. It will be really important to have that experience.”
In other Royals prospect news, forwards Brandon Magee and Austin Carroll will also be attending NHL camps this summer. Magee will try to crack the deep and young Edmonton Oilers lineup, while Austin Carroll hopes to impress the Phoenix Coyote organization.