The Summerside native will be in Saint John, N.B., to see who the Rimouski Oceanic add to its roster. Armed with a bounty of 18 picks, including the first overall selection, the Oceanic is expected to have a big day.
“Everyone in the organization is real excited for this draft,” MacKinnon said on Thursday.
Alexis Lafreniere is the consensus top prospect in a deep draft. The six-foot, 171-pound forward had 83 points in 36 games for the Saint-Eustache Vikings in Quebec’s major midget circuit.
“It’s just really exciting to maybe have the opportunity to play with some of those players,” MacKinnon said.
The Oceanic also owns the 10th and 12th overall picks as well as two picks in each of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and eight rounds. General manager Serge Beausoleil will be a busy man with 11 of the first 98 picks.
“Our GM/coach has set us up pretty well,” MacKinnon said. “It’s going to be an exciting day for the team, especially for the players that will be joining us because we expect very big things coming up in the future from the Oceanic.”
Rimouski drafted MacKinnon in the fourth round, 61st overall, of the 2015 draft. He wasn't able to attend the draft as he was studying at Notre Dame in Wilcox, Sask.
“It doesn't feel like too long ago that it was my draft, but it’s already been about two years,” MacKinnon said.
He is looking to continue to get better as the Oceanic hopes to improve upon last year’s 26-35-6-1 record.
MacKinnon nearly doubled his production in his second season in the league.
He had seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in his 65-game rookie season. He scored 13 and set up 14 more in 65 games in Year 2. The six-foot, 170-pound centre’s focus this off-season is getting stronger.
“There’s big things expected for our team coming up in the next few years, so I’m going to try and be as ready as I can.”
MacKinnon is eligible for the NHL draft in June 23-24. He said he tries not to think about it, but it is hard as it has been something he’s dreamed about since he was a kid.
“Everyday I see guys like Ross Johnston and Ryan Graves, who are at that pro level, and you want to kind of follow in their footsteps,” he said. “I am trying my best just to focus on getting stronger and then I’ll let the cards play as they will throughout the season.”
QMJHL Draft
A look at the first-round order for Saturday’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft in Saint John, N.B.
1. Rimouski
2. Sherbrooke
3. Moncton
4. Halifax
5. Val-d'Or
6. Baie-Comeau
7. Drummondville
8. Drummondville (from Québec)
9. Baie-Comeau (from Gatineau)
10. Rimouski (from Victoriaville)
11. Sherbrooke (from Chicoutimi)
12. Rimouski (from Cape Breton)
13. Acadie-Bathurst
14. Cape Breton (from Shawinigan)
15. Cape Breton (from Blainville-Boisbriand)
16. Moncton (from Rouyn-Noranda)
17. Val-d'Or (from Charlottetown)
18. Québec (from Saint John)
19. Blainville-Boisbriand
