The whole draft process was facinating to be a part of and witness. The first round was on Friday evening - and Starts with a roll Call of each team, and their representatives. The entire ice surface is covered with Tables for each of the 30 NHL Teams. Each table has 15+ people sitting around it - Scouts, Mangers and the like! Its a crowded floor! As each team makes a pick - the young man is comes down from the Stands after receiving congratulations from their family - then they make their way to the Stage, and greet Team representatives, then are wisked away for media interviews.
Quite a show indeed. The next team then has 3 minutes (the count down clock pictured above) to make its pick.
On Saturday the Rounds 2-7 happen, and this process is much faster. Teams still have 3 minutes between pick, but they announce the pick from their table. They do not always use the 3 minutes - but sometimes they ask for a time out - (5:00) and sometimes there are trades made.
When the name is announced - there is clapping and congratulations from the family and the agent and those around him. The Draftee then goes to the main ice surface receives a Jersey and goes to the table to meet the team reps, then taken away for Media interviews.
My Godson Thomas Schemitsch, who plays for the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL, was selected in the 3rd round - the 88th pick - by the Florida Panthers. Here is Thomas doing interviews after being selected.
After being drafted, an NHL rep brought wrist bands for the family members - and these wrist bands allowed us to go to a Family Lounge while waiting for the players to finish their media interviews and conversations with team officials. Since Florida was the host team for the Draft - there was a lot of buzz in the arena whe he was chosen - Here is Thomas signing autographs and taking pictures with young fans on his way to the Team Box for some refreshments:
There was another person I was following in the Draft - and that was our own parishioner Anrew Mangiapane. As I went back into the main arena to check on the draft - and Andrew - I was there as his name was called - by the Calgary Flames! Andrew was selcted in the 6th round - #166. Andrews Mom is a Teacher at St. John Paul II School! I was able to see Anrew's Parents and Family - his sister is a Camp Counsellor with Holydays - in the Family Lounge just before we had pictures taken with Thomas. They were very excited and relieved! Andrew had a great year with the Barrie Colts - scoring 104 points in 2014/2015.
That night we had a nice dinner at a steak house "Mortons" and toasted Thomas' success in the draft! The next morning we went for Breakfast and on the way back stopped off for a newspaper (I really enjoy reading the New York Times!) and we found Thomas' Picture in the Miami Herald! There was also a news article that mentioned him in the SunSentinel! Thomas also gave me a Florida Hat (Like his brother Geoffrey did in 2010 when he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning)
Then we went to Mass at St. Sebastians - very near the Hotel.
Mass was in the Parish hall because there was no airconditioning in the church (was it broken?) - and the presider was 83 years old - and he barely looked 65! Great homily with some imagery that I will steal!
Thomas stayed down in Florida for the Panthers' Development Camp which started Sunday afternoon! They will run until Thursday afternoon - and probably come home Friday.
Peace
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