Canucks pick Anthony
Published Monday June 29th, 2009
Hockey Sea Dogs forward chosen 187th overall in NHL draft
When the telephone rang in Steven Anthony's Halifax home shortly before 2 p.m. on Saturday, the Saint John Sea Dogs forward held his breath.
Vancouver Canucks amateur scout Darryl Young was on the other end of the line, bearing good news.
"He told me that (Vancouver) selected me, and I'm now a Canuck," Anthony said.
The 18-year-old was picked up in the seventh round (187th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, making him the second Sea Dog in as many years to be drafted by Vancouver. Saint John blueliner Yann Sauve was a second-round selection (41st overall) last year.
Anthony was projected as a fifth or sixth round pick, so he opted to follow the draft action this weekend at the Bell Centre in Montreal from his computer at home.
"I couldn't stop smiling when Darryl was talking to me. I went over to the computer (screen) and hit refresh, and there was my name," Anthony said.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound centreman notched 19 goals and 48 points last season as 17-year-old with the Sea Dogs. He joined the club as a first-round pick (10th overall) in the 2007 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft, where he collected 14 points in 55 games for Saint John as a 16 year old.
Friday, Sea Dogs blueliner Simon Despres became the first player in the club's history to get selected in the first round, after the Pittsburgh Penguins snagged him 30th overall. Despres led Saint John defensemen last season with two goals and 32 points.
Three other players whose rights belong to the Sea Dogs were also drafted this weekend. Winger Nick Petersen went to Pittsburgh in round four (121st overall), while forward Mike Hoffman was chosen by the Senators in round five (130th overall). Both were acquired by Saint John in June to complete trade deadline deals that saw forward Chris DiDomenico shipped to Drummondville and defenceman Alex Grant land in Shawinigan. Chris Kreider, who was drafted by the Sea Dogs in 2008 but played for Andover Academy in Massachusetts, went to the New York Rangers in the first round (19th overall). Saint John native and Rangers director of player personnel Gordie Clark announced the pick. Kreider, who notched 33 goals and 55 points in only 26 games for Andover in 2008-09, is expected to eventually continue his hockey career at Boston College.
For Anthony, the hours leading up to his selection were grueling and nerve-racking.
"My hopes were fading once the fifth and sixth (rounds) went by," Anthony said.
"I knew I had to be one of those last 30 players."
His fortunes changed when Vancouver traded defenceman Shaun Heshka to the Phoenix Coyotes for the 187th pick.
Anthony said he talked to about a dozen clubs in the months leading up to the draft, including a 90-minute interview with Canucks scout Darryl Young two weeks ago.
"It still hasn't fully kicked in yet that I was drafted into the NHL," Anthony said.
He has a few weeks to let the news sink in, before heading to Vancouver from July 5-10 for a rookie development camp with the Canucks.
There, he'll grace the ice with fellow Sea Dog Yann Sauve.
"I'm really excited for it. Yann has nothing but good things to say about Vancouver, I'm just looking forward to being a part of it."
Sea Dogs director of operations Mike Kelly said the Canucks made a wise decision in selecting Anthony, who could turn into "a real gem" for the club.
"This could be a really good pick for Vancouver. If (Anthony) takes some strides (with the Sea Dogs this season) he could be a real dark horse for the Canucks," said Kelly, who was an assistant coach in Vancouver for two years.
Kelly said Anthony's sturdy frame and strong puck handling skills make him an asset at centre ice. After finishing third on Saint John in scoring last season, Kelly expects Anthony to have a break-out season for the Sea Dogs in 2009-10.
"It's great if a player can learn to dominate at his own level before he moves on. In the long run, it's a benefit to the player to go through the experience and pressure of being a leader," Kelly said.
Anthony agrees he has that potential.
"Towards the end of last year I moved into a more offensive role.
"I expect to do the same next year (with Saint John), I'm an older guy and I'm looking to be a leader on the team," he said.
Prior to this year, the Saint John Sea Dogs had produced four NHL draft picks - Felix Schutz (2006, Buffalo Sabres), Grant (2007, Pittsburgh Penguins), DiDomenico (2007, Toronto Maple Leafs), and Sauve (2008, Vancouver).
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