COURTESY OF ST. CATHARINES STANDARD

BY BILL POTRECZ , STANDARD STAFF


The Phoenix Coyotes shocked just about everyone when they selected Mark Visentin in the first round of the National Hockey League draft, but perhaps no one more than the goaltender himself.

Phoenix used its second selection (27th overall) in the first round to take the Niagara IceDogs goaltender Friday night. Visentin was projected to go in the second or third round.

"I was incredibly shocked," Visentin said when reached Saturday at Staples Centre in Los Angeles, where he was watching the rest of the draft. "It's just starting to set in.

"Just to be called to such a great organization is a tremendous honour for me. Walking up on to that stage, my heart was just racing. I think it was the biggest thrill I've had in my entire life. It's definitely a moment I'll never forget.

"To be selected in the first round is awesome. I can't describe the feeling."

Visentin wasn't the only member of the IceDogs to hear his name called. Forward Freddie Hamilton was selected in the fifth round (129th overall) by the San Jose Sharks and Niagara-on-the-Lake's Alex Friesen was chosen in the sixth round (172nd overall) by the Vancouver Canucks.

As well, Niagara Falls native Justin Shugg of the Windsor Spitfires was selected in the fourth round (105th overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Coyotes general manager Don Maloney had high praise for Visentin.

"He's a big goaltender," Maloney said on a video posted on the club's official website. "I know everyone was focused on Jack Campbell who went to Dallas, but our guys liked this guy better. They were adamant that this guy could be a No. 1 goaltender. He's big, he's athletic and he's probably going to play for Canada's national team next year and he still has a couple of years of junior hockey left.

"Our staff is very happy he's with us."

Visentin, an 18-year-old Waterdown native, had a breakthrough season with the IceDogs in which he won 24 games, posted a 2.99 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.

Still, Visentin had no idea he was even considered a first-round pick.

"I just wanted to go (to the opening round) to see all my friends," he said. "I knew pretty much half the guys that went in the first round and I enjoy watching that kind of stuff .

"I love hockey and it was an education."

Visentin couldn't believe how hectic his night became following his selection.

"It was pretty crazy," he said. "I had to go through all the media scrums and all the pictures, and then I went out with my family to celebrate."

Visentin is a notoriously hard worker who has no plans to let up now that he's been selected.

"To me, this motivates me to get even better," he said. "This is another step in the long journey to the NHL. I want to take it and embrace it, but at the same time, it's time to move on.

"Come Monday morning, I'll be back in the gym at 8 a.m., ready to work out and get stronger."

Visentin, who will attend the Coyotes rookie camp in early July, tried to drink in as much of his stay in L.A. as possible.

"It's incredible seeing all the big-name guys here and then walking into the rink beside them," he said. "You see all the famous names. It's the experience of a lifetime.

"I get to go through it once and I want to cherish it and enjoy it. It's in Los Angeles, how can you not have fun? The city is unbelievable. We're been to the beach and we've been to the city."

Friesen, who was overlooked in last year's draft, found out from Visentin he was a Canuck.

"I was very excited, but Mark knew before I did and sent me a text," Friesen said.

Friesen, who also has a reputation as a tireless worker, had an inkling he might get selected after talking to the Canucks, the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche.

"I talked to those teams so I kind of had a feeling," said Friesen, who collected 23 goals and 37 assists last season. "You're always hoping for the best and it all just worked out."

Friesen didn't mind waiting the extra year to fulfil his dream.

"I didn't have the best season two years ago," he said. "After that season, I wasn't expecting to get drafted.

"It kind of drives you to get that little bit more because I have high expectations of myself as a hockey player. Guys that are good hockey players who I know I'm just as good as, it gave me a little more incentive."

Friesen, who flies to Vancouver in early July for an orientation camp, expects to be back with the IceDogs this season.

"I'm back in Niagara," he said. "I'm going to camp to work hard and prove myself, but my expectation is to be back with the IceDogs next year."

Hamilton opted to stay home and follow the draft on television.

"I'm so excited to get drafted," said Hamilton, a smart two-way centre who collected 25 goals for the IceDogs last season. "It's always been a dream of mine and I'm so thrilled to get drafted by the Sharks.

"Going in, I just wanted to get drafted. I didn't necessarily care what round. I just wanted to go to a team that liked me and would give me an opportunity."

Hamilton talked to the Sharks at the NHL Combine, but still had no real idea where he'd end up.

"I had no idea what was going to happen until it happened," said Hamilton, who spoke to the Sharks by phone following the draft.

Hurricanes director of amateur scouting Tony MacDonald likes Shugg's offensive upside.

"What he does is score goals," MacDonald said in a story posted on the team's official website. "He's a pretty good two-way guy and plays well on both sides of the puck. When he had to play with better offensive guys he was able to fit right in and play off those guys. He's good at making himself available to the puck and finds those holes and finds those seams."

The Canes may have gotten a bit of a steal with Shugg, who originally expected to be drafted in the second round but ended up falling to the fourth.

" We certainly had him higher on our list than where he went," MacDonald said.

With the anticipated exit of Hall and several other high-profile Spitfires, Shugg will get a chance to shine in a prime role after spending time in all situations over the past few seasons.

"Coach (Bob) Boughner told me that the load is going to be on my back next year to potentially be one of the leaders on the team," Shugg said. "I hope I won't prove him wrong and that I won't prove the Carolina Hurricanes wrong over the next couple of years."