Sawyer Hannay finds himself in a familiar position following Saturday’s NHL draft in Los Angeles.
The Halifax Mooseheads defenceman was selected six picks from the end of the event, 205th overall in the seventh round, by the Vancouver Canucks, in a virtual rerun of last year’s QMJHL draft when he went in the sixth round.
Back then, the Mooseheads liked Hannay’s rock ’em-sock ’em style and hoped he could come to camp and win a job.
He did.
The Canucks are no doubt hoping for similar rewards down the road.
“When I was drafted by the Mooseheads, I wasn’t expected to even make the team,” Hannay said.
“I just went to camp, took it a day at a time and worked as hard as I could. Now I have to do the same with Vancouver.”
Hannay, a stay-at-home blue-liner who had six points, 158 penalty minutes and 16 fighting majors last season, described it as “flattering just to be found” on the world’s vast hockey map.
He was one of three Mooseheads selected in the draft. Goalie Mathieu Corbeil led the charge, going in the fourth round, 102nd overall, to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team responsible for picking Mooseheads alumni Jakub Voracek and Pascal Leclaire in past years.
Defenceman Konrad Abeltshauser went in the sixth round, 163rd overall, after the Sharks traded goalie Henrik Karlsson to acquire the selection.
Hannay was thrilled to go to the Canucks.
“It’s a great place to go,” the Moncton native said.
“It’s a Canadian team, they did well this year, they have a strong base and one of the best goalies (Roberto Luongo) in the league.”
The Canucks will let Hannay develop in Halifax and don’t have to sign him until June 1, 2012.
“My main focus is in Halifax,” Hannay said.
“We’re rebuilding and we have a good future to look forward to. I’m going to try to perform as well as I can and if that helps Vancouver make a decision, that’s the way it will be.”
MacAulay drafted by Blues
• Cole Harbour’s Stephen MacAulay didn’t care where he went, he just wanted to get picked in the NHL draft. He got his wish when the St. Louis Blues snapped him up in the sixth round (164th overall) of Saturday’s NHL draft in Los Angeles. He was the only Nova Scotian picked in the draft.
“It’s St. Louis, but it could have been anywhere and I’d be just as happy,” MacAulay said. “I just wanted to be picked.” The Saint John Sea Dogs left-winger received the news via phone from his head coach, Gerard Gallant, who attended the draft. He hopes to show the Blues he’s worth a contract over the next two seasons.
“My main goal is to win a championship in Saint John,” he said. “My secondary goals are to keep playing my role, put on some pounds and chip in a little bit more offensively.”
