It was an amazing draft day for the North Bay Battalion on day two of the NHL Entry Draft.
It was 2016 when North Bay star Battalion defenceman Cam Dineen was selected 68th overall at the NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo by the Arizona Coyotes.
Fast forward to 2022 and another star North Bay Battalion defenceman, Ty Nelson, was selected 68th overall at the NHL Entry Draft by the Seattle Kraken at the event taking place in Montreal.
Nelson was joined by family and friends along with members of the North Bay Battalion hockey operations including GM Adam Dennis, coach Ryan Oulahen and assistant coach Scott Wray.
See related: Nelson looks to have his name called in the NHL Draft
It was a special moment for Nelson, who was selected first overall by the North Bay Battalion in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.
Nelson told reporters during his media availability that the evolution of the game helped open up opportunities for a speedy, smaller stature player like him.
The right hand shot defender spoke about how anxious he was heading into the Draft in Montreal.
“I’m excited. Hopefully, something great happens over the next couple of days while I am in Montreal. It’s a goal that I want to have completed on my checklist,” Nelson told Kortney Kenney prior to the Draft.
“This is what I want to do for a living and this is the next step in doing that. I am a little bit nervous as it is one of the biggest things that will happen in my hockey career so I have nerves for sure. I think everyone goes through it a bit differently, but for me I just want to know where, or when, or if I am even going to get drafted.”
Nelson was ranked 32nd for North American skaters heading into the draft.
Nelson netted 51 points in 66 games with the Troops and another 10 in 13 playoff games in the Troops journey to the Eastern Conference finals.
Mathurin a Red Wing
Meantime, another Battalion blueliner, Tnias Mathurin, was selected in the 5th round, 137th overall by the Detroit Red Wings. Mathurin had 3 goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 44 games with the Troops in 2021-22.
Jackson joins Nelson and the Kraken
Kyle Jackson was overlooked in 2021, but not in 2022. The skilled forward from the Ottawa area was taken in the 7th round 196th overall by the Seattle Kraken joining Ty Nelson on the new NHL squad going through its second draft.
Jackson netted 30 goals and 32 assists for 62 points in 45 games with the Troops last season.
Interesting note, former North Bay Battalion assistant coach John Goodwin, is now a Pro Scout with the Seattle franchise.
DiVincentiis a Jet
For the second draft in a row, a Battalion goaltender was selected in the 7th round of the draft. Last year it was Joe Vrbetic to the Canadiens, and this time it is Dom DiVincentiis who was selected in the 7th round, 207th overall by the Winnipeg Jets.
DiVincentiis got into 27 regular-season games sporting a 2.39 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.
Arnsby to the Panthers
Liam Arnsby ended up finishing off the Battalion crop of selections going in the 7th round, 214th overall to the Florida Panthers.
See related: NHL Draft approaching for Arnsby, who is focussing on North Bay
Ranked 115 by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters, the Battalion captain recorded nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points in 46 games with the Troops last year.
