Battalion forward Brett McKenzie was taken with the 194th pick in the NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks late on day-two of the NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo.
The Vars, Ontario product had 26 goals and 27 assists for 53 points in what has been his best offensive season with the Troops in 2015-16.
North Bay Battalion forward Brett McKenzie was ranked 120th among draft eligible players for the 2015 NHL Draft, where he was overlooked.
He was an invite last summer to the Philadelphia Flyers Prospects Camp.
“It’s an honour to have been picked by a great organization and to the beautiful city of Vancouver,” McKenzie said to Battalionhockey.com.
“I was surprised when I was chosen, wasn’t sure if it was real.”
Meantime Battalion defenceman Mark Shoemaker was also selected. He went in the sixth round to the NHL Western Conference Champion San Jose Sharks, 180th overall.
Shoemaker joins an organization well stocked with Battalion players as both Barclay Goodrow and Brent Burns are Battalion alumni.
The 6'2", 208 pound defenceman recorded four goals and nine assists for 13 points in 67 games with the Battalion last year.
“I’m very, very excited to be drafted and, while I was hopeful to be drafted, I wasn’t expecting to be drafted,” Shoemaker said to Battalionhockey.com
“I just came inside after working on tearing down my family’s front steps with my dad and was sitting at the kitchen table with my parents about to go in swimming when I got the call from (scout) Bryan Marchment saying that they just drafted me.”
Meantime, Battalion forward Justin Brazeau did not get drafted but he has been invited to the Detroit Red Wings Prospects Camp
