The LNAH held its annual draft yesterday in Sorel and the Cornwall River Kings used their first pick to select a talented centre from Gatineau, QC.
Cornwall selected Rock Regimbald in the 2nd round, 15th overall. The 23-year-old suited up for the University of Ottawa last season, after a four-year junior career in the QMJHL. Regimbald had 18 points and 56 penalty minutes in 25 games with Ottawa in the CIS.
General manager Rick Lalonde used late round picks to grab a couple of players with Cornwall connections.
In Round 7, the River Kings picked up Damien Cross, the former Cornwall Colts sniper. The 26-year-old has played the last two seasons for Carleton University in the CIS. In his final season in the CJHL, Cross tallied 140 points in 62 games with the Pembroke Lumber Kings. He then went on to play at Providence College.
The River Kings selected Cornwall native Scott Champagne in the 8th round. The 32-year-old has spent reasons seasons overseas, after his college career at Mercyhurt College, and a short sting in the ECHL.
The Jonquiere Marquis had the first overall pick, selecting Francois Fortier. The Laval Predateurs picked former NHL tough guy Georges Laraque with the final pick of the draft, 80th overall.
Here are the River Kings other selections from Saturday’s draft:
Julien Leduc, 3rd round, 17th overall: The 6-foot-1, 200 lb defenceman has spent the last five seasons in the QMJHL with Val d’Or, Charlottetown, Victoriaville and Drummondville.
Michael Dupont, 3rd round, 22nd overall: The 27-year-old goaltender from Switzerland was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Dupont is a graduate of the QMJHL.
Philippe Charbonneau, 4th round, 25th overall: Charbonneau is a 6-foot-2, 200 lb defenceman from Longueuil, QC.
Pierre-Olivier Grandmaison, 4th round, 32nd overall: The 21-year-old from Trois-Rivieres had 89 points and 92 penalty minutes in 45 games with Saint-Jerome (AAA) last season.
Yan Dumontier, 5th round, 33rd overall: The 6-foot-2, 180 lb. defenceman had 44 points in 48 games with Saint-Jerome in 2014-15.
Etienne Salvail, 6th round, 41st overall: Last season in AAA, the 21-year-old had 111 points and 100 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-3, 200 lb winger is from St-Hyacinthe, QC.
Erick Lizon: The Kings dealt their 8th round pick (62nd overall) to Trois-Rivieres for the rights to Lizon. The 29-year-old from Kitchener had 196 penalty minutes with the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder in 2014-15.
Robbie Thomson, 9th round, 70th overall: Cornwall used their final pick on 26-year-old. The 6-foot-3, 265 lb Thomson played in the EOJBHL.