Head coach Ryan Maxwell overlooks warm-up prior to a game last season

The Holland Hurricanes men's hockey team, members of the Island Junior Hockey League are eager for the season to begin. The league completed its entry draft on July 25th when Holland College hosted the event at its Centre for Community Engagement.

The Hurricanes were busy before the first draft choices were even made as the team made several transactions leading up to draft day. All trades became official prior to the first selections at the draft.

The Western Red Wings acquired the Hurricanes fourth and fifth round draft picks in this year's draft in exchange for G Kurt Willis (94) and F Ben Buchanan (93). The ‘Canes would later trade Buchanan to the Montague Maniacs in exchange for a fourth round draft pick in this year's draft. Willis spent last season with the Charlottetown Junior Abbies playing in six games and tallying an 881 save percentage.

The blockbuster trade of this young season was between the Hurricanes and Sherwood Falcons. The Falcons acquired the Hurricanes first overall draft pick, F Conner Dillon (94), D Kyle Koughan (95), G Kody MacDonald (95), and G Wylie Tanton (95) in exchange for F Nick MacDonald (95) and F Parker Diamond (93). MacDonald, attending Holland College this year as a Business student finished fourth in league scoring with the Charlottetown Abbies Midget AAA team and was also named the Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association Male Player of the Year. MacDonald will also join the Hurricanes men's soccer team this upcoming season. Diamond, entering his third season in the league has tallied 56 points (13 goals, 43 assists) in 56 career games with the Charlottetown Abbies and Sherwood Falcons.

Once the draft begun, the Hurricanes were able to protect three players from their midget territorial affiliate, the Pownal Red Devils. The Hurricanes selected G Matt Derry (95), D Logan Welsh (95) and F John MacKenzie (95). All are expected to join the team immediately for the 2013-2014 season.

The following players were drafted by the Hurricanes at this year's IJHL Midget Entry Draft;

F, Cody McPhee, 1997, Charlottetown Islanders Major Midget - 2nd round, 7th overall
F, Spencer Sherren, 1997, Cornwall Thunder Major Midget - 4th round, 18th overall
F, Logan Toole, 1997, Charlottetown Islanders Major Midget - 6th round, 27th overall
D, Zach Ladner, 1997, Sherwood Falcons Midget AAA - 6th round, 29th overall
F, Riley Thomson, 1997, Sherwood Falcons Midget AAA - 7th round, 32nd overall
F, Michael Evoy, 1997, Canadian Institute of Hockey - 8th overall, 37th overall

The Hurricanes will now turn their attention to their training camp which will open during the third week of September. Head coach Ryan Maxwell had this to share as he looks ahead to the upcoming season.

"I'm very eager to start our second season in the IJHL and look for some of our guys from last year to take on more of a leadership role. It's great to have the rights to the top two players in midget AAA Nick Macdonald and Pat Cummiskey who I feel can be impact players along with our other draft picks and recruits. The IJHL is a good league and I feel with a year under our belt we will know what to expect this upcoming season and be ready to go. I look forward to a competitive training camp".