Ramblers Top Pick Excited About Amherst

When Corey Crocker stepped to the podium to announce his name as the first pick of the Amherst Ramblers in the MHL draft, Cam McDonald was fishing at his family's fishing camp near Halifax.

 When it he got home his dad told him he'd been drafted by the Ramblers in the second round - a week after he was selected by the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL draft in Drummundville, Que.

"I was thrilled when my dad told me. Amherst is a great hockey place and I've heard lots about what it's like to play there," the 17-year-old Dartmouth resident said. "It would be nice to play there."

McDonald was one of those players Crocker was hoping would still be around when the Ramblers got the chance to make their first pick of the draft, something that didn't come until the second round following last season's trade with Campbellton that netted rearguard Ryan Matheson.

The 160-pounder had three goals and 13 assists for 16 points in 35 regular season games with the Dartmouth Subways of the Nova Scotia Major Midget League. He also has 62 penalty minutes while adding a goal and two assists in eight playoff games.

When the club's turn came up Crocker was quick to take the six-foot defenceman.

McDonald considers himself a solid defensive defenceman who many not have much of an offensive side but believes in doing his part to keep the puck out of his team's net.

"I'm a steady defensive defenceman who looks after my own end of the rink," said McDonald. "You don't have to worry about me when I'm on the ice."

The Grade 11 student is busy on a physical training regime over the summer and will report to the Moncton Wildcats camp in mid-August. If things don't work out there, he hopes to be in Amherst for the opening of training camp later in the month.

There's also a lot of hockey in his blood. His dad played for Ramblers' assistant coach Tim Ripley when he coached the Halifax Lions in the 1970s while his brother Scott played with the Weeks Crushers last season after playing with the Saint John Seadogs of the QMJHL the season before.

"My brother has told me quite a bit about the league and what to expect," said McDonald. "He said it's a lot faster than midget and the players are very skilled. I'm looking forward to making that adjustment and raising my game to that level."

dcole@amherstdaily.com