The 10 year drought of North Bay players being overlooked in the NHL Entry Draft ended today as the Dallas Stars selected Colton Point in the 5th round,128th overall.
Point wasn't sure where he was going last night after round one of the draft concluded.
“So I have had a bunch of teams talking to my agent and my goalie coach, Buffalo, Chicago, Toronto, just to name a few,” he said.
“I’ve heard between three and five but you never know what’s going to happen, it’s the draft and people slide and people rise so you can’t really predict it and I’m happy whether I go or not - no matter how high I go, or how low. There’s different opportunities no matter what happens.”
Point, who is never lost for words, was speechless after hearing his name.
"It’s unbelievable this is a huge step toward being in the NHL, it’s such a great feeling,” said Point to the media.
The last North Bay player selected in the NHL Entry Draft was Matt Marquardt back in 2006 by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Marquardt, a 7th round pick that year, got the call from his Dad while he was sitting at Moose's in North Bay. Point is glad he took his chances by coming to the seven round NHL Draft.
"I’m so happy I came and to be able to put on the jersey right away and meet the General Manager and management along with everyone who makes the show run," he said.
'Moose’s may have been kind of fun knowing North Bay but this is unbelievable."
Point was ranked fourth in North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting (final rankings) after his tremendous championship Jr. A season with the Carleton Place Canadians that led to an NCAA commitment by Colgate for the fall of 2016.
Playing Carleton Place of the Central Canada Hockey League last season the North Bay native posted a 2.16 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 33 games.
Through the Canadians playoff run, the 6-4, 219-pound netminder posted a 12-4 record, 1.82 goals-against average and .933 save percentage as Carleton Place won the league championship.
“We love his size,” Joe McDonnell, the Stars Director of Amateur Scouting said on the Dallas Stars website.
“Our goalie guy Mike Valley saw him last week at the Team Canada camp and really liked how he moved in the net. He’s on Team Canada’s radar, which is a really good thing.”
The news became even better for Point when he was informed that one of the Stars goaltender prospects Jack Campbell was traded away today to the LA Kings for Nick Ebert.
