FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Truro, N.S. (July 24, 2021) – Summerside Western Capitals forward Justin Ertel has been drafted to the National Hockey League. The 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario was selected by the Dallas Stars in the 3rd Round, 79th overall, of the NHL Draft on Saturday. He had previously committed to Cornell University, an NCAA Division I program, during his grade 11 year and will attend the university in upstate New York beginning this fall.
Ertel joined Summerside in January and led the team in scoring with nine goals and nineteen assists in eighteen games. Ertel’s 28 points placed him third in rookie scoring in 2020-21, while he led the way in rookie assists. He also had three goals and six assists in five games during the Canadian Tire Cup Eastlink South Playoff Round-Robin, which led all players.
Ertel was an honourable mention for the Pro Design Cresting Top Rookie in both February and March/April, and was named a Player of the Week once this past season.
Former Amherst Rambler Jacob Melanson was selected in the 5th Round, 131st overall, by the expansion Seattle Kraken. The 18-year-old from Amherst, NS had one goal and two assists against the Truro Bearcats during the 2018-19 season, his lone MHL regular season game. Melanson rejoined the Ramblers when Amherst hosted the 2019 Fred Page Cup, playing in the three round robin games for the home side.
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Media Contact:
James Faulkner
Director of Communications
Maritime Junior Hockey League
jfaulkner@themhl.ca