Amherst Rambler alumni Jacob Melanson could make his long-awaited NHL regular season debut tonight for the Seattle Kraken as they visit the Nashville Predators. The Amherst, N.S. native was drafted in the 5th Round, 131st overall, by Seattle in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. he was recalled from the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL yesterday.
Melanson played just one regular season game for Amherst during the 2019-20 season, tallying one goal and two assists against the Truro Bearcats. He played in three playoff games that season and was with the club when they hosted the 2019 Fred Page Cup, playing in the three round robin games for the home side.
Melanson was a Territorial Draft Selection of the Ramblers a few months later, but spent four seasons in the QMJHL. In 170 games, Melanson had 96 goals and 88 assists for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and the Sherbrooke Phoenix, as well as fourteen goals and ten assists in 27 playoff games.
He’s spent the past two seasons with Coachella Valley, scoring thirteen goals and adding fifteen assists in 89 games. Melanson has made the Kraken lineup in exhibition games since being drafted.