There’s a draft that’s starting to blow into Metro Moncton.
You can feel it from the moment you land at the Greater Moncton International Airport and it picks up in intensity as you walk downtown. There’s signage all over the place to promote the 2009 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft on June 6 at the Moncton Coliseum. “We want to get the message out there to encourage people to attend the draft. It’s free,” said Sharon Thivierge, who is chairwoman of the host organizing committee for the first-ever QMJHL draft in Moncton. “The Top Prospects Presentation (on June 5 at noon at the Capitol Theatre) is also free to the public. We plan to do a lot of signage throughout the city to make this into a big community event and try to have as many fans in the rink as possible on draft day. “We have lighted signs at the airport (to welcome people for the draft). The Wildcats Booster Club has done the poster and banner distribution on the downtown stree light poles and in businness windows. We want the community to get caught up in the spirit of the draft.” It was early last June that Moncton was awarded the 2009 QMJHL draft. There will be 1,000 visitors here for what amounts to a four-day event that features a series of league meetings, a league golf tournament, the Top Prospects Presentation and the draft. The Hockey News is publishing a book in the fall that features a series of stories on 99 things a hard-core hockey fan must do before they die. One of the items on the list is attend a QMJHL draft.
The host organizing committee for the draft met with the league last November to go over some details. The Delta Beausejour is the host hotel and the other official hotels are the Crowne Plaza, Residence Inn Marriott and Chateau Moncton.