River Kings pick Michael Beaudry first overall in LNAH draft

Article by Rodney Wilson | Submitted Photo

Sorel-Tracy Quebec– The River Kings scored a hat trick on Saturday in Sorel, drafting three players they coveted early on. Cornwall had three of the first 16 picks and selected forwards Michael Beaudry and Lou Dickenson as well as former Colts defenceman Youssef Kabbaj.

Here’s a look at the complete list of players general manager Rick Lalonde and assistant GM Bob Desjardins selected on Saturday:

Michael Beaudry, C (Round 1, 1st overall) – The 24-year-old from Saint-Eustache played in the SPHL last season after a year in France. Beaudry is a graduate of the QMJHL and also played for St. Thomas University in the CIS. In his final QMJHL season, Beaudry scored 81 points in 66 games split between Val-d’Or and Acadie-Bathurst. He spent the 2014-15 season overseas in France, where he scored 26 points in 26 games with Chamonix.

Lou Dickenson, LW (Round 1, 8th overall) – The 33-year-old from Orleans, ON, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2000. He has had pro stops in the AHL, ECHL and CHL and has spent the last eight seasons in Europe. Last year with the Dundee Stars of the EIHL, Dickenson had 63 points in 61 games.

Youssef Kabbaj, D (Round 2, 16th overall) – The 24-year-old is a former Cornwall Colts defenceman who went on to play in the QMJHL. The 6-foot-2, 200 lb. Kabbaj spent the last four seasons with Concordia University of the CIS. During the last two seasons at Concordia, Kabbaj chipped in 20 points in 36 games and accumulated 76 penalty minutes.

Francis Brunelle, F (Round 6, 42nd overall) – The rugged 20-year-old forward from Granby had 28 points and 140 penalty minutes last season with Inouk of the QJAAAHL. The 5-foot-11, 209 lb. Brunelle played two seasons with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL.

Philippe Cadorette, G (Round 6, 44th overall) – The 21-year-old netminder from St-Hyacinthe appeared in four games with Norfolk in the ECHL last season. He also suited up for 25 games with Shawinigan in the QMJHL, posting a GAA of 2.66. Cadorette spent the previous four seasons with Baie-Comeau in the Q.

Gabriel Bourret, D (Round 7, 49th overall) – The 23-year-old defenceman from La Prairie, QC, has spent the last three seasons with Concordia University of the CIS. Last year, he chipped in seven points and 82 penalty minutes in 16 games. The 6-foot point man played four seasons in the QMJHL and won the Memorial Cup with the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2011.

Mathieu Brodeur, D (Round 8, 57th overall) – The 25-year-old defenceman is a former Arizona Coyotes draft pick. The 6-foot-6, 216 lb. Saint-Eustache native has split the last six seasons between the AHL and ECHL. In 70 games with Adirondack (ECHL) last season, Brodeur had 30 points. He appeared in 69 games with Chicago (AHL) in 2014-15.

Antoine Cote, F (Round 10, 73rd overall) – During the last two seasons, Cote has appeared in 21 games with the St-Cyrille Condors of the LHSAM. He has earned 71 penalty minutes.