“I was not a lazy kid . . . I loved to be outside and staying active,” said the Juan de Fuca minor hockey and lacrosse product.
All that energy didn’t go to waste as Mount was selected in the first round of the Western Hockey League bantam draft Thursday as he went 19th overall to the Seattle Thunderbirds to lead a 13-player Island assault on the 2017 draft.
“I hope I fit into their system and am eventually able to help the Thunderbirds team,” said Mount, who was in Philadelphia on Thursday preparing to take on the Russians in the World Selects Youth Invitational Global Hockey Tournament.
“I’m a playmaker who sees the ice and has a nose for the net.”
The five-foot-nine forward amply displayed that with 30 goals and 67 points in 30 games this season for Delta Academy Prep.
The move in Grade 9 to Delta Academy Prep and away from friends and classmates at Colquitz was difficult, Mount admitted. But more so being away from his family.
“My mom didn’t want me leaving so soon but it was very cool of her to let me go,” said Mount, who said he models his game on that of Steven Stamkos.
“My parents have really helped me and been so supportive. It was a good decision. I like the Delta program.”
Mount was the third Island player selected in the first round in five years. Defenceman Jacson Alexander of Esquimalt was taken 17th overall out of Shawnigan Lake School last year by the Swift Current Broncos, but has since decided on the NCAA and committed to Denver University and will play next season in the BCHL for the Victoria Grizzlies. Defenceman Josh Anderson of Duncan went third overall in the 2013 first round to the Prince George Cougars and became a third-round 2016 NHL draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche.
Meanwhile, there was a run on Island goaltenders Thursday. Five-foot-11 Campbell Arnold of Nanaimo was selected 28th overall in the second round out of Shawnigan Lake School by the Spokane Chiefs, five-foot-10 Dylan Garand of Victoria 58th overall in the third round out of Delta Prep to the Kamloops Blazers and six-foot-three Shawnigan Lake School creaseman Will Gurski of Duncan 72nd overall in the fourth round to the Kootenay Ice.
Talented Shawnigan Lake School forward John Little, projected by some pre-draft rankings for the first round, had to wait until the third round to hear his name called as the native of Qualicum Beach was selected 60th by the Vancouver Giants.
The seventh round was Island heavy with Davis Frank, a five-foot-eight centre from Campbell River, going 137th to the Saskatoon Blades, six-foot-two defenceman Kyle Crewe of Courtenay 144th to the Tri-City Americans and six-foot rearguard Ethan Brandwood of the Saanich Braves 146th to the Blazers.
Defenceman Gabe Shipley of Powell River via Delta Prep went 128th in the sixth round to Prince George and blue-liner Chase Barlow of the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies 159th in the eighth round to the Saskatoon Blades. Six-foot forward Michael Hoekstra from the Saanich Braves went 172nd in the eighth round to Prince George, six-foot centre Brendan Kerr from Victoria Racquet Club 213th in the 10th round to the Moose Jaw Warriors and forward Nick Porchetta of Powell River 218th to Everett.
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