Goalies Looking To Realize Dream

For some hockey players, being drafted is a figment of the imagination.

But for others, having the opportunity to chase their boyhood dreams of one day being in the NHL begins in one place.

The Ontario Hockey League draft.

Saturday morning, close to 300 players will be selected to twenty teams throughout the OHL.

Among those, three goalies – Michael Gallardi, Bo Bessette and Matt Murray – are all looking for their chance to face shots at a higher level next season.

Gallardi, a goalie for Ridley College in Toronto who has been rocketing up the draft rankings, thinks it would be nice to see all of his hard work recognized tomorrow.

“I would be excited to have an opportunity like that,” he said.  “I’ve worked my whole life in hockey to get to this point and hopefully further.  But I would be more than happy to see my name go up at some point in the draft.”

Bessette, who was the backstop last season for the number one ranked Toronto Young Nats of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, knows that being selected tomorrow is the first piece in a long journey towards his ultimate goal.

“To make the OHL it’s the next step I have to take,” he said.  “I know going into the first year, I won’t be a starting goalie.  Sitting as a second though, you’re getting the experience and that’s what I’m looking for.”

One of the top goalie prospects heading into Saturday’s draft is Matt Murray.

Murray – who played for the Thunder Bay Kings – was ranked as the number one overall goaltending prospect by five scouts we spoke to at the Under Armour sponsored OHL Combine in March.

When asked what he would bring to his future OHL team, he was calm, but careful, with his response.

“I have a lot of strong leadership qualities, and I’m a good physical presence on the ice,” Murray said.   “I feel like I could bring a lot of everything to the team that drafts me.”

He was also very humble when asked what it would be like to be selected into to the OHL.

“It would be an honor.  It’s been a dream of mine since I was a young kid growing up back home to one day play in the OHL and eventually in the NHL.”

While most didn’t offer up which team they would like play for next year, Bessette wasn’t shy about which two teams he has been most impressed with so far.

“The Peterborough Petes and Guelph Storm,” he said.  “But all of the teams are great teams and I’m sure they’d welcome me to their team.”

While all could be first round selections tomorrow, the first overall pick will be American forward Alex Galchenyuk.  The announcement was made this afternoon at a press conference by Sarnia Sting General Manager Dave MacQueen.

Regardless of where they’re selected, all three of these young goalies will one day look to make a huge impact for whichever team drafts them.