The 2024 Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Entry Draft goes this weekend at Moncton’s Avenir Centre.

The Saint John Sea Dogs have 12 picks heading into the draft, including fifth and eighth overall.

General Manager Anthony Stella says it was a tough pill to swallow trading away Cam MacDonald to the Gatineau Olympiques to acquire a high draft spot.

“Seeing Cam MacDonald lift the Memorial Cup and enjoying that celebration with him, and then the next year everyone understanding we’re entering a rebuild, it’s junior hockey, so once you win, unfortunately, those next couple of years you gotta start the rebuild,” said Stella.

“Cam went on to get two more cracks at winning a cup. He’ll forever be a Memorial Cup champion and forever be a Sea Dog.”

Going into this year’s draft, Stella says his scouts are confident about the players they have lined up.

“When we get to that draft table, nothing more needs to be said. We’re extremely prepared, our list is where we want it to be, so we just show up and then we have to execute,” he said.

Round one takes place Friday night beginning at 7 p.m. The remaining rounds will happen on Saturday.